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Reviews
Point and Shoot (2014)
Interesting story of a creepy protagonist
Point and Shoot is remarkable footage of the Arab Spring from an American man who briefly lived it. The trouble is that the man is a textbook unreliable narrator who has an odd, narcissistic streak.
Point and Shoot tells the story of Matt VanDyke, a Baltimore man in his late 20s or early 30s who is doted on by his mother and grandmother and lives at home. To prove that he is not a wimp, VanDyke decides he needs an adventure to understand "manhood." He decides to go on a motorcycle ride across the middle east and, through a variety of accidents and decisions over several years, ends up fighting with the Libyan rebels against Gaddafi. VanDyke films many of these encounters and ends up giving them to a full-time director when he returns to the U.S.
The footage is very interesting, and the documentary is well-edited. But VanDyke is troubling to watch for most of the film. For example, he asks a friend to film him trying to kill another man, and repeatedly focuses on how his actions in Syria affect his "manhood." VanDyke seems to be overly fascinated with his own image and at the same time unable to understand how poorly his actions will come across on camera. The documentary director does a good job of raising subtle questions about VanDyke's mental state.
Senna (2010)
Brilliant documentary about brilliant racer
If Ayrton Senna was not a real man Hollywood would have to have invented him. Senna charged up the ranks of Formula One racers, emerging as one of the best in the world in the 1980s. This movie has amazing footage of Senna's races, with scenes of his exciting victories and also film of his crashes. Senna's rivalry and alliance with Alain Prost is also heavily detailed in the film.
The documentary also weaves in Senna's personal life. It is fun to watch Senna go from young racer to a worldwide celebrity, dating models and appearing on TV shows, even if that complicates his Catholic faith.
If you know Senna's story you know how it ends, with him dying in competition and possibly because of mechanical problems with his car. The film does a good job of addressing these issues too but leaves it to the viewer to make up his or her mind.
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
Very interesting movie that holds up
"Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" is a very smart documentary that deserves to be watched again, ten years later, as the U.S. still deals with economic problems caused by Wall Street bad behavior.
Alex Gibney is at the top of his game in this film, capturing the story of a company that captivated the stock market through lies and deceit before collapsing in an amazing implosion.
Gibney shows how Jeffrey Skilling, the head of Enron, created a culture that misled investors through illegal billing practices and through shell companies. Skilling also changes company policy so the weakest staff get fired every year, which ends up making many of the ones who stay even more competitive. The criminal behavior goes all the way up the ladder. For example, Andy Fastow, the CFO, creates shell companies that trade with each other in order to illegally boost Enron's profits. Not surprisingly, these men end up with prison terms.
Gibney's film is an important picture of a Darwinian company that came to symbolize American greed and the crooked men who led it. Recommended.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Incredible movie and an all-time great
One of the most important movies of the 1990s and a triumph for Steven Spielberg, helping to keep alive the story of the Greatest Generation and remind us of the sacrifice of war.
Spielberg takes time to introduce us to a small band of soldiers, getting to see the end of World War 2 through their eyes. The movie follows the last days of the European war, as the American forces push into France against a Nazi army that is not yet ready to give up. To say much more would be giving away major plot developments, but the plot features several major surprises and gripping battle scenes.
"Saving Private Ryan" also features an incredible cast, including Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, and many cameo appearances from Nathan Fillion, Ted Danson and others.
Cidade dos Homens (2007)
Good but not great
At times this movie is very powerful and really makes the reality of Brazil's slums come alive. The characters struggle with broken families and shattered dreams, and join gangs because there are few other realistic options. Even though the film is fictional, it is sad to see because there is truth behind it.
At other times the movie feels very ham-handed, as the characters deal with themes that have been in many movies before. Fathers who come back, sons who push against them. Most of the characters are not well-defined and lack depth and motivation.
I would recommend the movie, but it is not as good as some other Brazilian films about life in the favelas, namely City of God.
Taxi to the Dark Side (2007)
Great movie but leaves you with questions
This was a great and troubling movie about the U.S. military's use of torture. You will not easily forget scenes and details from this movie, especially because at the heart, it is the story of an innocent man murdered by Americans who think they are protecting our nation.
It left me uneasy and with questions that I am still thinking about, years after seeing the movie. Where was the oversight from elected officials? How will we ever end the war on terror?
Alex Gibney is a talented filmmaker and this is among his better films. I would strongly recommend that you see it. I also hope that if Alex is reading IMDb, he decides to make another movie about how the War on Terror has continued under a different president.