Tag Archives: Documentary

‘Beautiful Women’ celebrates ladies of all shapes

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Think stripping off your clothes in front of an audience is just for the crowd’s gratification? In the world of local burlesque performers, think again. The new local documentary Beautiful Women shows off interviews with Phoenix-based burlesque dancers that give insight into how the vintage art form is more about empowering the performers than turning on people in the audience, a sort of “new feminism” that gives control to those on stage.

Local videographer Douglas Proce interviewed members from three local troupes, including Romantasy Cabaret, to ask them how they got interested in performing burlesque and how they think it benefits their confidence and womanhood. Burlesque focuses on the tease of stripping, with structured song-and-dance routines that prelude the ladies taking off their duds and donning little more than pasties and thongs before running off stage. The routines are about the build-up and often contain vintage-style costumes, music and props (such as large feather fans that strategically cover up body parts). Since burlesque’s focus is more on the seduction than on the skin shown, it’s a way for women who don’t have “perfect” body types according to society’s standards to still entertain others and feel sexy on stage.

I loved watching all the characters we have right here in town during their interviews and in their on-stage performances. I love anything that makes women feel sexy, and burlesque seems like a way to celebrate an art form rather than just satiate a sexual appetite. For more information on Beautiful Women, which plays this Sunday, September 9 at 2 p.m. at the FilmBar in Phoenix, go here. And for a preview of the film, click here.

‘Katy Perry: Part of Me’ an intimate look into the singer’s life

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I’ll admit it, I’m totally a huge fan of Katy Perry. I interviewed her right after “I Kissed a Girl” came out and later met her while she was on the Vans Warped Tour (yes, she’s gorgeous in person), and since we’re only 2 weeks apart in age, and she went to a private religious school here in the Valley, too, I feel like I can relate to her in many ways as a woman — minus the superstardom and crazy schedule.

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So, I had to check out her new movie, Katy Perry: Part of Me. It was just what I expected: a behind-the-scenes look at her tour, as well as a Katy love-fest, with interviews about the singer with everyone from her parents to Rihanna. Viewers get to see Katy’s growth as a Christian singer to one who sings about wanting to see guys’ “peacocks,” as well as what it’s like to be on a hectic tour thousands of miles away from your newlywed husband. Yes, you do get to see the hard moments she experiences as her marriage to Russell Brand deteriorates while she’s on tour.

There are also plenty of live performances from the tour, and Katy Perry fans will probably have a ball watching it just like I did. If you are not a fan, stay far, far away.

Morgan Spurlock’s ‘The Greatest Movie Ever Sold’ a valuable look at advertising

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There’s just something so charming about Morgan Spurlock.

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Even though Super Size Me wasn’t the most thought-provoking documentary I’ve ever seen, the independent filmmaker is really intelligent and really witty, and it’s just really enjoyable to watch him on-screen.

That’s why I was stoked for his newest film, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. It’s all about product placement in films, but its theme is about advertising in general and its role in American culture.

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Spurlock sets off to make a documentary with a $1.5 million budget, all to be funded through sponsorships–something you don’t really see in documentaries. By interspersing commercials and product placement throughout the movie, Spurlock presents a film touching on the controversial nature advertising has in the media, while utilizing it himself–get it?

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The movie starts out with Spurlock making contacts with potential sponsors. His biggest backer, POM Wonderful, is drunk by Spurlock throughout the movie, and it also gets top billing on the marquee–technically, the film is called POM Wonderful presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. He also gets sponsors in Ban deodorant, Amy’s Kitchen, Sheetz, Mini and many more–all of which are humorously portrayed in the movie. In one interview, Spurlock even gives politician Ralph Nader a pair of Merrell shoes.

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After he gets all his sponsors, the movie shifts to examining advertisements’ role in the film industry. The most interesting part of the movie, to me, was when he interviewed film directors such as Quentin Tarantino and Brett Ratner to find out how they’re pressured to alter their scripts to please their sponsors. And as Spurlock himself is pressured to give his own sponsors final say on the film, things get pretty interesting.

He also travels to Sao Paulo, Brazil, to see how a city that bans outdoor advertisements still manages to thrive economically. It makes you wonder what our country would be like without the Times Square noise or highway billboards we see all around.

Another favorite part of the film for me was when Spurlock talked to popular musicians about their thoughts on selling their music for advertisements. Personally, with a declining music industry, I don’t think it’s selling out for musicians to put their music on ads. He talked to people such as Big Boi and band members from OK Go, the latter of which was one of my favorite interviews in the movie–and I won’t spoil why.

I thought the film was a great behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment business and how the business part sometimes takes precedence over the artistic side–something that’s sadly becoming more and more prevalent. And, not surprisingly, Spurlock is so much fun to watch. If he isn’t already on your radar, the movie is definitely worth seeing.

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’127 Hours’ shows off James Franco’s acting chops

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By now, you’ve probably already been warned about what goes down in 127 Hours. Hint: it involves James Franco, a dull knife and his arm trapped under a rock.

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Don’t let that scare you off from seeing the movie, though. It’s directed by Danny Boyle, who helmed the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire, and it’s interesting he chose this simple story as his next project.

Franco plays Aron, an outdoorsy guy who goes hiking solo in  deserted terrain in Utah (the movie is based on a true story). He doesn’t tell anyone where he’s going, so when he falls down a crevice and gets his hand jammed (literally) between a rock and a  hard place, there is no one to help get him out.

Like the title suggests, he spends 127 hours stuck here, living on meager rations of food and water. He does have his video camera to journal with, though, and he documents how he’s feeling throughout the ordeal. Thankfully, there are many moments of humor amid the massive amounts of pain.

The movie relies on Franco’s acting, and he does a wonderful job in the role, making his character likable and someone to root for. Watch out for a Best Actor nomination for him (and I hope he wins!! Can’t wait to see him in a tuxedo, yum.)

Boyle also makes what could be a boring film fun and fast-paced with beautiful cinematography and use of flashbacks. His directing also makes it easy to empathize with Aron and really feel what he’s going through.

And yes, that one scene I mentioned before is very painful to watch, but if you can get through movies such as Saw or other horror films, then it’s bearable. I just closed my eyes most of the time, and it didn’t last too long.

This is a movie that will have a lot buzz come Oscar time, so you should definitely see it now.

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‘Catfish’ heartwrenching, disturbing look at social media

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Wow. I just saw a really sad, interesting movie called Catfish. While I found the documentary captivating throughout, I left the theater very depressed and really thinking about social media and its importance in people’s lives–and how big of a role it should really play for people.

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The very handsome Nev Schulman strikes up a friendship with an 8-year-old painter who lives in Michigan. Abby sends Nev paintings and perfectly cursive-written notes to Nev, who becomes long-distance friends with Abby and her family, including Abby’s gorgeous older sister, Megan.

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Nev’s friends decide to document the friendship with Abby, and as Nev and Megan become more romantic despite never having met, the three decide to make their way to Michigan. I won’t really say anything else, because that would ruin the movie, but there are some very poignant scenes that speak volumes about the human condition and teach important lessons about the connections you make on Facebook and any other social networking site.

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It’s a very touching, relatable movie, and the cast is dynamic and really makes you become invested in them. While the film is overall pretty disturbing, it’s still an important one to see–and has great timing with the release of the Facebook film The Social Network next week. I would suggest making the night a double feature and seeing both. Just be prepared for some heartwrenching scenes when you see Catfish.

‘Outrage’ will definitely make you mad about gay rights advocacy in Washington

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I recently watched a very eye-opening movie that anyone who’s a supporter of gay rights (or anyone at all, for that matter) should watch immediately. It’s a documentary called Outrage, and it examines closeted gay political leaders who don’t politically support gay rights–voting and speaking out against them. It also includes interviews and footage of why this exists, including with politicians who have come out of the closet and what their experiences have been.

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The film is a thorough examination of both past and present leaders, and Kirby Dick, who directed This Film Is Not Yet Rated, scores once again with exposing shady practices in a well-paced, thoughtful, entertaining film.

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Even though I consider myself a politically aware person, this film really surprised me and was really surprising. Of course, everyone knows that being an openly gay politician presents challenges, but I really had no idea how many closeted leaders we have who aren’t even advocates for their own communities.

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The main message I took from the movie is that, yes, while it would be wonderful if these closeted gay politician were out and proud and fought for gay rights, American voters need to first be more tolerant of gay people as a whole. And it’s a huge shame they’re not.

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‘The September Issue’ shows candid look at ‘Vogue’ magazine

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OK, so after weeks of being badgered by advertisements on the Bravo cable network for The September Issue DVD, I gave in and ordered it, since I love fashion and the magazine industry. I am stoked to report it was an excellent buy and a must-see for anyone who’s ever loved Vogue.

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The movie documents the process of putting together the September issue of Vogue–the biggest issue of the year, since it’s the start of fall fashion season.

Most of the film focuses on editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Wintour is the woman who inspired the book and movie The Devil Wears Prada, so it’s neat to see extensive interviews with her and exactly how she works. There are many devilish moments in the movie courtesy of Wintour, but she also comes across as respectable because her strong work ethic is on display.

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The film features behind-the-scenes looks at fashion shows, the magazine editing process and the cover photo shoot with actress Sienna Miller. It’s glamorous in many ways but grueling in others, and the film contains both humorous and tense moments. The documentary never drags, showing off the fast-paced world that is fashion.

While the movie clocks in at 90 minutes, there are a couple hours of extra footage and interviews, so anything you ever wanted to know about the making of Vogue should be answered. It’s definitely great for the Bravo-watching crowd, so if you’re not into that sort of thing, the film might be boring. But for people who enjoy anything fashion-related, you should check it out.

‘This Is It’ gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling

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It was so hard to try not to cry during Michael Jackson’s This Is It, the feature film documenting Michael Jackson’s final rehearsals for his English concert series before his death.

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I admit, I’ve always thought Jackson was pretty weird, and this movie confirmed that for me. There are some scenes where he talks about letting things “simmer,” and he also was definitely a control freak. Plus, some of the outfits he wore looked exactly like Lady Gaga costumes.

But he knew what he was doing and was a genius performer. His show looked like it was going to be amazing, from the incredible talent of the performers (including 24-year-old guitarist Orianthi), to the massive stage set-up, to the awesome dance moves by his backup dancers.

Plus, Jackson’s voice was in great form. He admittedly held back during rehearsals, but judging by how strong even those were, the final show was going to sound top-notch.

And Jackson really excelled when it came to dancing. He is still undeniably the best pop dancer the world has seen, and lucky for us, we get to witness that he still had it after all those years.

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The film includes some interviews with dancers, but mostly it just runs through the show and features a whole lot of music, including his biggest hits, from “Man in the Mirror” to “The Way You Make Me Feel” (my personal favorite).

If you’re a Jackson fan, it’s a must-see. Next Thursday, Nov. 19 is the last day the movie will be on the big screen in Arizona.

During the film, I constantly had a smile on my face, because his music is everlasting catchy and fun, and he had so much potential for a comeback that, in a way, is happening now.

‘Food, Inc.’ will leave you sick to your stomach, in a good way

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It doesn’t matter if you love meat or are a vegetarian—the indie flick Food, Inc. has a lot to teach all of us about the American food industry, including about factory farming and the corporate approach to one of our basic needs.

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The film is like a condensed version of the book Fast Food Nation (so says my friend), so it’s not surprising that author Eric Schlosser appears in much of the film, as well as The Omnivore’s Dilemma author Michael Pollan.

The movie’s divided into several chapters, including ones concerning meat production and farming, corn and soybean cultivating, spread of disease through food (there’s a tear jerking scene involving a 2-year-old who dies from tainted meat), the power of corporations against independent farmers and how food companies are in bed with politicians.

The documentary uses flashy visuals in addition to its interviews and undercover video footage, and the 94-minute length keeps it from getting boring.

The filmmakers did a great job at telling as well-rounded a story possible, considering companies like Tyson and Smithfield refused to be interviewed. The main message is that basically four corporations are controlling the majority of Americans’ food, and if we as consumers don’t strive to buy organic, or from farmers’ markets, or from companies with humane and healthy practices, then change won’t come.

Yes, buying fresh fruits and veggies is a heck of a lot more expensive than going to the drive-thru and grabbing a 99 cent burger. But when it comes to protecting your body from diseases ranging from E. coli to diabetes, it’s worth the extra money.

That’s not as easy for lower socioeconomic families, and that’s why lobbying the government to change the system is also important.

Food, Inc. will make you uncomfortable, not only for its depiction of slaughtering but also for its exposure of corporate greed. For more info, visit http://www.foodincmovie.com/. It’s currently only playing at Harkins Camelview in Scottsdale.

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