Author Archives: Dennis

Zeitgeist, the Movie [2007]

Wow, this is a really cool, and thought-provoking conspiracy theory documentary. It starts with the foundation of Christianity, and how it’s all supposed to be a fraud, then moves into a lot of the major wars fought in the last century, and how they’re all in one way or another purposefully orchestrated, including the 9/11 attacks, and then eventually leads you to international bankers, and their plot to take over the world. It sounds a bit wild, but the material is solid, and with all the stories on The Bilderberg Group floating around, it might just be true. So far, it’s a really great documentary, which tickles my imagination. If you follow the link of the movie to its website, then you’ll be able to see the entire 2-hour documentary, online, for free. Bonus!

Shrek the Third [2007]

Director: Chris Miller, Raman Hui
Actor: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, Justin Timberlake, John Cleese, Rupert Everett, Eric Idle, Larry King

The king is dying, and Shrek is next in line to the throne of Far-Far-Away. He doesn’t want to, and so the king reveals that there’s another heir to the throne, should Shrek distance himself from the position; Arthur. Arthur lives at the school of Worcestershire, where he’s being bullied around by the jousting team jocks, lead by Sir Lancelot. He is happily saved from his underdog life by Shrek and his companions and is looking forward to being king. Meanwhile, the disgruntled Prince Charming has rallied all the disgruntled fairy tale villains (wicked queen, captain hook, etc.) to help him take over Far-Far-Away and instate him as king. Shrek and his friends, together with Arthur have to fight to get the anarchistic kingdom back under control, all the while Shrek is trying to come to terms with the fact that he’s going to be a daddy.

I really liked the first Shrek, and I thought the second one was amusing. I was glad to see the third film had me in stitches once again. Entertaining.

Cocaine Cowboys [2006]

Director: Billy Corben
Score: Jan Hammer

This is a really great, very comprehensive documentary on the rise and fall of the cocaine-trade in south Florida. It’s very stylishly done, with interviews, footage and images, all set – probably not coincidentally – against soundtrack done by Jan Hammer. The primary people interviewed are two smugglers, who were there from start to finish, and the prime enforcer for Griselda Blanco, the Cocaine Queen of Miami. There were also interviews of prominent law-enforcers en reporters of the time. It gives you a complete view of the impact that the cocaine trade had on southern Florida, its economy, the mindset and behaviour of the people, as well as the development of organised crime in the United States and South America.

It’s long (close to two hours), but if you’re interested in stuff like this, it’s well worth it.

Overnight [2003]

Director: Tony Montana, Mark Brian Smith
Actor: Troy Duffy

This is kind of like an alternate version of “The Making of…” The making of The Boondock Saints. Well, it’s not, really. It’s more the rise and fall of its spiritual father; Troy Duffy. He was a poor guy from Boston who went out to L.A. to make it in the music business. He and his band The Brood, later renamed The Boondock Saints, were trying to break through and get a record deal when he was working at a bar. One night he sees a deceased drug addict being wheeled out of an apartment adjacent to his and he gets the idea for the film. He writes it, works on it, and shops it around, and one day, Harvey Weinstein, boss of Miramax who had at that year’s Oscars scooped up every possible category and he promises him that he will finance the movie, give him creative control and buy the bar Duffy works at, and let Duffy co-own it with him.

From that moment on he becomes an Overnight celebrity and he and his band rise to stardom even before he’s done anything. He’s the quintessential example of The American Dream.

…until Miramax pulls the deal and do a complete “turnaround.” Which mean, in movie-land, that they don’t want to have anything to do with the film. At that point Duffy’s ego has ballooned to a massive, uncontrollable size, and he obsessively tries to get the movie made, burning bridges and upsetting everyone, including his friends in the process. And this documentary deals with that. The train-wreck journey of The Boondock Saints and the career of Troy Duffy from start to finish.

Enjoyable watch.