tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post2839194890418225224..comments2023-08-20T06:16:15.362-05:00Comments on Getafilm: HBO '08 Doc Series Kicks OffDanielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-49354446579870027052008-06-10T15:51:00.000-05:002008-06-10T15:51:00.000-05:00Hehe, well maybe it's because of your familiarity ...Hehe, well maybe it's because of your familiarity that I <I>should</I> trust you. If I had an opportunity to watch it I would, but I'm just saying I'm not going to make an extreme effort. As you say, it doesn't appear to provide information that can't be easily found elsewhere - which, as it happens, is partly how I determine the worth of a documentary.<BR/><BR/>I have actually not seen two of Polanski's Oscar nods - <I>Rosemary's Baby</I> and <I>Tess</I>, but I kind of want to see <I>Chinatown</I> again.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-78894523118417092752008-06-10T14:23:00.000-05:002008-06-10T14:23:00.000-05:00By all means, don't just take my word for it. I ha...By all means, don't just take my word for it. I have a lot of familiarity with this whole period in Polanski's life. I learned nothing and hated the rehash of his wife's murder. Others younger than I may get some new information about him. Actually, I recommend his autobiography, <I>Roman by Polanski</I>, in which he is more candid than you would imagine about this incident.<BR/><BR/>By the way, Polanski is one of my very favorite directors, a real genius. I've seen almost all of his movies and have liked or loved them all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-85112283882808657202008-06-10T13:50:00.000-05:002008-06-10T13:50:00.000-05:00Thanks, Marilyn. I've taken a brief look at them. ...Thanks, Marilyn. I've taken a brief look at them. I'm surprised I don't remember hearing much about the '04 version, but then again I never know what to think of TV movies. <BR/><BR/>Regarding the Polanski doc, I've somehow run across some positive bits about it <A HREF="http://www.awardsdaily.com/?p=428#comments" REL="nofollow">here</A> and <A HREF="http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2008/01/saturday_mornin_2.php" REL="nofollow">here</A>. More interestingly, it did have a brief, almost secret theatrical run in LA, which thus qualifies it for an Oscar. I know it's not your favorite source, but at Rotten Tomatoes it's sitting on a 7 review 100%. I'm not saying your impression of it is wrong in any way, I'm just saying that it may not be the last we've heard of it for now. I'm not going to seek it out in any case.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-90946504390584750432008-06-10T12:43:00.000-05:002008-06-10T12:43:00.000-05:00If you're interested, there is the TV movie Helter...If you're interested, there is the TV movie <I>Helter Skelter</I>, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074621/ based on the book by Vincent Bugliosi. It's available on DVD. I don't remember details of the movie very well, but I do remember how creeped out I was by it.<BR/><BR/>There was a remake, also called <I>Helter Skelter</I> in 2004, also a TV movie. I didn't see it, but here's the info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383393/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-39298713995024975412008-06-10T12:13:00.000-05:002008-06-10T12:13:00.000-05:00Well Charles Manson is certainly not a pop culture...Well Charles Manson is certainly not a pop culture reference as much anymore. The murders were before my time, but I was still familiar with him as a kind of 80's horror icon before Jeffrey Dahmer came along. Now that I think about it, we might be looking at a non-documentary Manson biopic one of these years. Somebody will do it. How Polanski would react to something like that, I don't know, but you're right, Marilyn, that the murders are another piece of history that's followed him. <BR/><BR/>It's a pretty disturbing deal, Nick. I would say <I>Zodiac</I> was a successful dramatized version of a similar story. We'll see what happens.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-35438019061278006562008-06-10T10:30:00.000-05:002008-06-10T10:30:00.000-05:00For someone like myself, who knows almost nothing ...For someone like myself, who knows almost nothing about the Charles Manson shindigs, I am really interested in that story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-76946700453547367362008-06-10T09:21:00.000-05:002008-06-10T09:21:00.000-05:00I don't know, Daniel. Depends on how enduring the ...I don't know, Daniel. Depends on how enduring the legacy of Charles Manson is. I remember the murders, but I wonder how many people connect with that time anymore. What do you think?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-68548987366769249832008-06-10T09:11:00.000-05:002008-06-10T09:11:00.000-05:00Weird. You'd think they'd know the legal implicati...Weird. You'd think they'd know the legal implications before completing the film, but maybe the circumstances just change too quickly. Had he not received attention (and an Oscar win) for <I>The Pianist</I> a few years ago, I wonder if the public interest would be what it is. What a strange way to end a career.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-85543162478990089132008-06-10T09:04:00.000-05:002008-06-10T09:04:00.000-05:00Daniel - I'm not even sure it was a missed opportu...Daniel - I'm not even sure it was a missed opportunity. HBO has already retracted a title card at the end of the film that says Polanski was promised no jail time if he comes back to the United States for a probation hearing. Slipshod stuff, though I did like the interviews with Polanski's attorney and the ADA handling the case. Both are interesting people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-5457925587172121862008-06-10T09:00:00.000-05:002008-06-10T09:00:00.000-05:00I believe Matthew saw Recount (yep - here), but I...I believe Matthew saw Recount (yep - <A HREF="http://fromthefrontrow.blogspot.com/2008/06/recount.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>), but I don't know how much of a splash it made. I actually kept confusing it with the upcoming <I>Swing Vote</I> starring Kevin Costner. That's true about PBS and HD - they were pretty ahead of the curve, and a lot of their programming lends itself beautifully to high-def.<BR/><BR/>Aargh, sorry, Marilyn! Not a good start for the series. Like I said, those are the ones that sometimes belong as a E! True Hollywood Story or something...too bad.<BR/><BR/>Well there's the summer blockbusters and there's the summer docs, Craig, and you know I'll see both. Unfortunately they both occasionally have misfires - like <I>Polanski</I>. Insert your favorite <I>Bad Santa</I> line here...Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-85911142684616220462008-06-09T23:41:00.000-05:002008-06-09T23:41:00.000-05:00Daniel, you're like a kid in a candy store!Daniel, you're like a kid in a candy store!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-58031899812031004572008-06-09T21:41:00.000-05:002008-06-09T21:41:00.000-05:00Well, I've watched the greater share of the Polans...Well, I've watched the greater share of the Polanski doc and snore, what a bore! Nothing new in this except that it gives more inside information about Polanski's trial. More sensationalism about the Tate murders. You didn't miss much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-70873223988771394272008-06-09T19:17:00.000-05:002008-06-09T19:17:00.000-05:00Great ... just more reasons why I wish I had HBO. ...Great ... just more reasons why I wish I had HBO. Also, it's not even close to being a documentary, but what's the reaction yet to HBO's "Recount", if any? Saw a Charlie Rose interview with the cast & crew that intrigued me about that.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the excellent write-ups here. I enjoyed reading about each one of them, and maybe they will be rentable soon -- I was really happy when HBO's December 2007 <I>Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq</I> made it to NetFlix so quickly.<BR/><BR/>I concur with Marilyn that the granddaddy-of-em-all Frontline is consistently amazing and memorable; I have only come to appreciate PBS more and more for that as the years go by, and for PBS generally making their entire canon of best work available for free in HD over-the-air.Joshihnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12129307621580634512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-57385577653843181152008-06-09T15:58:00.000-05:002008-06-09T15:58:00.000-05:00Thanks for the recommendation on Edenton, and yes,...Thanks for the recommendation on Edenton, and yes, Wide Angle is another great series. It doesn't look like they have their schedule up yet. Hopefully it's still healthy. I think it's July-September.<BR/><BR/>PBS has it going on when it comes to documentaries. No question.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-62605895844658313162008-06-09T13:01:00.000-05:002008-06-09T13:01:00.000-05:00I definitely want to see Election Day. I agree abo...I definitely want to see <I>Election Day</I>. I agree about POV. I also like a new show called <I>Wide Angle</I> (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/?page_id=10). Of course, <I>Frontline</I> is the granddaddy of them all. Some of the shows from that long-running series are seared into my brain, particularly the one on the Edenton child sex abuse scandal (http://www.current.org/prog/prog711b.html). If you can get your hands on it, I HIGHLY recommend it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-88958270090696757132008-06-09T12:09:00.000-05:002008-06-09T12:09:00.000-05:00Well you've just had a good fix of docs, Nick, so ...Well you've just had a good fix of docs, Nick, so that should get you through the summer.<BR/><BR/>Marilyn, I only discovered P.O.V. about five years ago, but they continue to showcase some solid work. Some is great, some is just good, but in terms of television programming, well let's just say that's the kind of "reality TV" I can justify watching.<BR/><BR/>I did not see <I>Deadline</I> but know that you mentioned it here recently. <I>Election Day</I> looks like another ambitious project - one that could be filmed all over again this historic November.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-24978922912727947032008-06-09T10:37:00.000-05:002008-06-09T10:37:00.000-05:00I'm looking at the POV schedule and see that Katy ...I'm looking at the POV schedule and see that Katy Chevigny, who made <I>Deadline</I>, has <I>Election Day</I> on offer. I rewatched Altman's <I>Kansas City</I> yesterday and am now reminded of the last line of dialogue, "One thing I didn't do today is vote."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-49758405280740872802008-06-09T10:10:00.000-05:002008-06-09T10:10:00.000-05:00Wish I was in the US and had HBO.Oh well.Enjoy it ...Wish I was in the US and had HBO.<BR/><BR/>Oh well.<BR/><BR/>Enjoy it all for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-82603355171542282342008-06-09T10:05:00.000-05:002008-06-09T10:05:00.000-05:00I hope you can see Cinerama Adventure. I don't eve...I hope you can see <I>Cinerama Adventure</I>. I don't even think it's available in DVD. It was a one-shot festival film for me that I would have liked to have seen again.<BR/><BR/>I agree that docs are no different from other films--they're not all good or worthwhile for their subject matter.<BR/><BR/>I will see the Polanski film, so look for comment on Ferdy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-65942243488332042532008-06-09T10:00:00.000-05:002008-06-09T10:00:00.000-05:00As important as I think so many documentaries are,...As important as I think so many documentaries are, you won't find me defending all of them as necessary or even worthwhile. Some, of course, can even have the "wrong" effect (but of course they shouldn't have an agenda or "message" anyway because they're documentaries, right?...right...). The Polanski one is probably a doc that skirts the line between an important profile of a unique Hollywood figure and a tabloidesque feature that belongs on the E! channel. I hope it's the former. Maybe you can weigh in if you see it.<BR/><BR/>Based on the number of people who avoid documentaries like the ones listed here, I'd agree that we could use some "lighter" stories like <I>Mad Hot Ballroom</I>. Most of what we've seen lately has been about the war, and as much as some people might joke, I wouldn't consider <I>An Inconvenient Truth</I> either light or funny. <BR/><BR/>Fortunately we do have some widely released lighter fare this year: <I>Young@Heart</I>, <I>American Teen</I>, and even Werner Herzog's <I>Encounters at the End of the World</I>, all of which I think are great, and all of which I think could appeal to a larger-than-usual audience. People came out for <I>March of the Penguins</I>, so...<BR/><BR/>I really need to see <I>Cinerama Adventure</I>. Regarding comedy, hmm, <I>Comedian</I>? No, not really.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-72550742873186492682008-06-09T09:45:00.000-05:002008-06-09T09:45:00.000-05:00Daniel - Thanks for heads-up about this series. I ...Daniel - Thanks for heads-up about this series. I usually just flip randomly through the program listings. I would have been very sorry to miss the Polanski doc.<BR/><BR/>That said, I've heard the complaint and share it that documentaries have become nothing but investigative journalism. While there is a great need for this type of coverage as the press, particularly in the U.S., abdicates its 4th Estate role, why can't we get a few more major documentaries on the circuit that are lighter. <I>Mad Hot Ballroom</I> is a great film and one of the only ones I can think of that keeps its "message" in deep background. Why didn't <I>Cinerama Adventure</I> get a release at all? Where are the comedies of the documentary world?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com