I posted about this documentary a while back, and I finally had the chance to see it. And I loved it. A really moving portrait of an artists. A must see! Perfect for the holidays. Here’s the trailer again!
The good thing about flying and owning an iPad is that you get to watch all movies you wanted to see for so long. This time watched Hoop Dreams. A classic documentary about two young basketball players from the ghettos of Chicago trying to make it to the NBA. William Gates and Arthur Agee are followed from when they are 14 untill they are in their 20′s. You see them go through all sorts of struggles, both on and off the pitch.
The documentary lasts about 3 hours, but I wasn’t bored for a second. A very moving story. Check it out.
Before anybody had heard about The Sartorialist or Style.com photographer Bill Cunningham was already documenting fashion trends and high society charity soirées in New York for the Times Style section in his columns “On the Street” and “Evening Hours.” This documentary tells his story, and shows us the impact this seemingly humble man has had. Big names, like Anna Wintour, appear in the film out of their love for Bill, and his shots of downtown eccentrics and everyone in between. Cunningham’s enormous body of work has captured trends many trends over time. The documentary Bill Cunningham New York looks like a funny and often poignant portrait of a dedicated artist. Just have a look at the trailer, and you can see what I mean.
The movie opens on March 16th in New York, and hopefully in the rest of the world shortly after.
Here’s one for the weekend. Another great documentary you have to check. Beautiful Losers is about a group of artists from New York, what moved them and how they rose to success.
In the early 1990s a loose-knit group of like-minded outsiders found common ground at a little NYC storefront gallery. Rooted in the DIY subcultures of skateboarding, surf, punk, hip hop & graffiti, they made art that reflected the lifestyles they led. Developing their craft with almost no influence from the “established” art world, this group and the subcultures they sprang from have now become a movement that has been transforming pop culture.
You can check out the entire movie online here.
Here’s a trailer of an interesting movie that is coming our way. Influencers is a short documentary that explores what it means to be an influencer and how trends & creativity become contagious today in the world of music and fashion.
Directed by Paul Rojanathara and Davis Johnson, the film is a Polaroid snapshot of New York influential creatives (advertising, design, fashion and entertainment) who are shaping today’s pop culture. Looking forward to this one. Coming this fall. Not sure what that means though; Looking out the window confirms fall has already started…
Update: You check out the entire documentary online here.
The BBC is working on another amazing continuation of their Earth series. This time it is an awesome interactive website called Life Is… It focus on the stories of animals, filmed in the stunning way we are used to of the good old beebs.
The screenshots look awesome, but the site hasn’t launched in Europe yet. Keep your eye out on this one. It’ll be worth it. Trust me.
Freakonomics is one of my favorite books ever. The authors Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner use economic models to explain things like why most drug dealers still live with their moms and what the similarities are between school teachers and sumo wrestlers. A must read.
And now its turned into a movie, and not by the least. The people making this movie are also the people behind Supersize Me, Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room, Jesus Camp and The King Of Kong. Which all happen to be among my favorite documentaries ever. Lots of favorites! Let’s just hope it doesn’t suffer from the ‘The book was so much better syndrome’.
In theaters this fall.
For FrICTION, filmmaker Cullen Hoback (Monster Camp, 2007) takes us to a private high school where he writes a script about a real couple and a student who comes between them. Through the process of making the film, hidden truths about the real lives of the actors playing themselves are revealed, and the line between fiction and reality fade. Blending the original “intended” film with rehearsals and documentary elements, Friction breaks the wall that separates fiction from reality, challenging the very real lives of everyone involved. What remains is part documentary, part fiction.
I really want to see this movie and see how everything turns out. Making it even more interesting is the fact that the entire movie was produced with a budget of $100,-!! Amazing isn’t it? One thing is certain: Cullen Hoback has taken unconventional storytelling to another level. In cinemas from September 2010.
Collapsus is a new take on the documentary. This 40 minute documentary, which is available online, sketches our future during what is called ‘peak oil’, the moment oil production is at its maximum. The expected effects of this on our lives and our unavoidable shift to alternative energy sources are the subject of this documentary, which is also described as an ‘energy thriller’.
Interesting, but what makes it special is that it is a ‘hybrid’ documentary. Multiple fictive characters guide the viewer through the storyline through film, animation and interactive elements. A welcome shift from the usual ‘talking heads’ telling the world is going down we see too often if you ask me.
Collapsus was created by the dutch broadcaster VPRO in collaboration with SubmarineChannel. A great project, definitely worth checking out!Have a taste with the trailer below.
Tonight I’m checking out the award winning documentary Art & Copy by Doug Pray. It reveals the work and wisdom of some of the most influential advertising creatives of our time – people who have influenced our culture, yet are virtually unknown outside their industry. All these guys started in advertising’s “creative revolution” of the 1960s.
These artists and writers all brought a surprisingly rebellious spirit to their work in a business more often associated with mediocrity or manipulation: George Lois, Mary Wells, Dan Wieden, Lee Clow, Hal Riney and others featured in ART & COPY were responsible for lines ingrained in our minds like “Just Do It,” “I Love NY,” “Where’s the Beef?,” “Got Milk,” “Think Different,” and brilliant campaigns for everything from cars to presidents. They managed to grab the attention of millions and truly move them. Visually interwoven with their stories, TV satellites are launched, billboards are erected, and the social and cultural impact of their ads are brought to light in this dynamic exploration of art, commerce, and human emotion.
Looking forward to this one! Here’s the trailer for now.
Update: Great documentary, although I expected a little more on the social impact of advertising. Nevertheless, go check it out!
