Documentaries

Anything For Fame 📱

Anything for Fame is a documentary that follows the lives of four young influencers vying for social media stardom, witnessing the lengths they will go to remain relevant because in a world filled with options, they want you to choose them.

I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with social media.

I love the way it can bring you together with likeminded people you would never have had the opportunity to meet in the real world. Whether it be a foodie, talking basketball, or some random dude writing about movies - social media provides power to a world without borders.

The hate comes when online personalities find the most outlandish, and detrimental way to create content that fuels bad behaviour, and influences a younger generation that stupidity is a gateway to fame. Getting to know more about these people behind the screen provides some interesting context to what otherwise would seem like individuals who lacked any self awareness, or self respect.

Jack Hillhouse is trying to do his best Jackass impersonation but it feels like clout chasing rather than a passion driven project, Jumanne comes across as a directionless attention-seeker who wants recognition for his existence, and then we have Ava Louise who used her high school trauma as a crutch to guide her future life decisions.

We also have Peter Teatime and Jade Jadasaur, both who seem to be using their continued fame as building blocks towards their actual life goals. Peter continues to work on reaching new death defying feats, while Jade used her OnlyFans as a means of making cash to fund her dream of being an actress.

These two groups of influencers are the clear line that divides those who create content with healthy goal driven ideas, and those who just need quick fixes to gain whatever dopamine rush they can through this “attention economy.”

If you’re chronically online then a lot of this documentary will feel obvious and redundant, but to those who aren’t it’s an insightful, purposeful piece of observation that focuses on those who attach their self worth to their online existence. It does bring up mature content matter but if you’re a teacher or raising preteens, this is worth the watch for the educational aspect of providing a dose of reality to an often misguidedly romanticized way of life.

Anything for Fame wants to give you a peak behind the curtain on what it’s really like for those who may be viewed by millions, but become a reflection of society that has been moulded by the digital age - for better, or for worse.

Enjoy!

7.5/10 🍿 🎥

Runtime: 1hr25mins

Where: Streaming on www.nfb.ca

Anything for Fame Review (2023) The Richmond Reveiwer.

#Documentary #MovieReview #Movie #SocialMedia #Influencer #NationalFilmBoardofCanada #AnythingforFame

McGregor Forever 🇮🇪 

“Reasonable men never achieve anything.”

McGregor Forever is a 4 part docu-series that follows the Irish born UFC megastar, and Mixed Martial Arts icon, the Notorious Conor McGregor as he works his way back into the Octagon.
After a blockbuster boxing bout, and millions of dollars in the bank, the world around him begins to question his want to fight - this is his answer.

The first documentary about Conor McGregor (Notorious, 2017) was a self-produced glory story, about his rags to riches journey to the top, filled to the brim with highlight reel fights and his iconic gift for the gab. 

In McGregor Forever he had no creative control, and we get a brutally honest in-depth and personal look, that takes us behind the scenes into the going-ons of McGregors camp leading up to, during, and after each of his last four fights. 

With never before seen footage, we get to witness a side of McGregor most fans have yet to see. 

If this documentary proves anything it’s that this ruthless game of prize fighting will either let you leave the game on your own terms, or ruthlessly take you out - with no in between.

Conor pleads his case of wanting to fight, not because he needs to but because of the fire inside him that continues to yearn for competition.

The constant conversation around him is how a man who sleeps in silk sheets would ever fully commit to getting punched in the face again, after making millions of dollars, reaching the mountain top and pinnacle of the sport - what really is left to accomplish?

What we naturally get to consume through wins and losses, becomes so much more richer with the moments we get access to like watching him seconds after his loss to Khabib in complete mourning, or the devastation of his ankle injury - that we now know could’ve been prevented.

The distractions are evident, and his erratic behavior can be deemed problematic, but it also doesn’t help when you have yes men around you, who you choose to speak over as if you’re the only one who knows best. It’s the most glaring issue showcased throughout this documentary that supersedes his determination and will, because you notice ego based decisions by a man who must now face the consequence of being humbled by injuries.

This was a reflective, insightful, and honest portrait of what’s led McGregor down the path he’s been on. Even if you keep up with the sport there is a lot to unpack, and moments worthy of being seen, that contextualize the rationale behind his decision making over the past 5 years.

Conors passion is undeniable, his ambition is admirable, but where he goes from here and what legacy he chooses to leave behind will ultimately be up to him.

There was the beginning with Notorious, we have the middle with McGregor Forever, and now in real time we'll either get to witness his last masterpiece take shape, or like Vincent Van Gogh - he might lose his mind in the process.

Enjoy! 

7.9/10 🎥 🍿 

Runtime: 50mins 

Episodes: 4

Where: Netflix

McGregor Forever Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer

#ConorMcgregor #MMA #UFC #CombatSports #Boxing #Movie #MovieReview #Documentary #Sports #Netflix 

Stand

“To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

Stand is a documentary that follows former NBA player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (formerly known as Chris Jackson), through the trials and tribulations of his playing career. 

In high school I’d go back and watch 80s/90s basketball to better understand the context of the careers of some of the greats, yet I never came across Abdul-Rauf until I saw him play in Ice Cubes 3on3 league a few years back. 

It shows what a ‘good’ job the NBA did in sweeping his career under the rug. 

From playing with Shaq at LSU, to then being drafted 3rd overall in the 1990 NBA Draft, all while working through his Tourette’s syndrome - just makes for one of the most fascinating stories I’ve ever come across in sports. 

 I didn’t live through his career but the way the media was able to vilify him during that time has some noticeable parallels to how players like Kapernick have been treated. 

Check me if I’m wrong, but the only red flag to all of this was the way in which he went about the changes he was making. I get the historical aspect of wanting to make a stand for your beliefs (he converted from Christianity to Islam) but unlike Muhammad Ali - it felt like nothing was going on at that time to warrant him protesting the anthem. 

Again, correct me if I’m wrong, but for a documentary that was made to redeem his image it felt like it was missing a piece to the puzzle that would’ve better helped tie the unjust blackballing, to his potentially rightful actions.

Regardless, he was phenomenal talent that had his career cut short due to circumstances off the court. 

Which is a bummer because his style of play (eerily similar to Steph Curry) felt like it would have made a significant impact on the culture of the sport - perhaps making the three point shot more prevalent decades before it inevitably happens.

I love documentaries that teach me something new, mix that with my undying love for basketball - and you have a must watch for hoop fans. 

Enjoy! 

7.8/10 🎥 🍿 

Runtime: 1hr47mins

Where: Showtime

 
Showtime Stand Documentary Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer

#Basketball #NBA #90s #Documentary #MovieReview #Movie