Phil Ochs: There but for Fortune

  And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Phil Ochs: There but for Fortune!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th July 2026

Anyone heard of this? It's a 2010 documentary about the 1960s folk/protest singer Phil Ochs. 
I came across Phil Ochs in an interesting way: I have a big book on popular music and, while making my way through the 'O' section, I came across this name. What stood out for me was the story of himself: He made a name for himself as a folk singer, was unfairly pegged as 'second best' to Bob Dylan, was written off the critics and sadly met a tragic end - only to be acknowledged years later for his songwriting and willingness to stand for cause. Indeed, a tale worthy of Hollywood.
And so we come to this: a documentary on Phil and his life, with contributions from admirers such as Joan Baez, Van Dyke Parks, Billy Bragg, Jello Biafra, Sean Penn and Christopher Hitchens. Certainly prior I had never heard of Ochs' music but clearly he's a big deal. 

It's a given that this is a documentary takes us through Phil's tumultuous life. What is fascinating is how it parallels with the events in the world around him. As such, we see Phil make a name of himself with his songs based on what he sees at the time, his sense of humour and willingness to stand for many a cause, his belief his song-writing could make a difference, his gradual disillusionment with Kennedy's passing and Nixon's election, and his gradual decline professionally and mentally.

Needles to say, this documentary goes a long way in explaining Phil as a person and what he stood for. True we know how the story ends and his decline is tough to watch, but in the end, his music endures as does his passion to stand for what he believes in. 
We can all learn a lot from that.

The Armstrong Lie

  And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Armstrong Lie!

Original image located here. Accessed 1st May 2026

Continuing on with my fascination with documentaries that started in one place only to end up somewhere different, we come to this: A documentary on notorious cyclist/drug cheat Lance Armstrong.
In 2009, documentarian Alex Gibney was working on a documentary on Armstrong but the project was brought to a halt due to his exposure as a dope cheat. However such footage did end up being used years later in this documentary - alongside new material Gibney shot with Armstrong in the wake of the collapse of both his career and reputation.

There are two narratives working here but both ultimately build a portrait of Armstrong. And it isn't a pretty one: A lack of a father in his life. A determination to win. A belief that losing is a fate worse than death. A resilience that walks hand in hand with malignity. A grip on the myth he created that is held like his life depended on it. 
Certainly the story - going from beating cancer to winning the most demanding sporting challenge in the world multiple times - is a strong one but this is still a glimpse into the mind of a villain: It's someone who wants to triumph and refuses to care about the damage wrought to get there. And perhaps that's where the strength of the documentary lies: That such villains exist in the world and that one is someone who got to the top through an astonishingly crafted deception. 

It may not make for a pretty viewing experience but it is a fascinating one. 

The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother Hillel

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother Hillel!

Original image located here. Accessed 10th April 2026

This documentary has been doing the rounds lately so I grew curious. Not much is said about the early days of the Red Hot Chili Peppers (ie. pre-Under the Bridge/Blood Sugar Sex Magic) so perhaps this will fill a void....

So what this is a biography on both the Red Hot Chili Peppers and their original guitarist Hillel Slovak. In regards to the latter, a lot is revealed about him: His early life, his childhood bonding with Anthony Kiedis and Flea, his passion for art, his mastery of the guitar and, his influence on the Chili Peppers themselves. Both Kiedis and Flea contribute their own recollections as well as former band mates and friends. And AI is used to replicate Slovak's voice to read his diary entries, thereby giving Slovak a say in the narrative. 

While this documentary works as a vital document of the afore-mentioned early days of the Chili Peppers, it's ultimate goal is to paint a portrait of Hillel Slovak: showing everyone who he was as a person. And it's this that the documentary succeeds with flying colours.
It is striking to see Kiedis and Flea speak openly about their former bandmate - particularly with the latter breaking down. Clearly the loss of their bandmate is still being felt decades later and they are still keen on making sure Slovak isn't forgotten. There certainly is some guilt expressed over how Slovak's ultimate fate and both maintain that the Chili Peppers wouldn't turned out the way they did without his involvement. 
Also of note is John Frusciante, Hillel's successor, providing his own words of admiration for Slovak. 

Like any good documentary it's a compelling mixture of triumph and tragedy. And it does the job of filling in a vital, and indeed overlooked, spot in the Chili Peppers' history.
It's very human and very honest.

My Kid Could Paint That

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... My Kid Could Paint That!

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd April 2026

Last year I was watching a number of documentaries that started going in one direction but ended up somewhere else entirely. But for some reason, I abandoned this approach. So why not resurrect it? After all, this breed of documentary is fascinating to me. 

And this one is a doozy: This is a documentary from 2007 that chronicles a little girl named Marla Olmstead. At four years of age, she shows an ability with painting and is able to produce works that resemble that of abstract expressionism. Before too long, Marla has her own exhibitions, earning praise for her childlike approach and is making serious money.
But then, halfway through the documentary, something happens: 60 Minutes do a feature on Marla, asserting that she is not the genuine article: She is not a child prodigy, she is producing art comparable to that of a normal preschool child and she may have had assistance from her father. 
What follows is the assertions that the works are genuine - even to the point of filming Marla making a piece for five hours - even when the works produced after the expose look different when compared to those that came before.

What is fascinating about this documentary is that the conclusions it draws are non-existent. HOWEVER! The questions it raises are something else: Was it a hoax? Were 60 Minutes being needlessly aggressive? Is abstract expressionism a legit form of art? What makes a child prodigy? Is Marla allowed to be a child? Are we the audience meant to draw our own conclusions?
Given that documentaries often serve as propaganda it is remarkable just how open-ended this one ends up - why, even the director admins to camera that he himself is unable to reach a definitive conclusion. 
And that's what makes this documentary so compelling. 

Operation Filmmaker

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... Operation Filmmaker!

Original image located here. Accessed 2nd May 2025

Here we are with another documentary that started in direction but ended up in a completely different one.
In 2003 during the War on Iraq, a young man, Muthana Mohmed, was caught on camera lamenting how his aspiring film career had been ruined: First by the then current regime and then by the US Armed Forces. This caught the attention of Liev Schreiber who then sought Muthana out and invited to take part in a film Schrieber was making (Everything is Illuminated) as an intern. 
Surely this is a one-in-a-million success story but this documentary is more about what happened next.

Needless to say it isn't pretty: What follows is Muthana's misadventures navigating the world of filmmaking: He doesn't do the work he is assigned, makes no effort to build connections and network, spends quite a lot of time partying, bounces from film-set to film-set, is warned by his countrymen to not return to Iraq, relies on the goodwill by the people around him, acts entitled, keeps adding to his visa, and tries to get into film school.

Yet at the same time, there is another narrative going on at the same time: that of the people around Muthana. They are relying on the good intentions that got him out of Iraq and are offering no help whatsoever. Indeed, it is telling that, in the last twenty minutes, Muthana turns on the people filming him and lashes out at them. 

So who is the bad guy here? It's unclear that's for sure but that's what makes this documentary so compelling. Uncomfortable viewing? Damn straight but it's hardly dull.

The Queen of Versailles

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Queen of Versailles!

Original image located here. Accessed 4th April 2025

It seems this year that I have been, once a month, watching a documentary, that started in one direction but ended up in a completely different direction. So lets keep that particular train going.

This documentary is a fascinating one as it tells a familiar story: A couple are intent on building their dream house but, due to meddling from the bank, they are forced to abandon this plan and settle for something smaller. So what makes this story different? The couple in question are an excessively wealthy businessman and his trophy wife: David and Jackie Siegel. 

So whilst this documentary starts with their original plan - a monumental mansion inspired by the Palace of Versailles - what happens next has such plans going belly-up with the financial crash of 2008 and these two settling for something lesser.
Now given that the super wealthy are hardly flavour of the month material at the moment, is this documentary condemning or sympathetic? The answer is both. Yes this couple make some poor spending decisions (especially Jackie), yes they have an oblivious approach to their situation, and yes they are effectively living in their own super-wealthy bubble. But at the same time, they are facing a lot of problems that the rest of us will face: limited funds, struggling to pay off debts and longing for a financial breakthrough. 

Make no mistake: These people are pretty much awful people who do dumb things and have a limited view of the world. And yet seeing them humbled in such a manner one can't help but feel sense of sympathy.
Maybe not a lot but its there.

Vernon: Florida

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... Vernon Florida!

Original image located here. Accessed 14th March 2025

I am attracted to any movie that has a fascinating backstory behind it and the one attached to this documentary is a doozy.
Documentarian Errol Morris went to Vernon, Florida to do a feature based on a story he heard about how local residents were cutting off body parts for an insurance scam. However this original idea had to be abandoned due to Morris receiving multiple death threats. So, as a Plan B, Morris instead made a documentary about some of the eccentric individuals that make up the town.

 As mentioned above this is exactly what it is: Some residents of a southern town talking about their lives and what they  think. It may sound dull but what makes it compelling isn't just these people's various eccentricities but their own insights thereby conveying their philosophies and experiences. Also noteworthy is that I gather this will be the closest we will ever get to see Southern people on the screen: a rarely seen people showing them as they are and having speak in their own voice. 

So in it's own roundabout way, this is a very human documentary. 
Truly a case of building something out of when one's original plan falls though....

Jimmy Carter: Rock and Roll President

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Jimmy Carter: Rock and Roll President!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th February 2025

Here's an interesting concept for a documentary: One on former US president Jimmy Carter framed around his love of music. Given his recent passing, I guess now is as good a time as any to take a look.

But whereas I was intrigued by the framework, itself proves to be deceiving. Yes, it is fascinating to see Carter's interest in music, going from discovering gospel in his youth before branching out into country and rock 'n roll. Yes it is interesting to have input from the likes of Bob Dylan, Nile Rodgers, Willie Nelson and Gregg Allman. And yes it is amusing to see Carter use his political connections to engage with many of the acts of the era.
However the further this documentary goes on, the more it strays from it's original intent: And it gradually becomes less about Carter's love of music and more about Carter as a person. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing: The movie talks about his beliefs, his values and his decisions as president. And the interviewees are certainly willing to talk about Carter, contributing to the image of him as someone of genuine integrity. 

Informative yes, but not what I was expecting. 

Gimme Shelter

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Gimme Shelter!

Original image located here. Accessed 17th January 2025

Behold: one of the most famous (infamous?) documentaries, music or otherwise, ever made. It's the chronicle of the Altamont Free Concert - a show put on by the Rolling Stones that ended in disaster.

For those who don't know: Altamont happened in 1969, four months after Woodstock. It was put together by the Rolling Stones and had them headlining with some other acts. During the show however the crowd was unruly and the security, provided by the Hells Angels, were very hostile to them. Needless to say, it descended into chaos and an attendee, one Meredith Hunter, was stabbed to death.
Since then, there have been varying accounts of the event but it has gone down in history as a catastrophe and, most significantly, the endpoint of both the sixties and the hippy ethos of 'peace and love' it inspired.

Of  course, this documentary does nothing to challenge such a narrative: the planning process is shown to be haphazard and the event is shown to be utter mayhem. And it is the latter that is the key selling point of this documentary: it is terrifying to watch and the alarm shown by the Stones is genuine. 

But the main strength of this feature is seeing Mick and Charlie being confronted with the footage. Granted the Stones may forever be the benchmark for pop music 'bad boys' but rarely are such 'bad boys' shown the consequences of their actions. And it is downright harrowing. 
Was that the intention of this documentary? Hard to say but what I do know is that this was a far from easy watch - but much like car crash, hard to look away. 

Man With a Movie Camera

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Man With a Movie Camera!

Original image located here. Accessed 23rd June 2023

Anyone heard of this? It's a Soviet movie dating all the way back to the silent era - 1929 to be precise - that has gone down in history as being one of the most influential movies ever made. Such a reputation rests on the fact that this movie employs many film-making techniques: cross-cuts, slow motion, fast motion, reversing, quick cuts, stop animation and more.
Granted this could yet another instance of me, so far this year, of watching yet another lesser known/foreign/arty film but then again, I have always relied on the notion that I talk about the movies I've seen and hope that what I type connects with someone. So I see no reason to stop now.

As for the movie, well, clearly it's reputation lies on how it managed to expand the vocabulary of film. At first glance it is a documentary what with it showing a day in the life of an Eastern European city, with it's occupants at work and play. Yet I personally felt that I was watching the distant progenitor of countless music videos.
Ultimately however, the strength of this movie lies in it's visuals and what the director, Dziga Vertov had managed to accomplish. There are some stunning visuals and some interesting narratives at work.
That being said, has this movie aged? I ask this as we are watching the same techniques that have been replicated many, many, MANY times since. I would say no as this movie's followers would no doubt take the 'I can do that too' approach. Here however I don't get the impression that Vertov was showing off - largely because this is still a documentary first and foremost.
So yeah, nearly a century later, this movie still has power.

Leaving Neverland

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Leaving Neverland!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th June 2023

I was originally going to watch Puss in Boots: Last Wish but I had a last minute change of plan and opted for this.
I think a lot of my audience would have heard of this: It's a documentary where two guys, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, talk about how they were befriended by Michael Jackson at a young age and what followed afterwards. Needless to say, this documentary has gone a long way in challenging Michael's reputation.

Personally I always had an indifferent stance with Michael Jackson. So upon watching this documentary, two things stand out. Firstly it is long at four hours (Heaven help me if I ever decide to watch Shoah). And secondly, this is really Wade and James being very open about their experiences. I've heard people complain that this documentary is one-sided but really, it is both Wade and James' story.
And what a story it is. A lot of detail is given about what happened to these two and how they processed it: Stories of abuse, separation, secrecy, silence, cover-ups, and the long road in processing the trauma endured. This documentary certainly isn't easy to sit through but it certainly has power as a description of child abuse.
Powerful and without a doubt nothing quite like it....

So what did prompt that last minute change? Buggered if I know.

Roger and Me

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Roger and Me!

Original image located here. Accessed 31st March 2023

I have previously spoken of my following of Michael Moore over the years so here we are at his debut feature: his announcement to the rest of the world that he exists.
So what this documentary is Michael following the closing down of a General Motors factory in Flint Michigan and the chaos that follows: Unemployment, increased crime, people being evicted, and an aggressive indifference from the wealthy. All the while Michael is trying to get in touch with General Motors CEO Roger Smith to ask some questions.

Of course, as this is his first feature, there are some familiar tropes on Michael's part: Standing up for the down-trodden, challenging the wealthy and showing up unannounced at certain places only to be kicked out. But what I find striking is that how un-relentlessly bleak this movie is: One expects Michael to have some humour to go with his razor sharp points but I didn't find much to laugh about. And of course since this movie's release, the situation has seen little improvement.
Of course, you can complain about Michael's one sided approach but you can't say the end effect is a searing experience

Hoop Dreams

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... Hoop Dreams!

Original image located here. Accessed 20th January 2023

Sports movies are not one of my favourite genres. Because to me they are seem so formulaic. Seriously, you see one 'Struggling team of no-hopers guided by equally troubled coach achieve against-the-odds success' movie you've seen them all. And when formula is involved, as is often the case, it can be difficult to break away from.
But I will give props to any movie that attempts to do so. So what we have here is a (very long) documentary that follows two kids, who are keen on basketball, trying to make their passion work for them.

Over the course of the documentary we follow the kids, William Gates and Arthur Agee, go from playing basketball in school to doing what it takes to make the NBA tryouts. Along the way, they face challenges such as poverty, injuries, race, getting an education, troubled family lives, finding employment, and staking a lot on eventual success.
Personally whilst my knowledge of basketball may be very limited, I have to admit that the sport itself isn't really the focus here: It's about two kids trying to achieve success despite a whole range of obstacles coming at them. It really showcases what it means to have a dream and the blood, sweat and tears that are involved to make them happen. And to that end the movie succeeds.
Guess it is possible to break the formula.

Whiteley

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Whiteley!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th December 2022

For the uninitiated, this is a documentary on the Australian artist Brett Whiteley. Interestingly, I know nothing of the man or his artwork, but I did know that when he died there was a massive media sensation and the press were running stories about him for months afterward. So maybe this could be an introduction to him?

Unfortunately no. Sure a lot is revealed about Brett: His artwork, his methods and his way of thinking. Sure there is plenty of use of his letters and eyewitness accounts. Sure a lot is revealed about his passions. But to me, the execution leaves a lot to be desired. Simply put: I found this movie dull. But, as mentioned above, it shouldn't have been. But if I can find my interest drifting away, which honestly happens rarely when i watch a movie, then something has gone wrong.

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Persistence of Vision

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Persistence of Vision!

Original image located here. Accessed 11th November 2022

Two weeks ago i watched The Thief and the Cobbler: the Recobbled Cut - a fan edit of an unfinished animated film. This then led me to this evening's feature: a documentary of the original work itself.

It should come as no surprise to see a documentary on this topic as the story behind it is a fascinating one. This is, after all, telling the story of a movie that was never completed. But even if the destination was never reached, the journey is all we have.
And what a journey it was: The goal of animator Richard Williams to keep pushing the boundaries of what animation can accomplish; the decades long production time with backers dropping in and out; the battle between the creative genius and business side that never seems to reconcile; the seemingly endless pursuit of perfection; that the film originated as a 'side-hustle' in-between doing commercials; the success of Who Framed Roger Rabbit leading to Warner Brothers stepping in (and out).
Indeed it is fascinating to see something develop that will remain unfinished. Guess nothing holds sway like the notion of What Could've Been.

The Roxette Diaries

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Roxette Diaries!

Original image located here. Accessed 11th November 2022

Anyone heard of this? This is a collection of footage taken of Swedish popstars Roxette during their late 1980s/early 1990s heyday - all taken in the 'home video' style. And I only knew of it once it showed up on my streaming service.
Personally, when i was a kid in the late eighties, Roxette seemed to me like the biggest stars on the planet: They had multiple hits that got tonnes of radio play and a constant presence on early morning rage. Of course in the years since, Roxette's material may come across as dated but to be one of Sweden's biggest pop exports (second only to ABBA) is nothing to sniffed at. And besides it's unlikely that Savage Garden would've existed without them.

So what this movie is a whole bunch of footage captured on (presumably) camcorders shot by both Roxette themselves and friends. We see footage of live shows, goofing around backstage, store appearances, music video shoots, gold record presentations, and generally, Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle being themselves. Granted this is nothing new given we have YouTube and TikTok, but the fact that it was utilizing the tech of the time is impressive.

Thing is, I have to wonder: What is the point of this? The obvious answer is, as mentioned above, showing Marie and Per as themselves. I won't fault that that - it is even spelled out in a statement at the beginning - but a lot of the footage i found to be arranged in such a haphazard manner: There is little to no context of the footage. And the pace is VERY hurried, with some sequences moving on just as soon as they arrive. And such editing choices do indeed seem at odds with the mission statement.
So yeah. a great idea handicapped with some strange editing choices. Damn...

I am Big Bird

And this week's Friday night movie has been... I am Big Bird!

Original image located here. Accessed 18th March 2022

Anyone heard of this? It's a documentary on the now deceased muppeteer Carroll Spinney, exploring his life, his career and his passion in working with puppets.
As the title suggests, a lot of this documentary was focused on Spinney's greatest achievement: Big Bird. A lot is discussed on his creation, how the process of operating the giant muppet works (which sounds arduous) and his SNL appearance among other points.
Also focused is Spinney's other muppet (Oscar the Grouch), his friendship with Jim Henson, his commitment to being a children's entertainer and his rather fascinating life.
So yes, this was indeed compelling to watch and a remarkable journey through the life of a very talented man.

Grizzly Man

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Grizzly Man!

Original image located here. Accessed 4th March 2022

I've been wanting to see this for a long time: A documentary about a man named Timothy Treadwell, who would make regular visits to the Alaskan wilderness to take footage of bears - often with himself sharing the frame. And who would became something of celebrity due to his passion for them.

Much of this movie is made out of the footage that Timothy shot. And as a result we learn a lot about him: he is indeed enthusiastic about the bears but at the same time, he is someone who is clearly in love with his own passion. As such, Timothy is constantly putting himself in dangerous situations, is unperturbed that he is dealing with ruthless killing machines, claims to be keen on conservation but isn't doing anything to back it up, is clearly more at home in the wild than in civilization, is unafraid to vent some anger at the National Parks Service, has no proper idea of what he is doing and is a clear interference in the flow of nature.
But on the other hand, Timothy does show some talent as a filmmaker and certainly has an eye for an image. And however misguided he may be, you can't fault him for his passion.

Still, this does have some resonance for me as this is someone who is clearly out of his depth chasing a dream that is ultimately misguided. Those who know me will know that I have never had a lot of faith in the notion of 'Be yourself and disregard what anyone else thinks' because, at least to me, that does inspire a mindset of tunnel-vision. And this movie is that theory in practice.

In the end, this is indeed a fascinating character study. The subject is certainly not a usual choice for one which, in turn, makes it even more compelling

Console Wars

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Console Wars!

Original image located here. Accessed 25th February 2022

Anyone heard of this? It's a documentary chronicling the rise of Sega and how it challenged Nintendo and the changes it brought about into the console/video gaming market.
The titles indicates that this is about both Sega and Nintendo but this is really the former's story all the way. Sure Nintendo get a decent hearing but this is all about how one small company decided to take on a seemingly unstoppable juggernaut.
And this is how the various men and women made it happen, telling what they did and the repercussions the effects had.

If you know the story, then all the familiar beats are here: the crucial hiring of Tom Kalinske, the godsend that was Sonic the Hedgehog, the ingenious marketing strategies, appeals to a teenage market, the serious threat posed to Nintendo, the gulf between Sega of Japan and Sega of America, the flop that was the Saturn and the subsequent rise of Sony and it's PlayStation.
This certainly does present a fascinating snapshot of the era but it ends with Sony - who, of course, don't get a say. And I would've liked that they did - particularly Steve Race (whose story i would most be interested to hear) who remains frustratingly elusive.
Still this documentary made for a compelling story and one I am grateful is told

Happy Happy Joy Joy: the Ren and Stimpy story

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Happy Happy Joy Joy: the Ren and Stimpy story!

Original image located here. Accessed 26th November 2021

Oh this takes me back: Ren and Stimpy was a show I watched a lot of in the mid-nineties. Indeed, it was a show that was perfect for an impressionable mind entering their early teens. Say what you like about it now, but what drew me in was that really challenged to notion of what could be accomplished in a cartoon, it aggravated a lot of conservative types, it was random and bizarre, and had plenty of gross humor.
That and it was the funniest thing I had ever seen.
So upon learning that a documentary had been made about this cartoon, how could I resist?

First up you can't say this documentary wasn't informative: We follow the story of Ren and Stimpy, starting from John Kricfalusi's passion for animation before following onto his determination to make a show that pushed the envelope as to what animation could accomplish, the success, the obsessive attention to detail to the animation, the subsequent missed deadlines, the firing of Kricfalusi, and the influence Ren and Stimpy has on successive cartoon series.
I have to admit that whilst i was enjoying the show, there was a lot of behind-the-scenes chaos that was happening. So to be made aware of this has been eye-opening to say the least. I did not know about the insane process of getting the show made and I certainly did not know about Kricfalusi's... dodgy acts (and that's putting it lightly) in the years since. Still, for a documentary the information is comprehensive and it certainly makes a case that the odd adventures of a jerk and an idiot did change the face of animation and brought focus onto creator-driven shows.
Who would've guessed that such a strange cartoon would have such a compelling story behind it?
Personally, my teen years have long since passed so it is kind hard to watch Ren and Stimpy now. Still it is interesting to see the impact it had and to see fans talk about it with enthusiasm. So I will give it that much.
Plus, nearly three decades on and I still love that opening theme