I don't really like Wham. And usually I don't watch any of your recommendations as they're for genres I'm disinterested in. Interesting that you mention how it looks, that's not generally something I care about in a documentary, I'm all about the story, so wonder if we'll have crossover taste here.
Netflix recommendations
- Thread starter Jon-of-arc
- Start date
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
Of course, just because I make telly doesn't mean I can enjoy the final product any more or less. To be honest all that generally switches off when I'm watching. It's usually only when something really is jarring that my work brain kicks in. Or maybe when something is frustratingly almost good.
The Wham doc stood out though. Even top film makers tend to go for interview, voice over, fill in the blanks with archive.
The Wham doc tells an engaging and thoughtfully well paced story. I think it was also 100% active interviews and footage and no VO (something i generally favor, but almost always get pushed back on) which gave it a very unique feel. Like a time capsule a real document of events of the time. (A documentary if you will. )
I've probably built it up too much. Maybe I am too aware of the struggle it would have been to collate (and budget for) all that archive. .
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
It's more about how it uses music an archive stills very creatively, but to also pace the 'story'. It's not just wallpaper over the cracks.
I think what sets this doc apart in some ways is that it's paced and presented more like a story (even if it doesn't look that way). It's not a set of interviews and info dumps with semi appropriate GV covering jump cuts and voice over.
As I've said previously, I've probably built it up too much now. I've only seen it once, and that was in two sittings. Maybe I focused on it more because it's a stand out example of excellence in something I sometimes do in my job.
The Wham doc is very well made and whether you like the band or not, it's worth a watch. Imho.
AnnO'Neemus
Is so vanilla
Yeah, too true, the usual convention is current interviews interspersed with archive footage and use of judicious cutting with 'noddies' and B roll to cover up/smooth over the edits.
In fact, would say it made me appreciate the band; as was more a fan of George's solo career.
It's well made but just over half way through and I'm finding it a bit dull.
I appreciate that George was a genius songwriter and musician and all round creative, but I like documentaries about the inner lives and environments that shaped people, this is a lot about the processes of creativity which I admire, but don't want to watch a whole documentary about.
Maybe if I liked Wham more I'd find it more enjoyable because then at least I would be into the song clips.
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
Personally I thought there was really rather a lot about his life. Much much more so than the creative process which I felt was glossed over somewhat.
Really? I'm halfway through and it's just about how he met his friends, but really just where, and how they used to hang out and party - not much depth in that.
I haven't watched the second half so maybe that side of things gets deeper but as the premise is around the release of the song, I doubt it.
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
What more do you need? You have George's dad, his upbringing, greek background, moving school, his personality at school, meeting friends, making music. . . later you get his discovering his sexuality and coming out to his friends and all that. The separation of the 'band' and what that meant to two great friends. It felt like more of an emotional and personal story than one about the music making process. I don't remember much detail about recording other than where it was done and how there was more attention to detail, creative input and less corporate interference than you might imagine.
The bit about school and meeting his friends was really quick and not much depth. I haven't seen the bit about him coming out or the band splitting so fair enough, maybe that's the bit with depth and maybe I should watch to the end. But I've watched 35min already and I definitely wouldn't class that first half as having depth about his character. I'd say there's as much in the first half about the creative process as his personal life, so then not much depth on either.
I'll finish it and see what happens.
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
I'm no wham fan and I understand that nobody really want's to hear about how eq nobs are twiddled, but I learned things I didn't know and thought the balance was pretty good.
I LOVE reading music autobiographies (NOT biographies), i'll read them about almost anyone. This was the closest TV doc I have seen to that experience. . . most concentrate too much on what 'other' people thought about the artists carrier, which for me is only biog filler. This was mostly all in Yog and the bands voice and from their point of view.
Sure, but maybe it's a genre preference as I don't really read music autobiographies. I love music but I'm not a non fiction reader often.
However I do love documentaries but the bit about him coming out and the band split would be more the human interest side that would be interesting to me, so I'll watch to the end and then decide.
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
Watched this yesterday. It was ok but could have been done way better.
I've read up about it since and it's a great story that wasn't given enough technical attention. All the way through it was said to be impossible, and they were failing, then they just get it all done in the last 10 minutes with no explanation. All the actresses being drop dead gorgeous models in perfect make-up didn't work for wartime Europe either!
Definitely worth a watch though.
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
Quite possibly. I litteraly can't read anything that isn't an autobiography these days. I've not managed to finish a work of fiction for some years now.
kabbes
First intersubjective, then internalised
Just enjoyed this, in a very very silly way. Amusingly references Die Hard and Home Alone in a deliberately subversive way. In a way, the whole film is one big meta joke on both Christmas films and action films. That means it does get bit tired towards the end, but fuck it. Worth it anyway.Violent Night. Think Die Hard meets Bad Santa but he’s the real Santa. Very amusing adult dark comedy nonsense
Finished Seinfeld yesterday. The finale is still a bit of a dud, although the gang's behaviour seems mild now - what with Curb and It's Always Sunny coming after it...
There's some episodes that feel awkward over the 9 seasons but overall, still enjoyed it.
There's some episodes that feel awkward over the 9 seasons but overall, still enjoyed it.
Allison Janney is superb, though.
Really must get round to watching The West Wing at some stage.
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
I finished this. Way less cleverly written than it seems to think it is.
The thing that I found most annoying was the characters changing reactions to various situations, murder and each other, especially concerning the brother.
Brother helps cover up accidental death. . . Why? Seemed pretty straightforward to me. Now he has to go to prison (I didn't even catch why he had to go to prison).
Brother asks for 80k for a deposit on his sons house. . . doesn't mention it's for a good cause and he has done them a favour, is just really threatening and cuts his brothers hand on a bansaw. . . this crazy act of violence is not mentioned beyond this point.
Then there are various 'whoops you killed my brother. . . oh well never mind' moments.
Oh he is alive? Great, now we just chat, oh no wait I'll now beat him up and starve him to death, sealed inside my wall!!!??
How DID they even cover up their sons death? The actual explanation is easily the simplest.
Actually none of it makes any sense. You would have thought with Barack and Michelle Obama executive producing they would have cast an eye over the script and made some sensible suggestions (even if they were just backers in terms of $$$$$).
I watched it all I suppose, which I guess counts for something. . . but the more I think about it the more angry I get. I think they would have been better off doing a Desperate Housewives and fleshed out the various personal dramas and had the murder mystery as a very very loose backdrop.
The more I think about it the more mad I get. I was going to say it was ok, but actually it's not. It's shit. Slickly filmed, loosely scripted shit.
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
Fair comment!
I found it highly entertaining. I guess I glossed over all of that
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
I also finished Bodkin.
This one also didn't seem to quite know where it was going. Could have done with a tighter through line. It did at least make sense to some extent though.
Decent start/premise
Took until about the last three episodes to actually get interesting / find it's feet
Unsatisfying final episode / revelation.
I give it a 'meh plus'
This one also didn't seem to quite know where it was going. Could have done with a tighter through line. It did at least make sense to some extent though.
Decent start/premise
Took until about the last three episodes to actually get interesting / find it's feet
Unsatisfying final episode / revelation.
I give it a 'meh plus'
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ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
It had some good ideas / threads for personal drama, they could have made the murder mystery far more straightforward / relatable. I have a feeling they were going for a comedy farce sort of feel but the realism made if fall between two stools. You can mix both (only murders in the building) but the characters and their motivations have to be consistent and 'mystery' has to make sense.Fair comment!
I found it highly entertaining. I guess I glossed over all of that
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
Found out one of my favourite mangas has a series on Netflix last night, so started that last night
Jin - a surgeon gets sent back to the Edo period and has to work out how to do A Medicine with no tools and no kit.
Jin - a surgeon gets sent back to the Edo period and has to work out how to do A Medicine with no tools and no kit.
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
I am surprised my anime bonkers daughter (and wife) have not yet alerted me to the face I am going to be subjected to this.
It sounds mercifully more interesting to what we usually have to watch over dinner.
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
It’s quite an old manga and the series is fairly old as well I think
Being a Japanese live action adaptation it does of course feature excessive moments of DRAMATIC PAUSES! But not as many as say Pending Train
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
That won't stop them, especially my wife.
Oh, it's live action. You didn't mention that. That's probably why they didn't notice.
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
I'm watching now. I thought it was was going to be terrible after the utter shit set up in present day. Gets quite fun when he goes back to Edo Edo.
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