This Week In Documentary
Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - September 20-September 26, 2024
Coming out of mid-September means I’ve been on a week’s vacation with the kids, who are out of school for fall break. So if last week’s or this week’s newsletters have any errors caused by rushed writing, that’s why. I do apologize, but I have something for you to make it up: since we’ve been spending the week in the Big Apple, here are my recommendations for the best documentaries about New York City.
While my time is unfortunately limited for this week’s newsletter, I want to recognize a film with a limited runtime and a not-at-all-limited time since its debut. This Tuesday, September 24, marks the 130th anniversary of the release of Buffalo Dance, one of the first films to feature and honor Native Americans and their traditions. It’s a staged work, shot in Thomas Edison’s Black Maria studio, but it’s a piece of nonfiction cinema and significant document of cultural history. You can watch it today via the Library of Congress.
Now, without further ado, here are this week’s highlights, listings, and coming attractions, including our Pick of the Week. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future.
Nonfics Pick Of The Week: Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024)
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is this year’s Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, and I mean no disrespect by that. They’re each the best celebrity-focused documentary of their year. They also both happen to present a biographical story of a movie star who became disabled, whether by a disease or an accident, and started foundations to help others with the same condition. The biggest difference is that Super/Man is about an actor who is no longer alive, so it’s much sadder — even more so if you’re not familiar with Reeve’s life and his family going in. Similarly, though, it’s impeccably directed and edited, with a lot of movie clips being intercut in creative ways. I cried, I was wowed, and I urge all documentary fans to see this as soon as possible. It’s the latest in what seems to be a trend with biographical documentaries, but it’s an excellent example and one of the best documentaries of any kind this year.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is playing theatrically on Saturday, September 21, and Wednesday, September 25 (Christopher Reeve’s birthday) via Fathom Events.
Other Documentary Highlights
The Battle of Chile (1975-1979)
Icarus Films has a new release of Patricio Guzmán’s The Battle of Chile out this week with a 2K restoration, and its the first time the classic documentary has been available on Blu-ray. Consisting of three parts released over several years, the film directly chronicles the 1973 military coup in Chile. Filmmaker Robert Greene wrote about The Battle of Chile for his Shots from the Canon column calling it “one of the greatest films ever made” and stating that “no serious list concerned with championing adventurous nonfiction would be complete without this towering, heartbreaking cinematic achievement.”
The Battle of Chile 2K restoration arrives on Blu-ray on Tuesday, September 24, and also includes Guzmán’s The First Year.
Fly (2024)
If you missed Fly in IMAX earlier this month, you now have to settle on the small screen. That’s okay. It’s worth watching, though I don’t think it was theatrically necessary. From my review of Fly: “There’s a lot of breathtaking footage of BASE jumping, with the wing suit flights being especially thrilling. There’s also a lot of poor quality footage shot with old and so-so cameras. But there’s too much of all this footage, and the documentary goes a little too long. I grew a little bored of the same kinds of footage of the same kinds of stunts…[it] didn’t wow me as much as I expected.”
Fly makes its streaming debut on National Geographic on Tuesday, September 24.
Midnight Family (2019)
The new Apple TV+ series Midnight Family is inspired by this documentary of the same name. There’s little publicizing the connection, but the premise is the same — a family-run ambulance competes for work around Mexico City in the dead of night — is the same, and the show is executive produced by the doc’s director, Luke Lorentzen. I haven’t seen the fictional drama show, but I can recommend the doc option, which I found very interesting in its ethical complexity. From my review of Midnight Family: “The result is befitting a portrait of the family rather than a journalistic expose of what they do and are a party to. This is another issue film that puts its characters before the subject matter, although it’s not entirely successful as an empathetic portrayal of its subjects. We’re left with as many questions about who they are as we are about their work and its context.”
Midnight Family the documentary is currently available to stream for free on Pluto TV. The dramatic series version debuts on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, September 25.
Woodstock (1970)
One of the best concert films of all time, Woodstock captures the famous 1969 music festival of the same name — or at least three hours worth of the three day event. Michael Wadleigh, who directed the documentary, turns 85 years old on Tuesday, September 24, and this is his life’s greatest achievement. He later helmed a werewolf horror film, and he shot a few other docs, including Janis, but his filmography would be considered light if it weren’t for this heavy and highly substantial effort. As we wrote in the aforementioned list, “It may always be remembered as an important document of the music festival to end all music festivals, but the way that Wadleigh’s 16 cameras capture the tumultuous nature of 1969 (Vietnam, youth in revolt, political upheaval) gives this film a temporal texture that is impossible to copy or recreate.”
Woodstock is available to buy or rent digitally via Amazon, Apple, or Microsoft.
Documentary Release Calendar 9/20/24 - 9/26/24
Friday, September 20, 2024
Food, Inc. (2008) - An Oscar-nominated feature documentary about the American food industry. (Peacock)
Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field (2023) - A feature documentary about the titular costume designer. (In Theaters)
King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones (2022) - A feature documentary about the notorious titular Chicago racketeer. (In Theaters)
Little Miss Innocent: Passion. Poison. Prison. (2024) - A docuseries in which a woman convicted of killing her ex-boyfriend’s mother asserts her innocence. (Hulu)
Who's Afraid of Nathan Law? (2023) - A feature documentary about the titular Hong Kong revolution leader. (In Theaters)
Wild Genius (2024) - A documentary about evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers. (DVD and VOD)
Youth (Spring) (2023) - A three-and-a-half-hour documentary by Wang Bing (Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks) about the garment industry in Zhili, China, and the workers who migrate to work there. (Ovid)
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Airline Wars (2024) - A docuseries spotlighting airline drama. (A&E)
Don’t You Believe It (1943) - A short documentary debunking historical “facts.” (TCM)
Hearts and Minds (1974) - An Oscar-winning documentary by Peter Davis about the Vietnam War. (TCM)
Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins Season 3, Episode 6: “Beneath the Surface” - The latest episode of this crime docuseries focuses on a body found in a boat in Key Largo. (Oxygen True Crime)
The Real Murders of Atlanta Season 3, Episode 6: “Twice as Deadly” - The Atlanta-focused true-crime docuseries continues with a new episode. (Oxygen True Crime)
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024) - A feature documentary about the titular Superman actor, who became paralyzed in a horse riding accident. (In Theaters)
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Brandon Lake & Phil Wickham Present: For the One (2024) - A documentary starring the titular Christian music performers. (In Theaters)
National Parks: USA Episode 5: “Zion” - The final installment of this nature docuseries focus on the titular national park. (National Geographic)
Snapped: Behind Bars Season 2, Episode 4: “Lucille Duncan” - The latest episode of this crime series is about a woman who shot her ex-boyfriend. (Oxygen True Crime)
TV on the Edge: Moments That Shaped Our Culture (2024) - A four-part docuseries about important moments in TV history. (CNN)
Monday, September 23, 2024
Art Dealers (2023) - A feature documentary about Philadelphia rock band Low Cut Connie. (In Theaters)
Cabin in the Woods Season 1, Episode 3: “Cabin 13” - The latest episode of a docuseries about crimes that happen in remote cabins. (Investigation Discovery)
Crime Exposé With Nancy O'Dell (2024) - A new daily true-crime docuseries. (Syndicated)
The Real Murders on Elm Street Season 1, Episode 3: “Wheel of Punishment” - The latest episode of a docuseries about murders occurring at Elm Street addresses in small towns across America. (Investigation Discovery)
Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise (1980) - A medium-length documentary by Robert Mugge following the titular jazz musician and poet over three years. (Ovid)
Who's Afraid of Nathan Law? (2023) - A feature documentary about the titular Hong Kong revolution leader. Presented as an episode of POV. (PBS)
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
The Battle of Chile (1975-1979) - A 2K restoration of this classic three-part documentary by Patricio Guzmán chronicling the political unrest in Chile in 1973 that led to a coup overthrowing the country’s socialist government. (Blu-ray and VOD)
The First Year (1972) - A 2K restoration of this documentary by Patricio Guzmán about the first 12 months of Salvador Allende’s presidency in Chile. Released as a bonus feature on the new Blu-ray for The Battle of Chile. (Blu-ray)
Fly (2024) - A feature documentary about three couples involved in BASE jumping. (National Geographic)
Gil Scott-Heron: Black Wax (1983) - A feature documentary by Robert Mugge spotlighting performances by the titular blues poet. (Ovid)
Gospel According to Al Green (1984) - A biographical documentary about the titular R&B singer. (Ovid)
Out There: Crimes of the Paranormal (2024) - A true-crime docuseries involving paranormal activity. (Hulu)
Stylebender (2023) - A documentary about MMA champion Israel Adesanya. (VOD)
We Will Dance Again (2024) - A recount of the Supernova Music Festival Massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023. (Paramount+)
Weed & Wine (2020) - A feature documentary following two different farming families, one growing marijuana in California and the other the owners of a vineyard in the south of France. (VOD)
When Houston Had the Blues (2023) - A feature documentary about Houston’s blues scene featuring performances by Lightin’ John Hopkins, Big Mama Thornton, and others. (VOD)
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Big Cats 24/7 Episode 3 - The latest installment of this six-part nature docuseries spotlights a lion pride under attack and a leopard seeking a mate. (PBS)
Fly (2024) - A feature documentary about three couples involved in BASE jumping. (Hulu and Disney+)
How (Not) To Get Rid of a Body Episode 4: “A Barrel of Burnt Bones” - A docuseries about killers who attempted to dispose of the bodies of their victims. This episode focuses on the charred and decomposed human remains in the Poconos. (Investigation Discovery)
Jailbreak: Love on the Run (2024) - A feature documentary about a love affair between a corrections officer and the inmate she helped escape. (Netflix)
MGM Parade Show #19 (1956) - This installment of the Hollywood-focused docuseries showcases the MGM films Ransom! and Ziegfeld Follies. (TCM)
Mr. McMahon (2024) - A docuseries about WWE co-creator Vince McMahon. (Netflix)
To Catch a Smuggler Season 8, Episode 6: “These Bedsheets Are Dope!” - The latest episode of this crime docuseries follows stories of drug and human trafficking. (National Geographic)
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Defending Europe (2024) - A docuseries about warfare in Europe over 2,000 years. (National Geographic)
Lost Treasures of Rome Season 2, Episode 5: “Rome’s Desert Cities” - The latest episode of this archaeology docuseries involves hidden ruins in Jordan, Italy, and Petra. (National Geographic and Hulu)
One Hand Clapping (1974) - A re-release of the music documentary following Paul McCartney and his band Wings as they record the titular album. (In Theaters)
The Wind Blows the Border (2022) - A feature documentary about the fight between agribusiness and Indigenous people on the border of Brazil and Paraguay. (Ovid)
Sneak Peak At What’s Coming Soon
9/27 - Will & Harper - A feature documentary following Will Ferrell and former Saturday Night Live writer Harper Steele, who has just come out as transgender, on a road trip across America. (Netflix)
10/5 - Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid - A feature documentary about political consultant James Carville, most famous for his work on the 1992 Bill Clinton presidential campaign. (CNN)
10/11 - The Last of the Sea Women - A feature documentary about free divers on a Korean island who forge the sea for food without oxygen. (Apple TV+)
10/18 - Union - A feature documentary directed by Stephen Maing (Crime + Punishment) and Brett Story (The Hottest August) about an effort by Amazon workers to unionize. (In Theaters)
10/25 - Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band - A feature documentary peeking behind the scenes of the titular group’s 2023-2024 tour. (Hulu and Disney+)
12/13 - Elton John: Never Too Late - A feature documentary directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish about the titular music icon and his final concert. (Disney+)
When Chris and I agree on *anything* you know it has to be good :)