Film: Slice & Dice: The Slasher Film Forever

This documentary film explores the history of the slasher movie. Love them or hate them you simply can’t ignore them and everyone has a favourite slasher movie bad guy. Freddy Kruger, Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees have been with us for around 30 years and survived countless rubbish sequels and re-makes of varying quality.

Slice & Dice explores the origins of the genre. Psycho features heavily and the “video nasties” of the late seventies / early eighties are also covered extensively. Contributors include Corey Feldman, Tobe Hooper and Tom Holland along with recent slasher type directors Patrick Lussier and Jeffrey Reddick.

Unfortunately this is a bit too laden down with clips. There are countless showings of beheadings and various other death scenes and these too vary greatly in quality. From grainy straight to video flicks like The Burning to recent re-makes like My Bloody Valentine 3D.

This is more aimed at the slasher movie connoisseur than the casual fan but the feature packed 2 disc set does contain some fantastic footage that helps increase the value of the package on offer.

Slice & Dice: The Slasher Film Forever is available on DVD in the UK now.

Ric’s Rating: Good.    

Film: Room 237

This documentary feature examines the apparent multi-layered complexity of Stanley Kubrick’s classic horror The Shining.

Room 237 consists of countless clips of The Shining with commentary from various fanatics regarding their theories on any potential hidden messages.

With theories ranging from the massacre of the American Indians to the holocaust this is very strange stuff indeed. Throw in a few silly pieces of sexual innuendo and consistency errors and this amounts to the equivalent of a room full of Star Wars fans nitpicking those movies.

It really is nerds day out as we are supposed to see significance in the fact that an empty chair disappears from view when we return to the same shot.

This sort of stuff could apply to any film and the fact that this has been made into a film in it’s own right almost beggars belief.

Unless The Shining is one of your all time favourites and you’d enjoy examining every piece of minute information that it’s possible to interpret from what’s on screen then steer well clear.

Room 237 is available on DVD in the UK now.

Ric’s Rating: Poor.         

Film: McCullin

This documentary feature covers the life and work of renowned photo-journalist Don McCullin.

It charts his escape from a poor violent upbringing and explores his coverage of many wars including those in Vietnam, Cyprus and Congo.

McCullin himself contributes greatly to the film and attempts to explain how he coped with documenting some horrendous scenes of inhumanity while retaining his own sanity and surviving some very precarious situations.

I hadn’t heard of the man prior to watching this but he is a very interesting and articulate guy. The story is peppered with images taken by McCullin, some of which are very powerful indeed.

This documentary will appeal to those interested in how conflicts are covered in the media and also how the politics of newspapers in Great Britain have developed.

McCullin is available on DVD in the UK now.

Ric’s Rating: Good.      

Film: Death On The Staircase: The Last Chance

This captivating documentary film re-visits the case of Michael Peterson, a man convicted of murdering his wife, as he attempts to convince the court that he didn’t receive a fair trial.

Peterson has spent eight years in jail and with various appeals already rejected he cuts a rather forlorn figure as we see him in his cell and wandering around the prison yard.

Throughout proceedings Peterson’s dogged attorney David Rudolf and almost his entire family, including 4 out of 5 of his children, remain steadfast in their support of a man who has always protested his innocence.

You’ll notice from the poster that this is actually a sequel. The original series, The Staircase, covered the initial case & trial but thankfully we get enough of a re-cap here to cover all the pertinent points. The case is anything but straightforward and as the original trial moves toward it’s conclusion some surprising and shocking information comes to light.

Evidence later emerges that questions the motives and reliability of one particular prosecution witness.

Are Peterson and his team successful in their pursuit of a re-trial?

You’ll need to catch this riveting documentary from French film-maker Jean-Xavier De Lestrade to find out.

Death On The Staricase: The Last Chance was shown on BBC4 in the UK as part of their Storyville series but as you can see it’s also known as The Staircase II so keep your eyes open for it.

Ric’s Rating: Essential.          

Film: Revenge Of The Electric Car

Who Killed The Electric Car was a 2006 documentary film that explored the fact that thousands of electric cars were recalled and destroyed by the companies that made them. This sequel charts the re-emergence of an idea once thought dead.

It follows the endeavours of four very different individuals as they attempt to bring new electric cars to market. There’s Bob Lutz, the larger than life GM executive, multi-millionaire Elon Musk who starts his own company, Carlos Ghosn the head of Nissan and Gadget Abbott, an independent backyard car designer.

It all starts off interestingly enough with footage of the previous film and contributions from the likes of Danny DeVito and Jon Favreau but this fast becomes a rather depressing story of corporate deals and the global economy.

Gadget Abbot does provide an interesting perspective as he struggles against unforeseen circumstances but despite the engaging premise this one is for car enthusiasts only.

Revenge Of The Electric Car is in selected UK cinemas from 20^th July 2012.  

Ric’s Rating: Dodgy.

Film: Endurance

Second Sight films have decided to whet everyone’s appetite for this year’s Olympic games with a timely release of this 1999 film.

It tells the story of Haile Gebreselassie, an unassuming boy from an impoverished background in Ethiopia, who went on to become one of the greatest long distance runners in history.

The man himself participates in the film by playing the grown-up Gebreselassie as the story shifts between past and “present”. The twelve mile round trip to school every day provided the opportunity to run and young Haile took it in his stride, the lad seemed to run everywhere but his traditional Father soon encouraged him to find a “proper” job.

Culminating at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta this beautifully shot film manages to capture the spirit shown by a determined man as he pursues his dream and attempts to make his family and his country proud.

Captivating and stirring this docu-drama perfectly illustrates that no matter what your background, if you want to be the best, and you want to beat the rest….dedication’s what you need!

Endurance is available on DVD in the UK from 9^th July 2012.

Ric’s Rating: Highly Recommended. 

Film: The Island President

This documentary film follows the rise to power of Mohamed Nasheed, a man once sent to prison for standing against the oppressive regime of his native Maldives.

Following his success in the 2008 election President Nasheed embarks on an ambitious quest to obtain agreement from all carbon producing countries to lower their emissions. If this is not achieved Nasheed believes that the results will be catastrophic for the Maldives as rising sea levels will submerge the islands.

Complicated negotiations begin leading to the Copenhagen climate change summit of 2009 where Nasheed emerges as a force to be reckoned with despite the limited bargaining power of his country.

Stunning footage, a dark past and a desperate plight make the Maldives an interesting subject matter and Nasheed comes across well as the political firebrand who doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty and his feet wet, literally.

The Island President is an educational, entertaining and fascinating account of the man himself and the islands he represents. Catch it in UK cinemas from 30th March 2012.

Thanks to Aim Publicity and Dogwoof for the screener.

Footnote: Mohamed Nasheed resigned as president of the Maldives in February 2012 in somewhat dubious circumstances.

Ric’s Rating: Highly Recommended

Film: An African Election

This documentary film follows the 2008 presidential election in Ghana.

In a continent where many dictators and warlords rule, Ghana prides itself on its democratic society.

As the film progresses we follow the vying parties and their candidates on the campaign trail.

Up to this point this is a reasonably interesting documentary but it showed nothing that couldn’t be covered by a news bulletin. Then, somewhat fortunately for director Jarreth Merz, it all kicks off when there is no clear winner.

Unlike places like the UK there can be no coalition and a second round of votes is required.
With one party accusing the other of manipulating results tensions spill out into the streets and war looks likely. Will diplomacy prevail?

Now this becomes an edge- of- your- seat thriller where anything can happen.

Credit is due to all involved who allow Merz access to their political beliefs, systems and even home lives. The star of the show is undoubtedly the charismatic former president of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings. Despite an ambiguous rise to power he is still much loved by a sizable chunk of the population and he uses his considerable political might to support his party’s new candidate, Atta Mills.

Don’t let the slow start put you off, this captivating documentary becomes a tense and emotional ride.

An African Election is in selected UK cinemas now.

Ric’s Rating: 74%

Film: Blood In The Mobile

When Danish film-maker Frank Piasecki Poulsen becomes concerned about the source of minerals used in the manufacture of mobile phones he decides to approach his own phone company, Nokia, for some answers.

Met with a muted response he then decides to travel to the Democratic Republic Of Congo to see the mineral mines for himself.

What follows is a shocking journey through a country ruled by armed gangs and warlords leading to the mine itself. Aided by a 15 year old boy who escaped the mine, Poulsen is able to gain access and film the men working underground. What he sees is like a vision of Hell on Earth.

This powerful documentary movie shows the real life version of events portrayed in the film Blood Diamond and is very disconcerting indeed. It forces us to ask ourselves how comfortable we are with the practices Nokia and the other mobile phone companies indulge in to keep prices down.

Curiously this is the second film I’ve reviewed recently regarding Congo and it’s interesting to see the city of Kinshasa, which was the setting for Viva Riva (see review elsewhere here), as it really is.

Blood In The Mobile opens in UK cinemas on 21st October 2011.

Many thanks to Aim Publicity and Dogwoof for the preview disc.

Ric’s Rating: 81%

DVD: Just Do It

‘A tale of modern day outlaws’ proclaims the tagline to this documentary film that follows a group of activists during a year filled with protests and marches.

Coming across more like a disgruntled branch of the Student’s Union these individuals seem to care more about the act of protesting than the causes they claim to be fighting for but they do manage to achieve surprising results, and by the end of the film one or two of them had actually won me over.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m on board with most of the issues but I found it difficult to be preached to about what happens to taxpayer’s money by people who are lucky enough not to have to hold down jobs where they would actually be paying income tax.

The biggest issue concerning the group is climate change and the turning point (for me) in the film is when the attempted protest at a UN summit in Copenhagen is heavy-handedly thwarted by the Danish police. The extreme action by the Danish police force was cleverly filmed eventually leading to the arrests themselves being deemed illegal by the Danish courts.

Other campaigns include helping workers faced with redundancy occupy their factory and standing against a proposed airport runway which would mean the demolition of an entire community.

This film manages to both engage and infuriate on many different levels. Perhaps that’s the point.

Just Do It is available on DVD in the UK from 17th October 2011.

Ric’s Rating: 70%

Ric Recommends: Rio Breaks

This powerful documentary movie arrives on DVD in the Uk on 3rd October 2011.

You can find a full review elsewhere here but in the menantime check out this brief trailer which sets it up nicely.

DVD: UFC Ultimate Royce Gracie

Back in the early 90’s I saw a vhs tape of The Ultimate Fighting Championship, a no-holds-barred fighting tournament involving eight participants, each a master of their chosen style. The winner was Royce Gracie, a smallish man from Brazil who used his family’s own discipline, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

I couldn’t believe what I had witnessed, it was marketed as a savage tournament with fists flying and blood spraying everywhere. What Royce Gracie did was use his superior skill to take the violence out of the fighting, he would tie these brutes up in knots and have them begging for mercy, and he made it look so easy.

Gracie went on to win 3 out of 4 of the first Ultimate Fighting Championships and was the first inductee into the UFC Hall Of Fame.

This dvd explores the past of the man known as the Father of modern Mixed Martial Arts and delves into the origins of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu which was born in the mind of Royce’s Father, Helio. There is also revealing interviews from Royce himself as well as some of his opponents alongside footage of the fights.

The UFC now has weight divisions and many rules that the fighters must obey and although I’m still a fan this journey back to the days when the only rules were no biting and no eye gouging feels like a breath of fresh air. If only we could go back to a proper no rules event where the winners progress and fight again on the same evening leading to a final involving two battle weary warriors. I’m pretty sure that most of today’s competitors couldn’t hack it.

An absolute must for any fan of mixed martial arts, especially those who appreciate brain triumphing over brawn.

Ric’s Rating: 94%

Film: Rio Breaks

Two Young boys attempt to escape the horrors of life in the favelas (slums) of Rio De Janeiro through competing as surfers in this documentary feature from director Justin Mitchell.
Fabio has already lost his Father to the drug wars and has been abandoned by his Mother. Raised by a motley crew of family members he is a troubled boy, prone to flashes of aggression.
Naama lives nearby with his family and while struggling with the poverty and violence all around he continues to attend school when he’s not at the beach surfing.

The boys, along with others, some of whom have made it as professional surfers, dedicate themselves to riding the waves on many of Rio’s beaches, which provide a stunning backdrop to their shanty town existence.

Although I have little interest in surfing this captivated from beginning to end. Hearing the youngsters describe horrific acts of violence and frequent gun battles with an air of causality is very unsettling. It delves into a world that many of us, thankfully, will never encounter and provides a fascinating real-life glimpse into the settings depicted in the film City Of God.
Can Fabio and Naama overcome their circumstances to obtain lucrative sponsorship and become professional surfers?
Catch this heartfelt and moving film to find out.
Rio Breaks opens in UK cinemas on Friday 3rd June 2011.

Ric’s Rating: 79%

DVD: Collapse

While researching a project on apparent CIA involvement in drug smuggling Chris Smith decided to interview Michael Ruppert, a former policeman who had lifted the lid on the subject.

Ruppert touches on the drug issue here but this is a man with an array of more alarming subjects on his mind and he is willing to divulge many of them in this startling documentary.

A full length movie consisting of one man sitting in a chair speaking his mind might not be everyone’s idea of entertainment but the explosive content of Ruppert’s words are illustrated using relevant footage making this a captivating viewing experience.

In depth analysis of matters such as declining oil reserves, war, the global financial crisis, politics and the future of civilization itself are explained in a down to earth manner that makes you stop and think.

Highly recommended to anyone interested in looking under the veil of mainstream media coverage of any of the issues mentioned.

Further exploration of these subjects can be found in The Shell Game by Steve Alten (see review elsewhere here) and documentaries The Corporation, The Fog Of War and Crude.

Ric’s Rating: 78%

Ric Recommends:The King of Kong: A Fistful Of Quarters

A documentary movie about two guys competing for the world record on an 80's video game just shouldn't be this good but you will be captivated as Steve Wiebe challenges 20 year record holder Billy Mitchell and begins an intense rivalry that continues to this day.

The game in question is Donkey Kong, one of the most difficult games to master from the golden era of the arcades.

Any child of the 1980's (especially any that spent time in arcades playing the likes of Space Invaders and Galaga) will love it but it comes highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a real life drama, albeit one that features some very eccentric individuals.

Check it out:

DVD: Big River Man

Documentary following Slovenian Martin Strel's attempt to swim
the length of the Amazon.

All the ingredients of a fantastic film are here: Unlikely Hero, insurmountable odds, exotic location, danger and suspense.

What we get is a depressing diary of a man attempting to justify his hunger for fame by disguising it with lofty causes (saving the Rainforest etc.) while driving himself to the very brink of despair. It aint pretty and it certainly aint entertaining.

Strel's achievements are amazing and this could have been so much better if it hadn't been made by Strel's son Borut, yes Borut. The cheesy music and cheap production reminded me a lot of the other Borat and not in a good way.

High points include Strel's constant drinking and him swimming casually past a floating dead body but there's nothing here that couldn't have been covered better by a 30min tv documentary.

Ric's Rating: 28%

DVD: We Live In Public

Compelling documentary film charting a tumultuous period in the life of
internet pioneer Josh Harris.

Consistently ahead of the pack Harris made a fortune in the mid nineties thanks to the .com boom and embarked on a series of bizarre projects that saw him fritter most of it away.

A Big Brother style community was set up in a bunker under New York City which filmed the exploits of a somewhat questionable group of people 24/7. It didn't end well.

Harris then decided to broadcast his and his girlfriend's life together for all to log on and see, the results are interesting to say the least.

A remarkable film about a remarkable man this deserves to find an audience and the mere fact that you are reading this review goes a long way to proving some of Harris' theories.

Everyone with any interest in the internet (that means you) should check it out.

Ric's Rating: 77%