Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock? (2006): A pretty out there doc detailing the amazing discovery that a woman may have purchased an authentic Jackson Pollock work of art valued up to 50 million dollars at a thrift store for the bargain basement deal of $5. The film details the woman's crusade to prove that it is authentic while the elitist art world snubs her time and time again. Her hard talking former truck driving uncouth style contrasts so greatly with the snobbish art workd connoseurs that it is hard not to enjoy this piece. 4/5
Rachel Getting Married (2008): A wedding that brings all the family together isn't a wedding without the alcoholic outcast daughter making a speech. Anne Hathway gives her best Anjelina jolie impression and actually pulls it off well. The film does not beat us over the head with the issues at hand but it also doesn't let is completely flow over us - I would have liked to not feel preached to a bit too much in the third act - overall a success. 3.5/5
The King of Kong (2007): To be the best in the world at something is an accomplishment, but to be the best in the world at scoring high points in the classic arcade Donkey Kong is simply the peak of the mountain for anyone who has ever plucked a quarter into a machine. This doc follows one man's obsession to defeat the 20+ year reigning champion's mark and along the way we are privy to some very entertaining characters - some feverishly attempting to break the elusive 1,000,000 mark and some just as passionately doing whatever they can to defend the title and lifestyle associated with it. I just really wish the film could have captured more points of view. 4/5
Big Fan (2009): An obsessed sports fan (NY) who lives with his mother and spends his days in a parking garage cube and nights calling into sports talk radio finds himself face to face with his athletic hero only to realize he is caught up in an incredibly difficult position. The film has much potential but loses itself mid way through and ultimately can't pull it back in. Skip it. 2/5
Man on Wire (2008): One man's passionate need to go where no one has gone before, this true story doc of the man who walked a tight rope across the Twin Towers is powerful, amazing, incredible, and many many many more buzz words of which it is truly worthy. This is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen and I cannot say in words how much I think you should see it. 5/5
The Thin Blue Line (1988) I've heard the hype and was expecting something beyond magnificent. Well, there is a reason I hate hype with a passion. The doc is compelling, for sure, but why it wasn't done in a more conventional style is beyond me. There is plenty of amazing material dealing with teh who did and who didn't crime of a murdered police officer, but the filmmakers decided to take this in a more sensationalized and sometimes even dramatized fashion when all I wanted was to the who/what/where/when/why - please see Man on Wire (2008) for the way a documentary is supposed to be made. 3/5
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