Documentary – Page 11 – Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare

“Five Days at Memorial”

By Brett_G on December 23, 2022

8.3

… because any longer, and there’d be no one left with the stomach to survive watching this heart-wrenching tale.

Based on the events at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans during and immediately following Hurricane Katrina, follow along on one of the move visceral deep dives into clinical ethics I can think of ever seeing put to film. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

Perfectly cast, each character brings their all, but also doesn’t overshadow anyone else. There’s a nice balance to everything as we all dive into the darkness together. Unfathomable decisions stemming from an unthinkable scenario playing out. Unprecedented times leading to unprecedented decisions and actions. The best and worst of humanity on full display.

Documentary Netflix

“Sr.”

By Brett_G on December 8, 2022December 4, 2022

7.5

If you thought Jr. was an interesting man, wait until you become acquainted with Sr. The man, the legend…

Similar to “The Fabelman’s,” Robert Downey Jr. turns the camera inward and takes us back through his fascinating origin story, which rests upon a beautiful catharsis between father and son as they both face their mortality in different ways. It shows why Jr. was so damn good in “The Judge,” as the father son conflict seems to be familiar territory for him. That conflict may have been a weight on him throughout his life, but it was a weight that forced him to strengthen in a way that made him far stronger for having learned to carry it.

RIP Sr., and hugs to Jr. A truly beautiful tribute.

Documentary Drama

“Amsterdam”

By Brett_G on December 8, 2022December 4, 2022

7.2

Narrative cajones on par with the team behind “The Card Counter.” Releasing a movie about Abu Ghraib on the anniversary of 9/11 is only approached by releasing a movie loosely tied to the Business Plot (when wealthy businessmen plotted to overthrow FDR’s government in the fog of WW2) around, well, everything going on today. A fantastic ensemble cast filled to the brim with talent. A “Knives Out” level whodunnit that doesn’t fully fall into place until the final 5 minutes that takes globetrotting mystery to a whole new level. But it’s a definite deep cut on the conspiracy list, so you might want to brush up on the Wikipedia page prior to viewing.

Documentary Netflix

“Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?”

By Brett_G on December 6, 2022December 4, 2022

7.4

This almost made me want to stop drinking Mountain Dew, purely because it’s made by Pepsi. I’m officially team Coke now. How dare they!

An absolutely bonkers story, filled with even more dynamic characters. A perfect example of “you can’t write a story this good.”

Documentary Drama Netflix

“Worth”

By Brett_G on November 10, 2022

Another forced look at our place i the world and how we all fit together and intertwine on the journey through life. There’s a lot under the hood in this one.

Led by powerhouse performances by Michael Keaton and Stanley Tucci, this film dives into a time in American history we too soon forget, or we’re blissfully unaware of in the first place. In this unthinkable chess match is addressed some of life’s most difficult questions, forcing us as viewers to evaluate things well beyond the boundaries of the screen. Exceptionally well done and well worth a watch!