What did you Watch in May? Well here is my list.

Tue, 26 May 2020 on Amazon Prime

Man Annie Potts is gorgeous!  The movie itself is still just ok.

3 out of 5 Stars

Sat, 23 May 2020 on Shudder

That was fun! If this would have hit the big screen in the early 80s’ it would have been a hit. Deserves its cult status.

Wed, 20 May 2020 Full Moon Streaming

During the glory days of VHS, this would have had me hook line and sinker. But know it just does not hold up. All those hot ladies showing up for a fight That never happens. Oh well, I have seen worse I guess.

Tue, 19 May 2020 on Disney Plus

Still a fun trip down memory lane of the family nights spent around the glowing tube of TV! 

Watched on Friday, May 8, 2020. Netflix

Saturday, May 2nd Svengoolie

Frank Chase as the Deputy was my favorite part but it also leads me to the question where all deputy in the 50s all Barney Fife kind of guys? Even with weak special effects, this was super fun.

Watched on Friday, May 1, 2020. Amazon Prime

This was a neat look into how these fans saved their Drive-In. Unable to purchase a $50,000 digital projector, a group of film fanatics in rural Pennsylvania fight to keep a dying drive-in theater alive by screening only vintage 35mm film prints and working entirely for free.

Watched on Friday, May 1, 2020. Disney+

Goofy is still my hero!

The totals for the month look like this

8 Flims Watched

2 On Disney+

2 On Amazon Prime

1 On Shudder

1 On Svengoolie

1 On Netflix

55 of the 75 movie goal I set for 2020!

Don't forget you can always follow along on Letterboxd if you are on Letterboxd let me know in the comments below I will be more than happy to follow you as well.

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness

Tiger King
2020 | TV-MA | 7 Episodes | Documentary | Netflix


Stars:
Carole Baskin

Joe Exotic

Bhagavan Antle

Synopsis:

Among the eccentrics and cult personalities in the stranger-than-fiction world of big cat owners, few stand out more than Joe Exotic, a mulleted, gun-toting polygamist and a country-western singer who presides over an Oklahoma roadside zoo. Charismatic but misguided, Joe and an unbelievable cast of characters including drug kingpins, conmen, and cult leaders all share a passion for big cats and the status and attention their dangerous menageries garner. But things take a dark turn when Carole Baskin, an animal activist and owner of a big cat sanctuary, threatens to put them out of business, stoking a rivalry that eventually leads to Joe's arrest for a murder-for-hire plot and reveals a twisted tale where the only thing more dangerous than a big cat is its owner.

So do you need an escape from this whole COVID-19 thing? Sick of no sports to watch? How about looking for the train wreck that is blowing up your social media? Well, then Tiger King is differently a good place to be. This one will definitely help you escape the world around you for a few moments of your day. It will also have you questioning the whole private Zoo deal!

Although the series chronicles the bizarre life and murder-for-hire trial of the flamboyant former zoo operator, Joe Exotic isn't the sole convicted felon or even the lone polygamist featured in the series. He's not the only one to have a spouse die under unusual circumstances.  Joe Exotic isn't the strangest or shadiest character featured in Netflix's anticipated new documentary series and that my friends will be what drives you to power watch this one! 

From the first episode, rookie filmmaker Eric Goode catches the proverbial tiger by the tale while investigating an illegal reptile dealer, as the underworld snake handler shows off a snow leopard he just bought and is keeping caged in his van in the Florida summer heat. For the next five years, Goode delved into the world of big-cat owners and private zoos, getting caught up in the bitter feud between Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin, the crusading owner of Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida.

It's hard to say who the real nut job is here but I'm going with Carole Baskin! And if you want my option yes she did kill her husband! And I'm sure he was fed to the dang tigers! The case was never officially closed, but the last time anything significant happened was in 2011, when the police asked Ms. Baskin to take a polygraph. She refused! But thanks to this documentary leads are once again pouring in and I say she will crack and then join Joe in prison. 

If you have not seen the show yet skip ahead to the rating portion. 

Yes, Joe seemed crazy and yeah he sure put the evidence out there of what he wanted to do to this lady but do I think he was set up? Yes sadly yes! Should he be in prison most likely but not for murder for hire. By the end of the series, you find yourself thinking and wondering did he get set up by these goons? Maybe someday we will hear the truth. 

Who would have thunk the crazy world of underground tigers was so deep and off the chain! Is Tiger King worth all the internet hype? Sure, It will draw you in and hold you tight allowing you to be trapped in your house like an armchair lawyer wannabe! I have to say this came at the right time with everybody needing to stay home begging for something to do. If you're on the fence take the leap.

4 out of 5

Crip Camp

                                                                               

Crip Camp

2020 | R | 1 Hr 46 Min | Documenty | Netflix

Directors: 
James Lebrecht

Nicole Newnham

Writers: 

James Lebrecht

Nicole Newnham

Stars: 

Larry Allison

Dennis Billups

HolLynn D'Lil

Synopsis:

In the early 1970s, teenagers with disabilities faced a future shaped by isolation, discrimination, and institutionalization. Camp Jened, a ramshackle camp "for the handicapped" in the Catskills, exploded those confines. Jened was their freewheeling Utopia, a place with summertime sports, smoking and makeout sessions awaiting everyone, and campers who felt fulfilled as human beings. Their bonds endured as they migrated West to Berkeley, California - a promised land for a growing and diverse disability community - were friends from Camp Jened realized that disruption and unity might secure life-changing accessibility for millions. Co-directed by Emmy®-winning filmmaker Nicole Newnham and film mixer and former camper Jim LeBrecht, this joyous and exuberant documentary arrives the same year as the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, at a time when the country's largest minority group still battles daily for the freedom to exist.

If I was ever to tell you to watch something this would be the one I would hope you all watch. Such a warm-hearted look at the fight many fought to get rights for the handicap world. Without these brave souls, we would not have ramps on the streets or kids in school let alone transportation around town. 

I do wish there was more about the camp and a little less about the fight but let's face it I'm a camp guy at heart so of course, I wanted more. But still, a fun look at camp life way back in the 70s even if I was cringing of the fact they were running with chairs and did not always have an attendant. We changed the no run rule in around 1987 as it was deemed unsafe so to see it again made me squirm a little. The biggest take away from Crip Camp has to be Friendship! And simply how friendship can change the world! Honestly check out Crip Camp it is such a fun look back and a moving tribute to those who helped make a change for many lives.

4 out of 5 Stars

Just Say No No!

No No A Dockumentary
2014 | NR | 1 Hr 45 Min | Documenty Sports |Arts and Labor

Director: Jeffrey Radice

Stars: 

Larry Demery

Dock Ellis

Ron Howard

Synopsis:

In the 1970s Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter on LSD and his outspoken style courted conflict and controversy, but his latter years were spent helping others recover from addiction. No No: A Dockumentary weaves a surprising and moving story of a life in and out of the spotlight.

Jeffrey Radice gives us an inside look at the dirty side of the 70s baseball when drugs ruled the playing field. Flawlessly paced he weaves us through hilarious stories to the really shady ones, the film never ceases to amazing me, although it could have been a tad shorter. Admittedly I was blown away learning about some of my hero's and drug use. Yet I should not have been such a surprise while in high school "Greenes" were still floating around with the promise to enhance our game. Thankfully I stayed away. 

What truly surprised me going into the story was expecting to hear all about throwing nine innings while on LSD. What we do get is truly unbelievable but once we get past that game we get a humbling story of a ballplayer that struggled with addiction. From a broken home to the loss of a great friend in Roberto Clemente Dock's life spiraled out of control fast. Yet his story deserves to be told and gratefully it was.  If you are a baseball fan this one is up  your alley if your into Documentary that tells a meaningful story give this one a look. 

3 out of 5 stars.

A real-life romantic comedy

Dina
2017 | NR | 1 HR 43 Min | Documentary | The Orchard


Directors: 

Antonio Santini

Dan Sickles

Stars: 

Dina Buno

Scott Levin

Frank Costanzo

An eccentric suburban woman and a Walmart door greeter navigate their evolving relationship in this unconventional love story.

I had such high hopes for this movie knowing little about  Asperger's syndrome I was hoping for some insight and better understanding. Sadly that is not what we get instead we get a nice little love story that has Dina and her soon to be husband balance out there disease together making this relationship work. 

At times the story is very moving, sad, and for lack of a better word frustrating. What I mean about that is you feel for the two as they go through daily life and all you want to do is help. Well for me anyway. Yet for some reason, this movie took me days to watch with just not enough to keep me glued to the small screen. I can't quite put a finger on it but Dina falls short at times. You do get pulled back in at the end when they play the tragic 911 tape from her past when her then-boyfriend stabbed her repeatedly. This cleans up the movie nicely giving you closer. If you have Hulu and are looking for something different this is a good choice and I do recommend it. 

3 Turkey Legs out of 5

Clown Rebelle

Jerry Lewis The Man Behind The Clown
2016 | G | 1 Hr 1 Min | Documentary | Hulu

Director: Gregory Monro

Writer: Gregory Monro

Stars: 

Jerry Lewis

Martin Scorsese

Sean Hayes

Synopsis:

Since the early days, Jerry Lewis - in the line of Chaplin, Keaton, and Laurel - had the masses laughing with his visual gags, pantomime sketches, and signature slapstick humor. Yet Lewis was far more than just a clown. He was also a groundbreaking filmmaker whose unquenchable curiosity led him to write, produce, stage and direct many of the films he appeared in, resulting in such adored classics as The Bellboy, The Ladies Man, The Errand Boy, and The Nutty Professor. By becoming a "total filmmaker," Lewis surpassed expectations as a comic performer and emerged as a driving force in Hollywood. He broke boundaries with his technical innovations, unique voice, and keen visual eye, even garnering respect and praise overseas. However, American critics and the cultural elite tended to reject his abrasive art. While they viewed Lewis as nothing more than just a clown, others like the French recognized him as a true auteur, giving rise to questions that have perplexed American pop culture for over 50 years: Why do Europeans love Jerry Lewis? What is this inexplicable aversion Americans have towards him? Is he just a brash, anything-for-yuk buffoon? Or is he a creative genius? Who is the man behind the clown?

Sadly this falls short on "something new" being a big fan of Jerry and all that he has done for The Muscular Dystreofphy association I was looking for something to fill in the gaps of his later years. It may skimp on that part but I will say it did dive into his childhood a little more giving you a glimpse into what made him.  If you have never read his book or seen any other documentary about the man than this is a good little look into his life, with the big bulk being his early career. 

Abducted In Plain Sight Review

Abducted In Plain Sight
2017 | 1Hr 31Min | TV-14 | Documentary | Netflix

Director: Skye Borgman

Stars: 

Jan Broberg

Bob Broberg

Mary Ann Broberg

Synopsis:

In 1974, 12-year-old Jan Broberg was abducted from a small community in Idaho. When Jan was returned 5 weeks later, she assured her parents and the courts that "nothing had happened"....enabling a pedophile to go free and paving the way for Jan's second abduction and years of sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse.

Good lord, what did I just witness? This has to be the strangest story ever told right? I'm not sure how I feel about it still and I watched this days ago. 

The documentary about an Idaho preteen who was raped, abused, and kidnapped by a family friend right in front of her parents’ eyes. Debut on Netflix earlier this month and within two weeks since it arrived on the world’s go-to bingeable platform Netflix, it has generated buzz online and throughout the Twitter'verse so of course, we have to check it out. This crazy ass thing features an innocent, sympathetic victim while it demonstrates how easy it is for people to be totally duped; it sparks feelings of disbelief and outrage, and it contains enough mind-boggling twists to induce motion sickness. You will definitely feel nauseous while watching it! 

Once this one ended and my stomach settled I was left with a lot of questions about how Jan's process and how she overcame the trauma that she endured. How, for example, is she not furious with her parents for being such pushovers? I’m furious with them! My kids are furious with them, in fact, if they walked up to me right now I'm pretty sure I would punch them in the face! Jan says toward the end of the documentary that part of the way she learned to forgive them was by helping them forgive themselves, WHAT? Ugh. The lingering curiosity about how someone could possibly get over such horrible abuse is just one of the things that makes me confident I’ll be thinking about Abducted in Plain Sight for a long time. 

The most disturbing parts of this documentary are the things that Robert Berchtold did to Jan Broberg for years, without her parents or the law stopping him. But the most chilling takeaway from this mind-blowing documentary might be this: You never know what anyone is capable of doing in private. Buy the end we found ourselves laughing. Was it an uncomfortable laugh, or are we laughing at how dumb this family comes across? Only you can be the judge.

3 out of 5 Stars

Quick Review Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror

Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror

2019 | R | 1Hr 23 Min | Documentary | Shudder

Director: Xavier Burgin

Writers: Ashlee Blackwell, Danielle Burrows

Stars: Meosha Bean, Ashlee Blackwell, Robin R. Means Coleman

Synopsis:

Delving into a century of genre films that by turns utilized, caricatured, exploited, sidelined, and finally embraced them, HORROR NOIRE traces the untold history of Black Americans in Hollywood through their connection to the horror genre. Adapting Robin Means Coleman’s seminal book, HORROR NOIRE presents the living and the dead, using new and archival interviews from scholars and creators; the voices who survived the genre’s past trends, to those shaping its future.

Based on the book by the same name from author Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman, this Shudder exclusive feature acts as a celebration as well as a criticism of how black filmmakers have been portrayed since the creation of cinema. Digging deep into the ugly history of racism expressed cinematically starting with the hatred of The Birth of a Nation to the casual cliche trope of the black actor dying first in the slasher Horror. Niore Director Xavier Burgin aims to confront the many cinematic injustices while at the same time highlighting and celebrating the films that faced discrimination. 

We all love Blackula hearing Crain’s journey to the director’s chair will revolutionize the manner in which you forever see William Marshall’s bloodsucker. Horror Noire offers the viewer an opportunity to reach into cinema’s past and gives you a reason (and there is no time like the present) to finally watch classics like Night of the Living Dead or Tales from the Hood along with a slew of others you may have missed. 

 This is a fun and fresh look at the history of Horror movies that comes from a fresh voice. It's sad tho this is only on Shudder as it truly deserves a wider audience!

4 out of 5

Quick Review Joan Jett Bad Reputation

Bad Reputation
2018 | R | 1Hr 33Min | Documentary | Magnolia Picutres

Director: Kevin Kerslake
Writer: Joel Marcus

Stars: 

Joan Jett

Eric Ambel

Billie Joe Armstrong

Synopsis

The life and career of rock ‘n’ roll icon Joan Jett from her early years ripping it up onstage as the founder and backbone of hard-rock legends The Runaways, to her longtime collaboration with Kenny Laguna as Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, and her enduring presence in pop culture as a rock pioneer and mentor. With her inimitable singles “I Love Rock N’ Roll,” and “Bad Reputation” Joan Jett inspired a generation of young women to rock.

Man, I was 11 years old when I first heard "I Love Rock and Roll" and was hooked forever! That sound, that badass image, and Joan it was love, at first sight, thanks to MTV! I still had money left over from the summer of mowing lawns so it was not hard for me to catch a ride to the mall and buy my second ever album. When the song "Nag" came on it was the first time I ever picked up the needle to listen to something again and again. So simply put I could not wait to watch this documentary. 

Bad Reputation opens with a story of 13-year-old Joan tell about her desire for a Sears electric guitar. And how her parents didn't understand why she would want such a thing, thankfully they got her one anyway. And she wailed away on that bad boy until she became as good as—if not better than—the teen boys also dreaming of rock-and-roll stardom in the SoCal suburbs of the 1970s. Director Kevin Kerslake proceeds to take us through the years as Jett struggles to remain commercially viable, a challenge for any legacy act. Then along came the riot grrrl movement, which brought Jett back to her punk roots. In addition to her production work for Bikini Kill, and co-writing credits with Kathleen Hanna, she joined forces with the surviving members of the Gits to promote women's self-defense and to search for Mia Zapata's killer. She has also played for the troops and spoken out on behalf of LGBTQ rights and the benefits of vegetarianism.

Joan defiantly lived a rollercoaster life always having to fight her way through a male-dominated sport. It's her fight and drive that really keeps you watching, even this guy almost broke down in tears watching the segment from the Seattle grunge era. If you love Joan you will love this Doc if your a casual fan or somebody looking for a great story of survival you may love this even more. 

This wild child can be seen on Hulu and is well worth your time.

4 out of 5 Stars