Category: Documentary

Action Amazon Prime Documentary

“The Blue Angels”

By Brett_G on

8.2

I had to actually hunt a bit for a nearby IMAX screen to see this one, which was an unexpected hurdle. Once we got that out of the way, it was full afterburners, baby.

Strap in and get ready to be in awe of the dedication to the craft for almost 2 hours straight as real life Top Gun takes place. Watching the team come together and grow over the the course of a Blue Angels season was truly inspirational. As expected, there were quite a few life lessons tucked away in between the wing tips of the formations that make you wince on the edge of your seat, but the action rarely stops the entire time. You’ll leave with a newfound or renewed appreciation for aviation and expertise. Way to go Glen Powell and team!

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Documentary Drama Indie Romance

“Love & Mercy”

By Brett_G on

8.6

Alongside “Chef,” this is one of my all-time favorite indie finds on the silver screen. Paul Dano and John Cusack hold down the forts at either end of the Brian Wilson timeline as one of the most legendary figures in rock/pop music takes on a whole new depth. A fascinating tale of love, loss, and the toll that riding the razors edge between genius and instantly takes on a person and the loved ones around them.

The soundtrack is of course legendary. The love story is oddly adorable. The bar for all other biopics was set at a level that few, if any have since reached. There’s not a weak link in the cast or a wasted frame of film.

I suggest a pairing with the documentary “The Wrecking Crew.”

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Documentary Paramount+

“Billy Joel: The 100th”

By Brett_G on

7.5

Since there’s no official trailer for this one, may my videos from Comerica Park Summer 2022 make do.

You may think this one is a little low, and you’d be right. As a TV special, it’s exactly what you expect. You can’t go wrong with Billy Joel in concert. But it’s NOTHING compared to seeing him LIVE. There’s nothing like it, and no TV special can truly capture that magic. So pull up a chair and a bottle of red (or white), and enjoy the master at work…

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Documentary Indie

“Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale”

By Brett_G on

6.2

Doing this back to back with a movie about resurrecting a movie theater was a rough choice. This one just didn’t resonate as well as the other. But I think differences in structure and characterization didn’t help it. A cool story, but clunky in its execution. In the spirit of the “Action Park” documentaries, it almost took off. Sadly, it just never hooked me in the way I had hoped it would. The lady talking to the boat was one of the more interesting points. Her passing being foreshadowing I did not have on my bingo card.

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