This Week In Documentary: 'Gaucho Gaucho' & 'Beatles '64'
Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - November 29-December 5, 2024
This is a light week for new documentary highlights, which is good because I’m writing this during Thanksgiving break and have less time to prep, watch, and review. However, it’s not a light week for documentary news, as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences revealed the list of 169 films eligible for the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. Given all that I track and see for the Critics Choice Documentary Awards, that seems like a small number of contenders. Also, from our list of the best docs of 2024 (so far), where’s Ennio, Pictures of Ghosts, and Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus?
Take the extra time this weekend to shop for documentaries — in stores, online, wherever — to give as gifts this holiday season. As I recognized years ago, documentaries make the best gifts because there’s something for everyone, whether it’s a film or series focused on the person’s interests or they would like to learn or appreciate something new. There are even documentaries about documentaries. You can also give the gift of a subscription to a streaming service. Or, how about this: give the gift of a year’s paid subscription to Nonfics! Thank you very much in advance if you take that last idea.
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: Gaucho Gaucho (2024)
This nonfiction Western from the directors of The Truffle Hunters transports viewers to Argentina’s pampas to showcase modern gauchos. Through beautiful black-and-white cinematography, Gaucho Gaucho follows a handful of characters, most notably a teenage girl bucking tradition to take on the sport and lifestyle of the local cowboys. Will she ever be a true gaucho — or “gaucho gaucho,” as one boy calls the real men of this legendary culture? She’s driven and passionate to at least do the work, even if it makes her an outcast among other gauchos (though none seem to mind her joining in, even when she performs better at the rodeo) or others at her school, where she gets in trouble for wearing gaucho clothes instead of her assigned uniform.
The irony of this girl, Guada’s narrative is that the film initially seems to want to be old-fashioned, hence the black and white and the general interest in gauchos (as well as the film’s poster). Yet this isn’t a history lesson or celebration of the past. Similar to their cowboy counterpart in the U.S., the gaucho is not what it once was because the world is different today. Not that we see any context of modernity encroaching on this culture. We just have that naturally in the back of our minds. Some of the intertwined stories in Gaucho Gaucho could probably have been captured a century ago, such as one about condors killing cattle, but we know we’re watching the gaucho life of today.
Gaucho Gaucho begins exclusively streaming on Jolt on Sunday, December 1.
Other Documentary Highlights
Beatles ‘64 (2024)
Do we need another documentary about The Beatles? When it mostly consists of footage shot by the Maysles brothers during the band’s trip to the U.S. in 1964, maybe. There’s no easy way to see the Maysles’ original film, What's Happening! The Beatles in the U.S.A., and it’s difficult to watch a proper copy of the reworked 1991 version, The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit. For some fans, seeing these clips in Beatles ‘64 will be their first time. For those same fans, perhaps hearing from other Beatlemaniacs reminiscing about their love of the Fab Four in 1964 will also be compelling.
Personally, I couldn’t care less about random fans telling of what The Beatles meant to them at the time. New material starring Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr and archival footage of George Harrison discussing their arrival in America is more interesting but doesn’t feel very novel or revelatory. The weirdest moment is probably when Ringo is visiting a Beatles exhibit with Martin Scorsese (who produced Beatles ‘64), and the filmmaker asks Ringo if the group had been excited about New York City because of film noir and Ringo says no, it was the music — he might as well have added a “duh.”
It’s also odd how often Beatles ‘64 — which is directed by David Tedeschi, Scorsese’s former doc editor and his co-director on Personality Crisis: One Night Only and The 50 Year Argument —addresses more general information not specific to the titular year. Overall, it’s a scattered nostalgia piece that just makes me wish for a re-release of the real-deal Maysles film. Unlike The Beatles: Get Back, Peter Jackson’s recent resurrection of a classic Beatles documentary for a new Beatles documentary for Disney, this one adds nothing new to the legend or legacy of the band.
Beatles ‘64 begins exclusively streaming on Disney+ on Friday, November 29.
Churchill At War (2024)
I wanted to highlight this docuseries because I was excited to watch it after having just seen Steve McQueen’s Blitz. Unfortunately, I became instantly turned off by Churchill at War, which is the latest documentary to create a false narration track using technology to make Churchill say things he didn’t say (but did write). More than that, though, I found the dramatization sequences entirely unnecessary. If I’m going to be mostly watching (and sort of listening to) the real (colorized) Winston Churchill, I can’t bear to occasionally get a cheap impersonation acting out scenes.
Churchill at War begins exclusively streaming on Netflix on Wednesday, December 4.
Monty Python Documentaries
If you’re like me and love Monty Python’s Flying Circus, you’ll be happy to know there are plenty of documentaries featuring the British comedy troupe airing this week alongside their best movies (Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Life of Brian). One of them is a classic: 1982’s Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl while the others are reunion pieces where the surviving members reflect on their brilliant sketches and films and create new memories for fans — Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live at Aspen, The Meaning of Monty Python, and Monty Python: The Meaning of Live.
These four documentaries air on TCM late night on Friday, November 29, and early morning on Saturday, November 30.
MTV Productions
Typically, the first of the month brings new curations of documentaries on a few streaming services, with The Criterion Channel always being the most noteworthy. For December, their documentary programming is a bit light, however. I couldn’t skip highlighting the service this month, so here’s a note that Criterion is showcasing late ‘90s and early 2000s movies from the MTV Productions banner within Paramount Pictures. Two of the titles in this showcase are nonfiction films: Spike Lee’s stand-up concert film The Original Kings of Comedy and the original feature-length Jackass spinoff, Jackass: The Movie. Both are worth watching but not as essential as most of Criterion’s documentary offerings.
The Original Kings of Comedy and Jackass: The Movie begin streaming on The Criterion Channel on Sunday, December 1.
The Only Girl In The Orchestra (2023)
Winner of this year’s Critics Choice Award for Best Short Documentary, The Only Girl in the Orchestra is a perfectly fine profile of a pioneer in the world of music. Double bassist Orin O’Brien was the first woman to join the New York Philharmonic, and her story is certainly worth telling, even if it’s a familiar one. Her niece, Molly O’Brien, is the one who takes on the task of telling that story, and fortunately, it’s not as subjective or nepotistic as a lot of these films made by family members tend to be. It helps that it is a short, as the documentary, at just 34 minutes, is perfectly economical in its spotlights on Orin O’Brien’s biographical background, her historical achievements, and her life today.
The Only Girl in the Orchestra begins exclusively streaming on Netflix on Wednesday, December 4.
Documentary Release Calendar 11/29/24 - 12/5/24
Friday, November 29, 2024
Beatles ‘64 (2024) - A feature documentary directed by David Tedeschi (Personality Crisis: One Night Only) and produced by Martin Scorsese about The Beatles’ first trip to the U.S. (Disney+)
Dear Santa, the Series Season 2 - The return of this docuseries about children’s letters to Santa Claus. (Hulu)
Lady of the Dunes: Hunting a Cape Cod Killer (2024) - A true-crime docuseries about a 50-year-old mystery involving a body found in Provincetown. (Oxygen)
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982) - A comedy concert film starring the members of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. (TCM)
My Sweet Land (2024) - A feature documentary following a young boy in war-torn Artsakh. (In Theaters)
The Power of Film (2024) - A docuseries about the art of cinematic storytelling. (TCM)
Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary (2024) - An episode of the docuseries Music Box about the titular rock genre. (Max)
Saturday, November 30, 2024
A Backyard in Delaware (2024) - A feature documentary about the East Coast Wrestling Association. (In Theaters)
Believe It or Not (Second Series) #4 (1931) - This installment of the Robert L. Ripley documentary franchise takes a visit to Believe-It-or-Not land. (TCM)
Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger (2024) - A feature documentary about the filmmaking collaborations of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Read our review of Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger. (TCM)
The Meaning of Monty Python (2013) - A documentary in which the members of Monty Python’s Flying Circus reflect on their work together. (TCM)
Monty Python: The Meaning of Live (2014) - A documentary following the reunited members of Monty Python’s Flying Circus as they perform new shows. (TCM)
Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live at Aspen (1998) - A medium-length documentary starring the surviving members of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. (TCM)
Spills for Thrills (1940) - A short documentary about stunt performers. (TCM)
To Catch a Smuggler: Tropical Takedown Episode 9: “Beached Blow” - The latest episode of this spinoff of To Catch a Smuggler focused on the cocaine trade in the Caribbean. This installment involves boats full of cocaine and guns found in Puerto Rico. (National Geographic)
The Wonderful World of Tupperware (1965) - A short industrial film about Tupperware. (TCM)
Sunday, December 1, 2024
Cinema at Stake: Jacques Rivette's L'Amour Fou Revisited (2024) - A documentary about the making of L’Amour Fou. (The Criterion Channel)
Gaucho Gaucho (2024) - A feature documentary about Argentina’s gauchos. (Jolt)
The Image You Missed (2018) - An essay film by Dónal Foreman about the director’s search for his estranged father and the history of the “Troubles” in Northern Ireland. (The Criterion Channel)
Jackass: The Movie (2002) - The first feature-length documentary spinoff of the prank-driven TV series Jackass. (The Criterion Channel)
Kim’s Video (2023) - A feature documentary directed by David Redmon and Ashley Sabin about the titular New York City video store and its lost collection of films. (MUBI)
One Night at Babes (2024) - A short documentary about a small-town bar in Vermont. (MUBI)
The Original Kings of Comedy (2000) - A stand-up comedy concert film directed by Spike Lee starring Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, Bernie Mac, and D.L. Hughley. (The Criterion Channel)
A Plan to Kill Episode 6: “Till Death Do Us Part” - The latest episode of this true-crime docuseries about meticulously planned out murders concerns the killing of a young groom-to-be. (Oxygen)
Monday, December 2, 2024
Bad Boys (2014) - An installment of 30 for 30 about the Detroit Pistons of the ‘80s and ‘90s. (Netflix)
Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies (2017) - An installment of 30 for 30 about the 1984 NBA finals. (Netflix)
Sole Man (2015) - An installment of 30 for 30 about the evolution of basketball. (Netflix)
This Magic Moment (2016) - An installment of 30 for 30 about the Orlando Magic in the mid-1990s. (Netflix)
This Was the XFL (2017) - An installment of 30 for 30 about the failure of the XFL. (Netflix)
Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks (2010) - An installment of 30 for 30 about the rivalry between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks. (Netflix)
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Beyond Bars (2023) - A feature documentary about the impact of mass incarceration on families and the work of progressive legal reformers. (DVD and VOD)
Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid! (2024) - A documentary about political consultant and strategist James Carville. Read our review of Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid! (CNN)
The Cove (2009) - An Oscar-winning feature documentary exposing an annual dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan. (VOD)
Floral Japan (1937) - A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores Japan's flowers, gardens, and cherry blossoms. (TCM)
Girls Gone Wild: The Untold Story (2024) - A docuseries about the Girls Gone Wild video franchise. (Peacock)
Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North (2024) - The latest installment of the Hard Knocks franchise follows the titular NFL division, including the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Watch the new trailer for the docuseries below. (HBO/Max)
Life Below Zero Season 22, Episode 9: “Rites of Winter” - The latest episode of this docuseries following secluded life in Alaska. (National Geographic)
The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story (1951) - A medium-length documentary presenting footage from new MGM movies of that year. (TCM)
MGM Parade Show #22 (1955) - This installment of the Hollywood-focused docuseries showcases the MGM films Maytime and Forever Darling. (TCM)
Much Ado About Dying (2022) - A feature documentary on the filmmaker’s gay actor uncle, who is dying. (DVD)
My Last Nerve (2024) - A feature documentary about a young scientist trying to find to cure his father from a rare disease. (DVD and VOD)
Northwoods Survival Season 1, Episode 1: “Regeneration” - The first episode of this new docuseries following life in Canada. (National Geographic)
Operation Teahouse (1956) - A short documentary about the making of the film The Teahouse of the August Moon. (TCM)
The Quest: Everest (2024) - A documentary about climbing Mount Everest. (DVD)
Racing Extinction (2015) - A feature documentary on activists trying to save the world from mass extinction. (VOD)
Scala (2022) - A documentary about London’s legendary Scala Cinema. (Blu-ray)
Starring Jerry as Himself (2023) - A feature documentary about an immigrant in Orlando recruited to join the Chinese police as an undercover agent. (DVD)
United States of Comedy Episode 4 - The fourth episode of this five-part docuseries spotlighting emerging comedians. (PBS)
Walter Rodney: What They Don’t Want You to Know (2024) - A documentary about the titular historian, activist, and civil rights advocate. (In Theaters)
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Churchill at War (2024) - A four-part docuseries about Winston Churchill. (Netflix)
The Only Girl in the Orchestra (2024) - A Critics Choice Award-winning short documentary about pioneering female double bass player Orin O'Brien. (Netflix)
The Taste of Mango (2023) - A feature documentary about three generations of women, including the director and her mother and grandmother. (In Theaters)
White Rage (2015) - A feature documentary about victims of bullying and white rage. (Ovid)
Thursday, December 5, 2024
Ace of Base: All That She Wants (2024) - A three-part docuseries about the titular pop group. (Viaplay)
Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story (2024) - A feature documentary about the titular rock band. (In Theaters)
Brothers Against Brothers: The Civella Spero War (2024) - A medium-length documentary about an infamous mob war in Kansas City. (In Theaters)
Diamond Demon (1947) - A short documentary showcasing the talents of baseball pitcher Johnny Price. (TCM)
Glitter and Greed: The Lisa Frank Story (2024) - A docuseries about the ‘90s phenomenon of Lisa Frank Inc. (Prime Video)
Mysterious Islands Season 1, Episode 1: “Indonesian Island Mystery” - The first episode of this new docuseries about strange islands. (National Geographic)
Now We Live on Clifton (1974) - A short documentary about gentrification in the West Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. (Ovid)
RM: Right People, Wrong Place (2024) - A feature documentary about RM from the boy band BTS. (In Theaters)
Snoop Dogg's Fatherhood: Cori & Wayne's Story (2024) - A new docuseries following Snoop’s daughter and her fiancee. (E!)
This Is the Bowery (1941) - A short documentary about the titular New York City neighborhood. (TCM)
Winnie Wright - Age 11 (2019) - An episode of Reel Midwest about a young girl in a Chicago neighborhood with an increasing amount of Black residents. (Ovid)
Sneak Peak At What’s Coming Soon
12/6 - Obsessed with Light - A feature documentary about dancer, designer, and lighting technician Loie Fuller. (In Theaters)
12/7 - Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story - A feature documentary about the titular Superman actor, who became paralyzed in a horse riding accident. (HBO and Max)
12/10 - Richard Ramirez: The Night Stalker Tapes - A docuseries about the serial killer known as the “Night Stalker.” Watch the new trailer for the series below. (Peacock)
12/13 - Theatre of Thought - A documentary by Werner Herzog about the human brain. (In Theaters)
12/20 - The Flying Fercos - A documentary about a family of performers who shared their home with 20 lions, tigers, and panthers. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (VOD)
12/27 - 2073 - A dystopian hybrid nonfiction film by Asif Kapadia (Senna) set in the titular year. (In Theaters)
1/3 - From Ground Zero (2024) - An anthology film compiling 22 short documentaries made in Gaza. Watch the new trailer here. (In Theaters)
2/23 - The Americas - A 10-part nature docuseries narrated by Tom Hanks showcasing North America and South America. Watch the new trailer for the series below. (NBC)