Help! I Need a Documentary Now!

 

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Let's face it, documentaries are so hot right now!  From its earliest beginnings in the 1920's to the contemporary cinema vérité style storytelling we're so familiar with today, the filmmaking genre has become an effective form of entertainment throughout the years.  Admit it, you can't deny the allure of a good ol’ fashioned documentary.  Like you, I oftentimes invest countless hours in these gripping, enlightening, poignant, and sometimes downright weird films.  My own obsession with the film-style began years ago, when I became engrossed in the cinematic experience so beautifully captured in the celebrated television documentaries “The Civil War” and “Baseball”.  If you've seen a Ken Burns mini-series, you'll agree, there's a reason why the director is called the greatest “emotional archaeologist” of our time.  In addition to the great programs offered on PBS like "Frontline", the streaming service Netflix has been cataloging a number of outstanding documentaries, and if you're an infotainment-junkie like me, you can satisfy your addiction round-the-clock.  In the past month alone, I’ve watched the following documentaries on the widely popular provider:  “Room 237”, “No No: A Documentary”, “Blackfish”, "Jiro Dreams of Sushi", “Man on a Wire”, and of course, "Making a Murderer" too.  I mean, who didn't watch that yet, right? However, do you get the feeling that documentary filmmakers take themselves and their "truthy" films a bit too seriously at times?  Frankly, some of these films are a bit, shall I say, depressing?  So the other day when I was scanning titles, I stumbled upon the aptly-titled "Documentary Now", and naturally it aroused my curiosity.  On the surface, it had all the sensibilities of a highbrow, high-quality documentary, yet it became apparent the more I watched, that the series at its core is actually a hilarious homage to the film genre I've come to treasure. [embed]https://youtu.be/xpKtpuCFecc[/embed] "Documentary Now” is the brainchild of SNL alums Bill Hader and Fred Armisen, who star in every episode, along with host Helen Mirren who brings an air of gravitas to the show.  The entire first season (7 episodes) originally aired on IFC (formally known as the Independent Film Channel) in late 2015.  Honestly, I don't know if I even get the IFC through my cable provider.  Despite not watching the show early on, I quickly started once the mockumentaries began streaming on Netflix last month.  Today I rank my favorite "Documentary Now" episodes, alongside the classic films that inspired them. #1 "Sandy Passage", Ep. 1, is a magnificent introduction to the satirical series.  It parodies the classic 1975 documentary "Grey Gardens", a film that centered around the daily lives of two eccentric socialites, now recluses, living amongst the filth and wildlife within the shambles of their decaying East Hampton mansion.  With his peculiar mannerisms and outlandish attire, Hader excels in his portrayal of "Little Vivvy", perfectly capturing the emotional loneliness and desperation of Edith "Little Edie" Bouveir Beale, one of the real life subjects depicted in the classic 70's independent film.  The parody, for the most part, doesn't stray too far from it's inspiration in both direction and style, except for the genuinely terrifying ending. #2 "The Eye Doesn't Lie", Ep. 4, is a hilarious imitation of the 1988 crime drama "The Thin Blue Line" which is considered to be one of the greatest documentaries ever made.  Armisen shines in his characterization of a an extremely unlikeable and befuddled man (Don Lentile), sentenced to death row after being wrongly convicted for a murder he didn't commit.  Similar to the original film, the episode exposes the corruption and lies that surrounded the trial.  The witness and interoggation interviews, courtroom sketches, Lentile's endless supply of trail-mix, and visual gags throughout the episode are simply brilliant.  Collectively, the episode has it all, and therefore ranking it my second favorite was an extremely hard decision. However, I must abide by the verdict. #3 "Kunuk Uncovered", Ep. 2, is an overt nod to the silent 1922 B&W documentary "Nanook of the North" which depicted the daily life of an Inuk man and his family surviving in the Canadian Klondike.  The original film, while cherished for its cultural and historical significance, is also considered widely controversial for its exploitation of its subjects and perhaps staged scenes.  Hader, Armisen and company, naturally manipulate the source material, flipping the script, giving audiences a behind the scenes look (documentary) at a fake documentary, exposing the "true" nature of its characters and questionable filmmaking techniques in a subdued but laughable way. #4 "DRONEZ:  The Hunt for El Chingon", Ep. 3, is a take-off on the widely popular "Vice" reality tv documentaries.  It is filmed in the same Gonzo-esque journalistic style where hipster reporters immerse themselves in the story.  This keepin' it real approach oftentimes places hosts and crew in extremely precarious and sometimes dangerous situations in an effort to capture the "realest" story possible.  Yet, unlike the docu-series which inspired it, the naive reporters in Dronez, find out the consequences of getting too close to the action.  This episode is the wildest form of parody in the entire series, taking everything including the jokes to the extreme.  Jack Black's spoof of Vice's own founder, Shane Smith is flawless.  When you add "z" to the end of a word, it makes it so 💯.  #ballztothewall #5 "Gentle and Soft:  The Story of the Blue Jean Committee, Part 1 and 2", Ep. 6 & Ep. 7.  Like many highly regarded musical biographical documentaries before it ("The Last Waltz", "Amy" and "This Is Spinal Tap"), the episode follows the lives of a once well-loved, but now defunct band, in this case the fictional classic 70's rock band, the Blue Jean Committee.  Shared through the two perspectives of its founding members, the documentary chronicles the band from their Windy City beginnings, through the height of their popularity fueled by their massive hit "Catalina Breeze", the events leading to their shocking breakup, and eventual reconciliation during a musical induction ceremony.  It is highly reminiscent of  "A History of the Eagles", yet with massive Chi-KAH-go accents.  Legendary music journalist and director Cameron Crowe, along with musicians:  Kenny Loggins, Michael MacDonald and Daryl Hall all have cameos, adding a major believability factor to the episode. You may be wondering why I didn't discuss the 5th episode called "A Town, a film, a gangster". Well, frankly I didn't like it, and I said Top 5, and I'm a man of my word.  Much to my excitement, IFC recently announced that the absurd comedy has been renewed for an additional two seasons.  In the meantime, while we await new episodes, watch the show and immerse yourself in the documentary genre, because there's no telling which one they'll spoof next.