Documentary

WEST OF MEMPHIS TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT THE ARKANSAS JUSTICE SYSTEM

Peter “Lord of the Rings” Jackson produced the new documentary ”West of Memphis” that chronicles the trial, murder conviction, and release of the “West Memphis Three” seventeen years later. A trio of documentaries, “Paradise Lost,” produced by HBO starting in the 90’s attracted interest to the Arkansas injustice and Johnny Depp and other celebrities brought attention to the case. Three teenagers were convicted of murdering 3 children with no physical evidence. Seventeen years later they are free, thanks to DNA evidence. This film – described as “astonishing”- tells the story of the inept police force and corrupt legal system that robbed these men of years of their lives. (Above, Johnny Depp with former death row inmate Damien Echols)

What do YOU think?

By Janet / March 3, 2013

11 Comments

Beyoncé Blue Ivy Documentary HBO Jay Z

BEYONCE ONLY SHARES HER PRIVATE LIFE WHEN SHE HAS TO

#beyonce #janetcharlton

Beyonce’s documentary “Life is But a Dream” debuted last night on HBO and her fans love it, the critics, not so much. It has been described as a “calculated vanity project” carefully conceived to drum up publicity for her upcoming tour. We DID get a closer look at the super-private singer’s baby Blue Ivy, however, and Ivy looks more like her daddy Jay-Z every day. In a girly way, of course. She will probably grow to look more like her mother as she gets older.

What do YOU think?

By Janet / February 17, 2013

14 Comments

Documentary James Redford Robert Redford

ROBERT REDFORD’S SON JAMES HAS ISSUES ABOUT HAVING A FAMOUS DAD

Robert Redford’s son James doesn’t seem to have a grip on the advantages of being related to a major movie star. James directed a documentary on dyslexia that he‘s been promoting in various cities but he’s not very cooperative, according to our friend CJ at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. The press isn’t infatuated with the doc’s subject matter, but they are willing to give him some publicity if he’s willing to talk about his famous father just a little. James stubbornly says NO upfront to ANY questions involving his father and journalists are rebuffed. He’d better loosen up if he wants publicity for his cause. He’s lucky to have a famous father who opens doors.

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By Janet / January 21, 2013

15 Comments

Documentary Katy Perry Kim Kardashian Kris Humphries Russell Brand

RUSSELL BRAND DOESN’T WANT TO END UP LIKE KRIS HUMPHRIES

“katyperry “russellbrand #janetcharlton

Russell Brand is squirming just a little, as finishing touches are being put on a documentary that he appeared in with his estranged wife Katy Perry while they were married. In 2010 it seemed like an OK idea to agree to be in the documentary called “Part of Me” about Katy’s life. Their romance, marriage, and the disintegration of their life together is all on film. Brand would LOVE the footage of their marriage to be cut OUT, but it’s not going to happen. Now he can only hope that he doesn’t get “The Kardashian Kut.” That’s when his moments on camera are cleverly cut to make him look bad – like when Kim K doctored her reality show so that her ex Kris Humphries looked like the villain.

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By Janet / May 30, 2012

12 Comments

Documentary Jason Russell Joseph Kony Meltdown Schizophrenia Substance Abuse

JASON RUSSELL MAY HAVE WORSE PROBLEMS THAN SUBSTANCE ABUSE: SCHIZOPHRENIA

We still haven’t recovered from Jason Russell’s wife’s incredibly inane explanation for her husband’s bizarre behavior. The sudden viral success of Russell’s mini-documentary on monstrous war criminal Joseph Kony has brought him notoriety and admiration. Instead of reveling in the spotlight, Russell was found in the streets of San Diego behaving like a madman – talking and shouting to people who weren’t there, running around and pounding the sidewalk, stripping off his clothes and masturbating in public. He was hauled off to a mental hospital and his wife was offended at the suggestion that he was drunk or on drugs. She insists that his naked meltdown was not substance abuse, but “dehydration and exhaustion.” (So instead of have a glass of water and a nap, he flipped out?) His wife should only HOPE that Jason abused drugs because he exhibited all the symptoms of schizophrenia. And THAT’S a scary diagnosis.

What do YOU think?

By Janet / March 18, 2012

15 Comments

Documentary Merle Ginsberg Murder Ronni Chasen

MAYBE THE FRENCH CAN DIG UP SOME ANSWERS TO THE RONNI CHASEN MYSTERY

We don’t know of anyone (except the Beverly Hills police department) who was satisfied with the investigation of Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen’s death. The story of a vagrant on a bicycle who killed her without motivation and then committed suicide just doesn’t add up. According to Merle Ginsberg at The Hollywood Reporter, a French company is working on a documentary about the 2010 killing, and we’re hoping they ask all the right questions and come up with some fresh ideas. Ronni would undoubtedly be flattered to know that her mysterious death was of worldwide interest.

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By Janet / November 6, 2011

11 Comments

"Tabloid" Documentary Project Nim

“TABLOID” AND “PROJECT NIM” – DOCUMENTARIES YOU WILL LOVE

For those who love documentaries, two exceptional ones are being released this month and both are educational AND enormously entertaining. ”Project Nim” documents an experiment back in the 70’s when a baby chimp named Nim was raised by a family and treated just like their other children – in hopes that the chimp would learn to communicate with humans. This is done with the guidance of a psychology professor and various animal experts. The archival film is fascinating – especially compared to interviews with the original participants today. Much is revealed about animal AND human behavior.
Another must-see documentary is “Tabloid.” It’s the true story of beauty queen Joyce McKinney (above) who, in the late 70’s, abducted a Mormon missionary, chained him to a bed and forced him to have sex with her. It happened in England where they had no laws about raping men in those days. Her obsession with the man lasted into the 80’s as she continued to stalk him. Her amazing on-camera recollections of the events VS the tabloid reports are quite hilarious. And it doesn’t end there – in 2008 she took her dog to Korea to have it cloned with more startling results. We laugh every time we think of Joyce. Both of these docs should be sought out and seen ASAP.

What do YOU think?

By Janet / July 11, 2011

31 Comments

"I'm Still Here" Casey Affleck Documentary Joaquin Pheonix

JOAQUIN PHOENIX THINKS HE’S SMARTER THAN HIS AUDIENCE

Apparently Joaquin Phoenix never got to play the role he wanted – that of an unwashed ungrateful slob – so creating the mockumentary “I’m Still Here” appealed to him. Phoenix and filmmaker Casey Affleck hope to pass it off as a documentary but it seems way too contrived and self indulgent. In the film, Joaquin, who was so brilliant in “Walk the Line,” decided he hated acting and quit Hollywood to become a hip hop performer. Along the way he stopped bathing, grew hair in all directions and behaved like a drug addict. The whole concept is absurd. Joaquin has since taken a bath and his agents are actively pursing film roles for him and have several on the table. If there’s a joke here – it’s on anyone who buys a ticket to this movie.

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By Janet / September 14, 2010

42 Comments

"Exile on Main Street" Mick Jagger Rolling Stones

THE ROLLING STONES ARE REVISITING “MAIN STREET”

Mick Jagger and his girlfriend L’Wren are in a party mood as they leave the MOMA screening of the documentary “Stones in Exile” in New York. The film contains footage from 1972 when the Stones were recording their brilliant “Exile on Main Street” album. The album is being re-released (in vinyl form too!) with ten unearthed songs from that period.

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By Janet / May 11, 2010

20 Comments

Documentary Joan Rivers Sundance

JOAN RIVERS DIDN’T HAVE LOADS OF FUN IN SUNDANCE

Joan Rivers paid a whirlwind visit to Sundance in a full length mink and sunglasses, looking like she belongs on Park Avenue. She was promoting a documentary about her called “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work.” Apparently, it didn’t open many doors for her. Joan griped that she couldn’t get access to see anybody else’s movies and wasn’t invited to gifting suites while she was there – a big disappointment.

What do YOU think?

By Janet / January 27, 2010

7 Comments