Movies and documentaries

[sophia]

Could you suggest some good movies and documentaries? I can get us started with a few...

Tonight I watched 'Malcolm X' - I found it quite informative as I didn't know a lot about him. It was interesting watching how his views on life and on how he lead his life changed over time.

'City of Men' - this is an excellent Brazilian series about the life of kids growing up in a slum near Rio (http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/cinema/features/city-of-men.shtml)

A while ago I watched 'The Weather Underground' (http://www.upstatefilms.org/weather/) which, again, I found very interesting because I knew very little about this group of white militants. I loved the interviews they did; it was great to see that at least some of them had not lost their ideals and were still active in trying to change the world for the better.

BAD movie: before 'Malcolm X', I tried to watch 'Ed Wood' (starring Johnny Depp) but just couldn't get into it. I gave up after about ten minutes. I hate wasting time on watching bad movies. Has anyone else seen it? Maybe I should have given it more of a chance...

[The Smoking Man]

Try Good Night and Good Luck.

Edward R Murrow vs. Joe McCarthy.

http://wip.warnerbros.com/goodnightgoodluck/index2.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433383/

Most of the text of Edward R. Murrow's speech bookending the movie is taken word-for-word from the actual keynote address he delivered to the 1958 RTNDA convention. The actual conclusion to the speech, after Murrow's line about television, used strictly for entertainment rather than education, being nothing more than wires and lights in a box, went as follows: "There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful. Stonewall Jackson, who knew something about the use of weapons, is reported to have said, 'When war comes, you must draw the sword and throw away the scabbard.' The trouble with television is that it is rusting in the scabbard during a battle for survival."

[The Statutory Ape]

Cradle Will Rock
Wanted to see it when it came out but never got to the theatre.  It looked really good at the time though.


I loved the movie Pleasantville but most people seem to have never seen it or heard of it.  I think I may have told you about it before.

Ummm...  I'll see if I can think of some more.

[Smurf]

I saw pleasantville!  don't really know why you're suggesting it though, it's an alright movie, not much to do with politics though.  I assume he wants political movies/documentaries since he's posting in the politics forum and was talking about Malcom X.

I suggest:
1. The people vs. Larry Flynt.  Awesome movie mostly about the right to free expression.  Follows the career of Hustler founder Larry Flynt.
2. Starship Troopers.  Seriously.  Great Book, the movie is a decent introduction.  Civic Virtue, Suffrage, Militarism, Capital Punishment, totally awesome.

Thats all i can think of right now.  check back later

[The Smoking Man]

Starship Troopers made me want to 

I have a hard time digesting US Marine Corps 'Huabar's and affected patriotism.

And Doogie Howser as a mastermind, military operative ... Pulease.

 

[sophia]

Thanks for this feedback, all.

I've seen Pleasantville, and we may have discussed it before, TSA - a good movie, I agree. I think it is quite a political movie, Smurf (isn't everything, ultimately?) - it involves a kind of revolt against a stultifying social system that only permitted (permits? this is quite topical given the current conservative backlash in the US, I'd imagine) one to live on the surface of life. I saw it quite a while ago and don't remember all the details.

Hey, by the way Smurf, it's me... alexandra! Hi, matey, long time no speak to! I see you're still fighting the good fight on PF sometimes. I've ventured back a couple of times too, but I mostly don't hang out there any more... and when I log on there, I usually just go to the maths and astronomy sections. It's a matter of 'you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink' - I've gotten quite bored with the same old arguments there all the time. But sometimes I hop in, now and again... depending on my mood.

Back to movies: I watched Starship Troopers with my daughter and some of her friends - I remember enjoying its humour quite a bit, but that may be because one of her friends really loved it and had a totally infectious laugh 

I'll look out for the other movies you guys have recommended - I haven't seen the rest of them. The plot summaries look very promising TSM, the theme music on that first site you provided is great; I'd get Good Night, And Good Luck out just for the music - after such a sustained period of listening to angry, sad music I think it'll be good for me!

sophia

[Smurf]

Yay! Alexandra!  Yeah PF is very repetitive.  TSM has created a bit of a mass-dessertion here it seems.

[The Smoking Man]

Only one problem.

The Republikunts seem to have an aversion to free speech and don't like leaving their protected enclave.

 

[The Statutory Ape]

I saw pleasantville!  don't really know why you're suggesting it though, it's an alright movie, not much to do with politics though.  I assume he wants political movies/documentaries since he's posting in the politics forum and was talking about Malcom X.

I suggest:
1. The people vs. Larry Flynt.  Awesome movie mostly about the right to free expression.  Follows the career of Hustler founder Larry Flynt.
2. Starship Troopers.  Seriously.  Great Book, the movie is a decent introduction.  Civic Virtue, Suffrage, Militarism, Capital Punishment, totally awesome.

Thats all i can think of right now.  check back later

Pleasantville is more symbolic and artistic than straightforward politics.  It was a great satire, and I love satire.

I thought of The People vs Larry Flint but I haven't seen it and I'm reluctant about Woody Harelson.

Starship Troopers made me want to 

I have a hard time digesting US Marine Corps 'Huabar's and affected patriotism.

And Doogie Howser as a mastermind, military operative ... Pulease.

 

I've heard that the book was much much better.  I think Smurf was probably recommending the book more so than the movie.


Another one I just remember is Wag The Dog.  It has Harrelson in it too but just as a bit character.

[Polly]

  I don't have a lot to contribute to this thread.  Watching tv programmes though, I found a common dark thread running through some popular ones here, such as 24, Alias, Lost, Tru Calling, Medium, Point Pleasant.  And the thread being manipulation of the fear of what is unknown and making the unknown a bigger monster than it really is.

While a lot of the "reality" shows such as the Apprentice, America's Next Top Model, Survivor, Project Runway do not even tell the contestants what business or beauty or modeling or fashion design is about.  They show all the cat-fights, the back-stabbing and the ugly side as if these were the order of the day.  All the judges do is to carp, sneer, jeer the contestants to pieces and make them feel worthless about themselves or to pat them gently on the shoulder every so rarely to make them feel gratified with joy. 

I think the funny thing is Tyra Bank keeps telling those young model-aspire-to-bes that she cares about them when the ones not shortlisted have to leave the group, pack up and go home alone often crying (camera loves to dolly at their lonesome backs).  If she cares about them why does she have to make them feel absolutely despondent, sad and worthless?  What kind of message are the media trying to condition us?