Girl 27.
Girl 27 is a documentary about Patricia Douglass who in 1937 worked for MGM. During a drunken sales party at the MGM ranch she was raped by a party-goer and MGM employee. Patricia sued and MGM fought tooth and nail to keep the case out of court and their name in good standing. The film pulls no punches and digs up re-election contributions paid by MGM to the District Attorney. Amazingly MGM prevails and the case is all but dropped.
Sixty-five years later a writer researching another story stumbles upon the headlines from the case while looking through old newspapers. Digging deeper he finds no information - it's as if Patricia Douglass vanished into thin air, which she did. Writer/Director David Stenn wants to tell this story to the world and sets out to find what became of Patricia Douglass and the accused. Could Patricia, who would now be 85 still be living somewhere? If so how would she feel about someone digging up this old secret after 65 years?
**** out of *****
Lonely? Looking for marriage? Contact "Cowboy Cupid" Ivan Thompson who specializes in the business of introducing marriage-minded American men to marriage-minded Mexican women. This documentary could have easily been an absolute train wreck but somehow it works. We follow Ivan and a three of his clients on individual trips into Mexico with the hopes of finding true love.
How does it work out for all parties involved? Watch and find out.
*** 1.2 out of *****
Why oh why did I watch Snuff: A Documentary About Killing On Camera again? Why? This is not for those of "weak constitution" among us. In fact it's not really recommended viewing for anybody. That said it is a well-made documentary about a gruesome subject and it is handled with a great deal of respect and the material is well-researched. The film makers even go so far as to interview experts in the field of law enforcement, both local and federal investigators, as well as experts on film.
As well-made as the film is be prepared to view a lot of footage that really sicks with you, and not in a good way. The film takes the high road and is not a series of gruesome "Faces of Death" playbacks, though you do watch someone plummet to their demise in faulty parachute. I think the interviews are the harshest part of the movie and I especially didn't like the inclusion of the notorious Leonard Lake/Charles Ng footage (two serial killers who videotaped the torture of captives before they killed them). The animal footage was worse. Thankfully the film contains little footage of anything dying but you don't have to see a lot to be affected long after the final scene goes black.
I have no idea how to rate this one. The film is exceptionally well-made but I don't think I'll ever watch it again.
? out of *****
After Snuff I bailed on any more documentaries. I started up a new favorite: Cashback.
This movie did not fare well with critics. For the life of me I can't figure out why not. Sure, it's kind of creepy - a art college insomniac who takes a job working nights in a grocery store who discovers he can stop time. That's not creepy? Well he disrobes the female shoppers while time is stopped she can draw and paint them (mostly) nude. Granted he only does this one but it is kind of creepy. Plus he is supposed to be working the graveyard shift in the store which is, apparently, when all the young, fit people of England go shopping.
The whole drawing people nude who aren't aware thing aside it's still a good movie.
**** out of *****
There were a lot more movies watched but these were the top four - all for different reasons.
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