Warming the Bench with the Battered Bastards of Baseball

“It’s hard not to be romantic about baseball.” this one line stuck with me after watching 2011s Moneyball. It stuck because it was wrapped in a universal truth. Baseball has been responsible for a good number of emotionally charged films. Sports movies in general are easy targets for that feel good camaraderie loving demographic that contains the vast majority of people in America. While I personally don’t follow any sports teams actively, I completely get why it’s such a universal phenomenon. Especially with an underdog story where the team in question ends up coming out on top. The Battered Bastards of Baseball is a documentary with as much heart as Miracle, Moneyball and Angels in the Outfield combined, offering a look into a lesser known chapter of sports history.

 

The Netflix Original documentary tells, from beginning to end, the unusual tale of the Portland Mavericks. The foul mouthed, irreverent minor league ball team was thrown together by former ball player and hollywood veteran Bing Russell. The film is primarily about the Mavericks, but uses Bing as a constant focal point. Starting with his love for baseball at a young age all the way to his running of the Maverick’s franchise. Bing Russell used the Mavericks to bring privately owned clubs back to baseball. Whereas most minor league teams were simply farms for the major leagues, Bing wanted the Mavericks to be the best they could be offering a chance for both players and fans to experience a minor league game that went to it’s full potential. What that meant was offering open tryouts to anyone that showed up; essentially the rejects of the baseball world. The documentary highlights the short career of the team. It seeks to showcase the heart of the team by interviewing players, fans and sports writers. Through this process we glean a good picture of what made them an anomaly in the sports world. They weren’t just the underdogs, they were rebels, they fought against the norm and were both rewarded and punished for it.

 

The film is short and energetic, it uses the power of nostalgia to fuel the interviews and thought process of each participant. Bing’s son, Kurt Russell, (Wyatt Earp himself) who played for the Mavericks, knew Bing as a father as well as the owner offers an inside look into what home life was like and what drove the man behind the Mav’s. The film utilizes an electrifyingly charged score that’s as simple as it is effective. The runtime is relatively short, at under 90 minutes, but it’s enough. The story is small and personal, so much so that it probably couldn’t have sustained a longer screen time. It’s an interesting look into the business of baseball and what happens when the stars align enough to create something truly unique.

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

While recently discussing emotionally devastating movies to watch (I know, right?), a number of titles got tossed around, but I finally settled on a documentary feature on Netflix entitled Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father. It turned out to be one of the most emotionally taxing films I have ever seen. I was told to watch the movie without looking at any synopsis for the film, and I didn’t. I went into it blind and would strongly encourage anyone else that wants to watch it to do so as well. That being said, stop reading this right now and go watch it. Once your eyes have dried come back here and we can discuss it further. If you prefer, you can just keep reading, as I anticipate some of you will do. I won’t give away much in the rest of my review, so if you decide to keep reading I won’t blame you.

 

The movie is about Dr. Andrew Bagby. Bagby was a man that was loved by just about everyone that he that had the pleasure to know him, he was kind, witty and smart. The film seeks to memorialize him by talking with everyone that he knew. The filmmaker, Kurt Kuenne, was one of Bagby’s best friends growing up. That’s why, when the news of Andrew’s untimely murder reaches him, he sets out to preserve his friend’s memory. Yes, Andrew Bagby was murdered. While the initial intent of the film was to record numerous people talking about who Bagby was to them, it turns into a fascinating and absolutely heart wrenching look into the faults that face the legal system. As the film progresses, details about the incident that left Bagby dead. Slowly Andre’s parents become the focal point as Andrew’s former girlfriend and accused murderer comes forward with the news that she is carrying Andrew’s child. Andrew’s parents then proceed a long legal battle for custody of their grandson.

 

The pure emotional energy is overwhelming. Those interviewed for the film express a great deal of joy in reminiscing about Andrew Bagby, and then instantly crumble into to tears. The movie is a case study on injustice, and pain and hatred and anger and loss and devastation, so much so that the weight of it is shared with the viewer. I normally am turned off from films with a political agenda, whether I agree with it or not. But I have to recommend this movie based solely for it’s genuine emotional value. Very few movies have had the effect that Dear Zachary had on me. It highlights both the evil in the world as well as the hope. When people grieve they find the darkest parts of themselves seeping out, and this film is all about grief in the most horrendous of circumstances. It is, however about hope and determination. It’s not an easy movie to watch, but one I would recommend.

 

“Dear Mr. Watterson” is a letter with no reply

Art is a universal concept for expressing an innumerable amount of ideas. The mediums by which art is expressed are as far ranging as the imagination. Some are held in high esteem and others are only considered art by those that practice their particular medium. There is one form of art, that is cheap, inexpensive and loved by millions. Cartoons, referring to drawn comic strips that use a limited number of panels or space to connect a string of thoughts or a singular idea using a mixture of still images and text, has captured the attention of the world throughout generations. Bill Watterson gave us one of the best comic strips of all time with Calvin and Hobbes. The strip, for the two of you that aren’t familiar with it, follows the adventures of an overly imaginative six year old named Calvin and his pet Tiger named Hobbes. They embark on philosophical and imagination fueled treks across universes while rarely leaving their neighborhood. In the film Dear Mr. Watterson new filmmaker Joel Allen Schroeder uses interviews and nostalgia to fuel his own adventure; one that seeks to summarize the emotions surrounding this iconic comic.

Funded on Kickstarter Dear Mr. Watterson is a documentary in which Joel Allen Schroeder interviews Comic strip artists, fans and historians. He respects Bill Watterson’s thirst for privacy by not attempting to interview him, but digs into the mania surrounding Calvin and Hobbes. The documentary is served up in a number of segments ranging from topics about licensing and copywrite all the way to the decaying nature of the newspaper comic page. Mr. Watterson’s reclusive nature is absolutely evident throughout the film, and is noted by almost everyone that is interviewed. We’re introduced to a person with a rich philosophy on art and human nature, but he only speaks through his creation. We are served a tiny glimpse into a vast and interesting world, one that in some aspects is dying with the newspaper business and in others is striving in the digital age.

 

The movie itself is propelled primarily by a strong sense of nostalgia. Too much of the content was a nudge to audiences that sought to say “remember how good that one strip was?” when it could have been spent divulging further information on both the industry and the history surrounding comics and Calvin and Hobbes in general. It’s a phenomenal strip, to be certain, but we all know that and as fun as it is to see someone reminisce about cutting out sunday papers and tacking them to their wall, a documentary should be first and foremost informative, otherwise I would much rather simply discuss the comics with people that I know. That isn’t to say that the film completely squanders it’s opportunity; far from it. Though the transitions from segment to segment are largely self serving to Schroeder, he certainly includes some interview gems. In particular the ones that speak to the climate surrounding the comic industry shortly before Watterson retired.

 

While perhaps relying too heavily on nostalgia, Dear Mr. Watterson manages to take a beloved piece of art and puts it under a lens that allows us to view it more in depth than we might have otherwise done. Calvin and Hobbes is universally loved, and Schroeder does his best to let you know that he loves it just as much as the best of them. We’re given a rare glimpse into the mindset of cartoonists, and allowed to hear from those that worked right alongside one of the greatest comic artists of all time.

 

A little late for a scare, but here it is!: The American Scream

 

Observing an individuals interaction with their hobby is one of the most transparent windows into the type of person they are. It doesn’t particularly matter what type of hobby they have, should you find yourself in a position to witness the process of someone laboring at something they love to do, you’re going to get to know them a little bit better. This could apply to anything from building model airplanes to playing in a city softball league. The principles remain the same. There are countless documentaries that follow enthusiastic hobbyists in their pursuit of perfection towards odd practices, but one that was recently recommended to me was especially interesting, and equally fun. It was an opportunity to watch varying levels of Do-It-Yourselfers in action slaving away at making haunted mazes for trick-or-treaters each year.

 

The American Scream follows three families as they prepare for Halloween. Each of these families has an annual tradition of setting up incredibly elaborate haunted mazes in their backyard and homes. The first family we see shows an obsessed father that works as a software engineer by day and spends the majority of his spare time designing props and scenes for the upcoming holiday. His family helps him and for the most part enjoys the hobby, but it’s not without it’s toll. Next we see a grown father son duo that are kind hearted, albeit slightly odd. Their approach to scaring is not nearly as professional as the first family, but they eagerly piece together props with instructions they’ve found on the internet. Finally we meet a man that, along with the help of his children, chooses quantity over quality for his maze, building props out of just about anything he can get his hands on. We observe these three families as the days count down to Halloween. We observe them as they interact with their passion, and it’s a blast.

 

The film itself is fairly generic for a documentary. Switching between interviews and fly-on -the-wall style shots, we get to both observe the creation of the mazes in action and hear the families discuss the emotional implications that these mazes represent. But the real fun comes towards the end of the film when the three mazes open up for one night. The entire neighborhood comes out to try the three mazes, and the creators reap the fruits of their labor by basking in the screams of their community.

 

The entire “haunting” culture is interesting. What is often viewed as weird on the surface can be linked to more “normal” human traits. The fascination can certainly come off as macabre, but it’s not without it’s charm, and that charm lies solely in the individuals that choose to put their strength and effort into a passion project like this. One thing that was brought up was the communal aspect of Halloween. Thanksgiving and Christmas are more family holidays, whereas Halloween is about the community. Behind the makeup and the blood lies a surprisingly warm tale of human kindness.

I’m Looking Forward To: Dear Mr. Watterson

 

The emergence of Kickstarter has managed to bring about a number of awesome things that would otherwise not had the funding to exist. Today I want to point some attention to a project that started in that haven for unique ideas by drawing attention to a documentary film that I cannot wait to see. Dear Mr. Watterson explores one of the single best comic strips to ever grace the pages of a newspaper; Calvin and Hobbes. The film interviews a number of people that have been influenced by the strip in an attempt to define what makes the comic so endearing to anyone that reads it. The movie is not about finding out what Bill Watterson has to say about his creation, rather it appears to be a simple thank you note. Watterson’s long running strip ended over a decade ago, and since then he has kept an extremely low profile, something that the filmmakers respect. Calvin and Hobbes continues to be one of my favorite pieces of reading material. My coffee table is littered with multiple collections showcasing some of the best that that particular art form has to offer. I am seriously pretty excited about this movie. Check out the website here for more information and watch the trailer below!

 

Best Worst Movie

    Cult films are recognized as such for their fiercely devoted, but often times small, fanbase. While the majority of the population may be blissfully ignorant of a particular piece of film history, there is a small portion that recognizes the merits or find themselves amused at the folly of a particular movie so much that they elevate it to the status, in their collective minds, of a classic film. I watched a documentary this weekend that centered around the lives of the actors, and the filming of a cult film that I reviewed a little while back; Troll 2. Best Worst Movie not only does a fantastic job of explaining to you why Troll 2 is well worth your time to watch, but it presents a fascinating narrative following the lives of people that, 20 years after the fact, realize that they’ve developed relative stardom.

 

    Michael Stephenson directs this film in an attempt to bring to bring light to the fact that a phenomenon has been nurtured to the point that those involved in movie, do indeed have fans that loved their work, albeit for the wrong reasons. Stephenson played the young boy, Joshua, in Troll 2; in this movie he remains largely behind the camera. The real focus and voice piece of the documentary is George Hardy, a well known and loved dentist in Alabama. It is made clear within the first minutes of the movie that Hardy is loved by just about everyone he encounters, even his ex-wife has nothing bad to say about him. Hardy is absolutely blown away by the reception, that his little movie that he was so embarrassed about most of his life, receives at screenings for devout followers of the film. We follow most of the cast as they interact with their fan base and we watch George Hardy’s ego swell during the course of the film. It’s fun to see people who have forgotten (or have tried to forget) their acting “careers”suddenly get the stardom that they had hoped for. While it’s a blast to watch fans and actors react to one another, the humanity in the story reveals itself when the obscurity of the movie subjects George Hardy to particularly uncomfortable situations, including him sitting at a “Horror Convention” booth for almost the entire day with almost no visits.

 

    Michael Stephens attempts to reconnect the entire cast and crew for the premier that Troll 2 never had. In this quest we get a fascinating glimpse into the lives of people who took a crack at their dreams of making movies and had it not quite pan out. Some managed to have relatively successful careers, some found other paths to success and others continue to strive towards that goal. For all the hilarious nonsense that Troll 2 turned out to be, it garnished a surprisingly touching story for those involved. Best Worst Movie manages to accurately explain the phenomenon that is cult films, as well as present a surprisingly relatable documentary.

Tim Burton’s Biography of the Worst Director of all Time: Ed Wood

 

 

It is, unsurprisingly, very easy to be bad at something. Really, anyone can be bad at anything, if they put their mind to it; however it’s something else entirely to be the worst. To be universally recognized as the worst of anything takes something truly special. In Ed Wood Johnny Depp portrays the titular director/writer/actor and his unique experience in dealing with Hollywood and all it’s various forms of monsters. Wood’s cinematic atrocities stemmed from a passion for the craft that he strives to be recognized in. And recognized he certainly was, only it was in ways that he never intended.

 

Ed Wood chronicles the career of Edward D Wood Jr. His meager beginnings as a stage director morphs into a screen debut when he befriends aging horror actor Bela Lugosi and they begin to make pictures together. With a smidgen of star power on his side, Wood continues to take his motley crew through a series of backyard special effects fueled adventures as he discovers and refines his all engrossing passion. The lengths and determination behind Wood are incredible. Single takes, no filming permits and replacing deceased actors mid feature are just a few of the faux pas that he commits. All Edward Wood wanted to do was to make movies, and make them he did, his rapid fire pace when shooting scenes jumps to the screen through Johnny Depp’s charisma. Wood’s motley crew of Hollywood misfits and has-beens become increasingly entertaining through the duration of the film. Cardboard effects bizarre story lines and angora sweaters power the madness of Ed Wood.

 

Tim Burton directed this film, and while his signature visual style is ever present, it doesn’t make it any less attractive to look at. Few people choose to film entirely in black and white, but it was a decision that certainly worked in favor of the film as a whole. Burton, like wood, sees his movie as a big picture, he maintains complete control of the feature and all it’s overarching components. Unlike wood, he is careful to pay attention to the small details as well. Choosing the perfect cast, he matches them with great costumes and set designs that are just as terrible as an Ed Wood biographical film should be. Martin Landau plays Bela Lugosi, he matches the facial expressions and dialogue of the legendary actor excellently, while at the same time delivering a performance that is entirely his own.

 

This is the “follow your heart” message that Disney has been pumping out for years, however where Disney assures you you’ll be good at whatever you aspire to, Ed Wood lets you know that you may just be terrible at it. Burton seems to use this not as a discouraging tactic, but rather as a way to speak the message of the film, which is to do what makes you happy, and pursue it with all you’ve got. Whether that’s a message you can get behind or not, it doesn’t detract from the entertainment or visual value of the film. Burton presents us with a movie that is far different from the majority of his filmography, it is far slower, taking it’s time to allow the themes, characters and emotions to stew and sink in. This is an oft overlooked piece that deserves far more recognition than most of Burton’s recent works. However, his demographic tends to be teens with a slightly darker side, and this may not appeal to them. Burton chose to make a film he wanted to make, and thanks to that we have Ed Wood.

Vernon, Florida

 

I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t afraid of Florida. It seems I can’t turn on my computer without reading strange news stories about a man dying in a cockroach eating contest or a sinkhole swallowing someone up in the middle of the night. I can not attempt to understand the level of strange things that seem to seep from the depths of that south-eastern State. Therefore, it stands to reason that one of the most fascinating and hilarious documentary films I’ve ever seen takes place and centers around the residents of a little town called Vernon, Florida. Unlike the last documentary I reviewed (or really any other documentary I’ve ever seen) this film has no real agenda, it doesn’t intend to show how people deal with a certain situation nor does it address a social issue. Instead of making some kind of political point, this film simply highlights a lifestyle that most people would consider odd.

Errol Morris delivers his second feature under some strange circumstances (seriously, everything about this movie is strange). Vernon, Florida was originally supposed to be titled Nub City in which he interviewed the inhabitants of Vernon discussing the town’s reputation for lobbing off their own limbs in order to make a living off of insurance. This had to be scrapped due to the fact that the people he interviewed threatened to murder him. Plan B was used and Vernon, Florida was born. Rather than focus on lost limbs, Morris simply allows the residents of the town talk about their lives and their hobbies. What emerges are some of the most bizarre conversations I have ever heard. The local worm farmer talks about his business and how if you want to get in to worm farming you might as well forget about what the library books say, because they’re almost all wrong. We hear a man who is more passionate about turkey hunting than anything else in the world. The pastor in the town delivers an entire sermon focusing on the worth “therefore”.

The format of the film is different from other documentaries in many ways, one of the most noticeable being the lack of narrative. While documentary films focus on real life, they almost always use something as a form of narration. In Vernon, Florida, we aren’t following one particular persons journey, we aren’t shown questions asked to interviewees, we don’t even hear any of the film crew. We literally sit there for almost an hour (it’s a very short movie) and watch the inhabitants talk. It’s an iffy move that wouldn’t work under most circumstances, however in this instance, the longer the people talk the more entertaining the film becomes.

Something that has become popular with reality shows is quick editing and sound effects. The editing deck allows the manipulation of circumstances to make people look favorable to the public or idiotic, all with just a few slices here and there. Almost all of what we see in “reality” TV is manipulated for the sake of ratings to the point where situations are so far from what really happened that the people in the shows wouldn’t recognize what’s happening on screen. Where modern reality shows mock the people involved, this documentary does not stoop to that level. We’re shown some of the most bizarre lifestyles and, honestly, some of the strangest individuals I’ve ever seen. And yet the filmmaker feels no need to mock them. This movie is hilarious, but it showcases a different lifestyle, one where the town is happy with their existence. The residents of Vernon freely give interviews and talk about their beliefs and their day to day life, for that Errol Morris delivers their story with long cuts and few edits to the public. It’s funny, but this movie is not there to humiliate the residents of Vernon, rather it’s there to give us a glimpse into a life that is hilariously different from our own, and most likely a whole lot simpler, which is something that almost anyone would want to have.

Monica & David

 

 

The basis for movie romances is entirely comprised of overcoming complications. Will our protagonists be able to overcome the obstacles that complicate their relationship? Often times these complications are internal forces, starting the film with both characters having with a mutual dislike of the other that gradually grows into full blown romantic love. Other times it’s external forces, distance, different lifestyles, different friends or any number of seemingly difficult barriers to their love. What you rarely see in romantic films is after the “happily ever after” the love story ends at or directly after the agreement the characters have to be together. In Monica & David we’re given a glimpse into a couple’s life after marriage with circumstances and difficulties that are unfamiliar and far more challenging than most experience. The titular characters in this documentary have Down syndrome (which most in the film simply refer to as “Down’s”). Monica’s cousin asked to film their lives for a short period after their marriage, the film starts shortly before the wedding and ends on Monica and David’s first anniversary.

Having personally known very few people with Down syndrome, watching a documentary film about the day to day lives of people affected by it, as well as their family was interesting in it’s own right. It’s an emotional and beautiful love story about two people going through life with the aid of their family. Monica’s mother presents the dichotomy that fuels the film by explaining that people with Down’s need as much independence as possible, while at the same time needing a large amount of help from those closest to them. The obstacles in this film aren’t just Monica and David’s; rather they are shared by family and friends.  While Monica and David talk about wanting Children, Monica’s parent’s concern is that, should that happen, they will be responsible for the care of the child. Monica and David want to get jobs, but David’s mother worries about how people will treat him should he get a position in customer service. Monica’s mother puts the situation in perspective when she says that in trying to make them feel normal by protecting them from the world, she inadvertently treats them as if they are different.

The film aspect of the documentary is well done. We’re treated to the fly-on-the-wall treatment, making it easy to forget that the families have to deal with a film crew following their daily activities. The editing of the footage allows us to see some of the highlights of their lives, we watch as they must maneuver big changes in their lives as well as go through their daily routines. The lifestyle that centers around supporting and caring for those with Down syndrome is, in this case, a shining example of love.

Where this documentary thrives that most romantic narratives fail is it’s honest look into the lives of it’s stars. While the movie is sweet and incredibly enjoyable, we’re not given any false ideas about anyone’s lives getting easier through their marriage. Responsibility is shifted around a bit, and in the course of the year that the film takes place, new medical problems arise for the couple. However everything is dealt with in love. The problems are faced head on, they are overcome and the families move on to face new challenges. For more information about the film or Down Syndrome and other disabilities, I highly recommend taking a look at their website.

Bernie

 Bernie is a dark comedy that uses dry wit to win over it’s audience. It’s a strange little dramedy with an off the wall premise;  an extremely friendly middle aged man befriends and then murders an elderly woman that controls much of the small town of Carthage’s economy. Bernie is active in the local church, he’s the best funeral home worker the town has ever seen, he stars in and directs local plays and musicals, he’s kind to everyone, particularly the elder women of Carthage. Bernie is essentially the guy that everyone knows and loves. This movie would have not been nearly as fascinating had it not been for on thing; Bernie is a true story.

 

Jack Black and Shirley MaClaine, play the parts of Bernie Tiede and Marge Nugent. Black embodies the overly sweet and quirky titular character while Maclaine channels an unfriendly, borderline evil woman that finds pleasure in causing others misery. Bernie and Marge met at Mr. Nugents funeral, after which the two became inseparable. Bernie became Marge’s Constant companion, often taking lavish vacations together. Watching this movie with the knowledge that the majority of it is based on actual facts is fascinating. With the exception of minor dialogue and a few creative liberties, the details are surprisingly accurate.

 

Jack Black gives us one of his best character performances to date. The opening sequence where he goes into detail on how to prepare a body for burial sets the stage for the movie. His character is completely familiar with death, he works at a funeral parlor and  is praised for his work ethic and the devotion he puts in to his job. It’s a dark job for such a sweet person.  While the exact emotions and thoughts of Bernie Tiede may never be known, the small glimpses into his life and mannerisms showed a man that was capable of compartmentalizing emotions and actions. He appears to be genuinely kind as well as remorseful for what he does.

 

While Black’s performance was fantastic, one of the strongest aspects of the movie are the interviews with the citizens of Carthage. The interview format that permeates the course of the film make it almost documentary like.  I came to find out that the reason behind a lot of the convincing performances given is because a number of the interviews are with actual citizens rather than actors. It’s part documentary part narrative film. The movie uses the oddities of the case and of the town and it’s inhabitants to it’s comedic potential. Black is absolutely hilarious, Maclaine is easy to dislike and the townspeople are genuine and give the most believable performance.

 

Knowing a little bit about the movie and the characters involved seemed to add to the viewing experience. It’s hard to laugh at an actual murder, but the circumstances surrounding both the crime and the trial are so bizarre that it’s no wonder this was billed as a dark comedy. From all accounts, Mrs. Nugent was a truly unkind person, but she certainly didn’t deserve to be killed, this is something that the real Bernie Tiede believed, even if others didn’t. If you’re interested in learning more about this story, I reccomend this New York Times article written by Marge Nugent’s nephew. It’s an interesting read and companion to the movie. The film, at the time that I wrote this, is streaming on Netflix.