What was the last documentary you watched?

[LMLDallas78]

Watched a docu called "McEnroe" this evening. I was gripped for the whole 2 hours. It was an intriguing insight into John growing up and his journey to becoming one of the greatest tennis players.

It featured the relationship with his father and with his various tennis opponents, some of whom he idolised and who were pivotal in his quest for winning.

He was loved by many but hated by many too. I loved watching him in the early 80s when my love of Wimbledon began and still enjoy his commentary.

He was controversial of course, but spoke openly of seeing numerous psychiatrists and of his angry outbursts. Also how his need for perfection and self criticism started at an early age.

Becoming a father himself was a turning point where he realised what the relationship with his own father lacked.
Not sure when it was made, but looked fairly recent. Enjoyed every single minute of it.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Not sure if this counts, but I just saw one about Mary Tyler Moore.
It was excellent!
One of the reason that the MTM show was so successful IMHO is that MTM played the "straight man/woman role so well.
It allowed the talents of Ted Knight, Valerie Harper, Ed Asner and Gavin McLeod to shine bright.
I was not the biggest fan of Phyllis and Sue Anne, but Chloris Leachman and Betty White were superb in those roles.
I did not know that MTM was in the Breakfast at Tiffany's play, one that was not successful - that was unfortunate.

 

[LMLDallas78]

I watched Tina last evening, a documentary on the life of Tina Turner. I missed the first 10 minutes or so as I didn't know it was on and I was only flicking channels.

I can't say I was ever a big fan, but liked her music in the mid 80s, but never particularly knew about her.

I've recently been to London and saw Tina the musical for the second time which is so amazing I can't even put into words properly. The fact I've seen it twice in about six months sums it up really.

I remember watching the film about her life in the early 90s which left quite an impression.

This documentary last night was such an insight and so well presented in her own words and people who knew her as well as family members.

I hadn't ever really appreciated what impact she had on the music industry and her continuous fight through life against domestic, racial and ageist abuse.

She appeared genuine to fans and although very determined, never came across as a diva.

Watching it was a real revelation and my admiration for Tina Turner has grown massively.
May she rest in peace.

 

[Willie Oleson]

I have no netflix but I found this on youtube. The real "Orphan" story.

She was standing at the foot of the bed, with a knife in her hand

How cliché and camp!

 

[Jason73]

Not sure if this counts, but I just saw one about Mary Tyler Moore.
It was excellent!

I really enjoyed that one too. It was nice to see a few candid home video moments featuring Mary. I didn't know much about her second marriage and found that interesting.

 

[Crimson]

I liked the MTM doc. I didn't think it was deeply insightful, but that's usually the case when the entirety of a person's life is covered. I thought it nicely covered how Mary navigated the evolving social attitude towards working women -- from her guilt over how much of her son's life she missed due to her career, and how that seemed to impact her later ambivalence about 70s feminism even as the TV character she played was practically emblematic of said feminism.

I turned the doc off before it was over, though. Not because I wasn't enjoying it, but because Mary's final years were unusually sad. I didn't want to go through that again.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Not sure if this counts, but I just saw one about Mary Tyler Moore.
It was excellent!
One of the reason that the MTM show was so successful IMHO is that MTM played the "straight man/woman role so well.
It allowed the talents of Ted Knight, Valerie Harper, Ed Asner and Gavin McLeod to shine bright.
I was not the biggest fan of Phyllis and Sue Anne, but Chloris Leachman and Betty White were superb in those roles.
I did not know that MTM was in the Breakfast at Tiffany's play, one that was not successful - that was unfortunate.

I liked the MTM doc. I didn't think it was deeply insightful, but that's usually the case when the entirety of a person's life is covered. I thought it nicely covered how Mary navigated the evolving social attitude towards working women -- from her guilt over how much of her son's life she missed due to her career, and how that seemed to impact her later ambivalence about 70s feminism even as the TV character she played was practically emblematic of said feminism.

I turned the doc off before it was over, though. Not because I wasn't enjoying it, but because Mary's final years were unusually sad. I didn't want to go through that again.

Which MTM documentary was that -- what was the title? I have one called, I think, "A Celebration," which I believe aired on PBS shortly before she died... It was okay, I guess, but I didn't particularly like it. Flat and pedestrian.

It's no surprise that sensitive Mary was apathetic on feminism, and her role of Mary Richards wasn't as edgy or as militant as the feminists wanted -- although they mostly accepted the show because it was all they had.

Mary later denied assertions that Mary Richards would ever have grown into acerbic Murphy Brown.

Mary stated that the reason the Equal Rights Amendment was defeated in the early-'70s was because of the nasty behavior she witnessed from so many of the feminists at the rallies she'd attended. And this was when Mary was still an active liberal, campaigning for Jimmy Carter.

But that's the thing about feminism: well-intentioned people are driven away from it, while the girl ghouls jump right in with exultant enthusiasm.

 

[Crimson]

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

When was this one from? I haven't seen it.

 

[Crimson]

Just a couple months ago, on HBO.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Which MTM documentary was that -- what was the title? I have one called, I think, "A Celebration," which I believe aired on PBS shortly before she died... It was okay, I guess, but I didn't particularly like it. Flat and pedestrian.

It's no surprise that sensitive Mary was apathetic on feminism, and her role of Mary Richards wasn't as edgy or as militant as the feminists wanted -- although they mostly accepted the show because it was all they had.

Mary later denied assertions that Mary Richards would ever have grown into acerbic Murphy Brown.

Mary stated that the reason the Equal Rights Amendment was defeated in the early-'70s was because of the nasty behavior she witnessed from so many of the feminists at the rallies she'd attended. And this was when Mary was still an active liberal, campaigning for Jimmy Carter.

But that's the thing about feminism: well-intentioned people are driven away from it, while the girl ghouls jump right in with exultant enthusiasm.

I thought it was insightful about the creative process at the time, the context of the show for that time, and the development of MTM's show and character.
It wasn't just a pedestrian by-the- numbers documentary. I learned things about MTM that I didn't know.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I thought it was insightful about the creative process at the time, the context of the show for that time, and the development of MTM's show and character.
It wasn't just a pedestrian by-the- numbers documentary. I learned things about MTM that I didn't know.

Which one -- A CELEBRATION or BEING MARY TYLER MOORE?

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Which one -- A CELEBRATION or BEING MARY TYLER MOORE?

The one that was on HBO recently. Not sure of the title

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

The one that was on HBO recently. Not sure of the title

That's BEING.

 

[Richard Channing]

Who knows what the truth is in this very entertaining doc on the only murder trial in the US to use demonic possession as a defense. I'm certainly open to the idea that the various members of the family are telling the truth even though some elements of the story are quite fantastical. But David's possession seems very similar to the events in The Exorcist and even the recordings of him speaking while supposedly possessed sound like they could have been done by the same guy who does the voices for the movie. So, who knows? Anyway, it was a good watch for a Halloween weekend doc.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Who knows what the truth is in this very entertaining doc on the only murder trial in the US to use demonic possession as a defense. I'm certainly open to the idea that the various members of the family are telling the truth even though some elements of the story are quite fantastical. But David's possession seems very similar to the events in The Exorcist and even the recordings of him speaking while supposedly possessed sound like they could have been done by the same guy who does the voices for the movie. So, who knows? Anyway, it was a good watch for a Halloween weekend doc.

But isn't anybody who commits grisly murder by definition possessed by the Devil -- at least, temporarily?

 

[Richard Channing]

But isn't anybody who commits grisly murder by definition possessed by the Devil -- at least, temporarily?

I guess you could argue that all evil deeds are the devil's work but what this guy is claiming is that a demonic force (which had previously possessed his 12 year old brother) took over his body and committed the murder. He claims he found himself at the police station with no memory of the event and didn't even know his friend had been murdered. Needless to say his story didn't wash with the judge.

 

[9unfold]

A documentary about Bomber Command and the role they played during WW2. With some of the Lancaster crews speaking about their experiences over Germany.

Very interesting.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Despite my unequivocal adoration for @Richard Channing , this "what was the last documentary you watched?" thread eliminates the need for the Documentary page as a whole (just as the "what was the last movie you watched?" and "movies from the '30s to the '60s"/"movies from the '70s until this morning" threads neutralize the need for the Movies page).

Anyway, here's a new PBS doc on the enigmatically horrible William F. Buckley, conservative icon. All things considered, the piece goes fairly easy on him -- but, being the 2020s, it ends on the January 6 riots on Capitol Hill and seems to blame him for it.

 

[Willie Oleson]

this "what was the last documentary you watched?" thread eliminates the need for the Documentary page as a whole (just as the "what was the last movie you watched?" and "movies from the '30s to the '60s"/"movies from the '70s until this morning" threads neutralize the need for the Movies page).

Most films won't spark any discussion whatsoever and therefore it doesn't make sense to clutter the film forum with individual threads for every film we've watched.
It usually only works for the popular classics and film series (I hate the word franchise).