«
»
Blog Roll
Spout
The Doc Option: Instead of "Bullhead" Watch "Bigger Stronger Faster"
- By Christopher Campbell
- |
- February 17, 2012
Usually I aim this column at a mainstream studio release, but sadly there are no documentaries about antihero motorcyclists with flaming skull heads or tiny people who live under the floorboards or spies involved in love triangles (That I know of anyway. If I've missed them, please let me know, because those sound like great doc topics). Instad this week I have an alternative to the Oscar-nominated foreign film "Bullhead," which opens in limited release today. If you're wondering if you should see this slow and terribly unsatisfying Belgian crime drama, I have a Doc Option for you.
The Doc Option: Instead of "Big Miracle" See "The Whale"
- By Christopher Campbell
- |
- February 3, 2012
I can understand the appeal of "Big Miracle," the cheesy looking new movie about a whale trapped in Arctic ice. I was once a preteen kid obsessed with marine life and I definitely would have gone to see it. Now I'm a thirtysomething kid obsessed with documentary so I have other films to see. If you're with me on wanting a more grown-up alternative, I've got another Doc Option for you:
The Doc Option: Instead of "Red Tails" Watch "Wings for This Man"
- By Christopher Campbell
- |
- January 20, 2012
George Lucas is back with his first non-"Star Wars" or "Indiana Jones" production in nearly 20 years, and it's a World War II actioner about the African American pilots and crewmen known as the Tuskegee Airmen. If you're already familiar with the history of these heroic men, by all means go see the guy behind "The Phantom Menace" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" seem to do for the sky over Europe (with help from Cuba Gooding, Jr.) what Michael Bay did ten years ago for Pearl Harbor (with help from Cuba Gooding, Jr.). If you're not, then I have another Doc Option for you.
The Doc Option: Instead of "Beauty and the Beast 3D" Watch "Waking Sleeping Beauty"
- By Christopher Campbell
- |
- January 13, 2012
The main attraction in theaters this weekend is the 3D re-release of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." If you're hoping to introduce a new generation to the animated classic, by all means bring your kids. But if you're just a grown up wishing to revisit a childhood favorite, and you can't get off the cinematic nostalgia train running full speed these days, don't fall for it. Instead, I have another Doc Option for you.
The Doc Option: Instead of "The Iron Lady" Watch "Tracking Down Maggie"
- By Christopher Campbell
- |
- December 30, 2011
Is there any reason to see "The Iron Lady" than to watch Meryl Streep knock another one out of the park? Was there any reason to watch the Bulls in the late '80s other than to see Michael Jordan? I don't know. I haven't seen the new Margaret Thatcher biopic, and I don't know anything about basketball. I do know docs, though, and so I have another Doc Option for you.
The Doc Option: Instead of "War Horse" Watch "The Battle of the Somme"
- By Christopher Campbell
- |
- December 23, 2011
Two Doc Option columns in the same week? Hey, if Steven Spielberg can release two movies back to back, it's only fair that I get to provide alternatives for both. So yeah, here's another Doc Option for you:
The Doc Option: Instead of "The Adventures of Tintin" Watch "Tintin and I"
- By Christopher Campbell
- |
- December 21, 2011
Two of the most anticipated movies of the holiday season open in theaters today. But if you're thinking of choosing "The Adventures of Tintin," don't. I have a new Doc Option for you instead.
The Doc Option: Instead of "Chipwrecked" Watch "Chumming With Chipmunks"
- By Christopher Campbell
- |
- December 16, 2011
I know, you're so excited about the new "Alvin and the Chipmunks" sequel, "Chipwrecked," but the theaters are going to be packed with obnoxious children all weekend so why not wait a bit? In the meantime, I have another Doc Option for you.
The Doc Option: Instead of "W.E." Watch "A King's Story"
- By Christopher Campbell
- |
- December 9, 2011
You may not be looking forward to Madonna's new directorial effort, "W.E.," which is supposedly quite terrible. Or, if you are interested, it's actually to see the train wreck -- what Daniel Walber excitedly called "marvelously wretched," "perhaps the most hilariously dreadful period piece ever filmed" and "destined to become a cult classic, with accompanying drinking games galore and even the occasional costume party." But this sort of celebration of camp might have to wait until after the drama opens and presumably bombs at the box office. Out of respect to those with more serious moviegoing intention.
The Doc Option: Instead of "Shame" Watch "Porndemic"
- By Christopher Campbell
- |
- December 2, 2011
Even if you're primarily a documentary fan, like myself, I recommend seeing Steve McQueen's "Shame," a film about a sex addict (Michael Fassbender) and his troubled relationship with his sister (Carey Mulligan). I love the way it's shot, I love the way it doesn't need to lay on much back story or explicit explanation (I've developed a nonserious idea in my head that at least Fassbender's character is the son of Patrick Bateman and Jeanne Dielman) and of course as a doc nut I love that there's a reference to "Gimme Shelter" in it. But it's not playing in many theaters yet, and even when it goes wider Cinemark won't show it, so for now you might need to settle for the doc option.
Email Updates
Get the latest headlines from Spout delivered to your inbox every day.
Popular Posts
-
Review and Ranking of the 2012 Oscar-Nominated ...like20 -
The Doc Option: Instead of "Big Miracle" ...like11 -
Sundance 2012: "Teddy Bear" is a Sweet ...like8 -
The Only Live-Action Remake of "Lady ...like8 -
Slamdance 2012: Alexandra Berger Talks ...like6
Most Comments
- Which Documentaries Could Be Remade as Narrative Films?4 comments
- Review and Ranking of the 2012 Oscar-Nominated Animated Shorts1 comment
- Short Starts: Watch the Hayao Miyazaki-Scripted "Panda! Go Panda!" and "On Your Mark"1 comment
- The Only Live-Action Remake of "Lady and the Tramp" We'll Ever Need1 comment
- "Undefeated" is a Good But Not Great Underdog Sports Film 1 comment
fresh from the blogs
-
Watch: Sinister & Intriguing Trailer For 'The Imposter'; ...The Playlist
-
Women to Watch: Janet GrilloSydney Levine
-
Doug Liman's "Reckoning With Torture": Reconciling ...ReelPolitik
-
Get Shorty: Predicting Oscar's Short Film Award Wi ...Peter Knegt
-
Obama Sings; Hope He Keeps His Day Job (Video)Caryn James
-
Chicken and Egg Pictures Hits $2 Million in GrantsWomen and Hollywood
-
Movie News And NotesLeonard Maltin
-
OSCARS DEATH RACE: HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS ...Press Play
Recent Comments
Jamie Babbit who played Julia is a successful director--"But I'm a Cheerleader" and
the dark knight
When the Day Breaks was not a Hungarian production, it is Canadian... and by two animators who are
The funniest thing is that satire seems to be something that teenage girls (judging by most of the
What is the picture at the very top movie called
And that`s why he asked Goodwin if she believes that it exists better version of herself somewhere
Agree is over rated. There were some fantastic docs this year and it would be hard to argue that
"The Town" with Jeremy Renner was a clever bank movie. Love it!
Public Enemy
Thanks for the kind words Christopher! I do still want to see Bullhead and Undefeated! Both look