George Harrison: Living In The Material World (2011)

 

I really wanted this documentary to be better. I expected more from director Martin Scorsese. Unfortunately the direction and editing were choppy and confusing. Songs were abruptly cut off between scenes. New segments began without any introduction or context. Shockingly sloppy. At least that’s how I felt about Part 1. 

Part 2 was more coherent and heartfelt. Just as the subjects of the film were maturing, so did the storytelling. The two parts could certainly have been edited down to just one. Fascinating subject and themes, but overly long and uneven. 

Rating: C-

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020)

 

Curiosity got the better of me and I give this sequel a viewing. All the awkwardness and crudeness of the original, but without any of the humor or fun. To say it was in poor taste would be an insult to poor people. A lot can be forgiven if a movie is funny. There is nothing to forgive in this one. 

Rating: F

Brave Blue World (2019)

It was nice to see a documentary about a problem that was filled with a lot of innovation for how to solve it. I especially enjoyed some of the ingenious ideas developed locally from water starved areas. One hopes that this same innovation can be applied to climate change. We’re pretty screwed otherwise. 

Rating: C