A Goth’s Month in Review: September 2012

This back-to-school month was all about learning stuff. In this case, we learned stuff in my very favourite way – through documentaries.

The very best documentaries are a bit like peeking into windows, a glimpse into real lives with all their foibles and triumphs.

This appeals to me. A former journalist, I am relentlessly curious about people. A Rorschach test I took online confirmed this, I am governed by curiosity. A born snoop.

Despite several near all-nighters at work, a test turkey feast weekend, and an Anthony Bourdain Cook’s Tour bender, I managed to review some pretty amazing documentaries this month. But alas, I did not make a serious dent in my targeted stack.

There’s always next year.

Favourite
Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope (2011) on 2012/09/15

* * * *

“This non-fiction account of a select group of fan boys and girls who attended the 2011 Comic-Con International in San Diego made me weep like a wee boy who has dropped his favourite comic book in the bathtub.”

Surprise
Deliver Us From Evil (2006) on 2012/09/27

* * * *

“If I weren’t an atheist, I would thank god for people like Father Thomas Doyle, Anne Marie Jyono, her parents Bob and Maria, and Deliver Us From Evil‘s director/writer Amy Berg. God or no, these people deserve thanks.”
.

Disappointment
Destination Forks (2010) on 2012/09/16

* * *

“Nonetheless, I was game to learn more about the real place, a small town in Washington, where the Twilight series was based. Apparently, there are a lot of mossy, fog-shrouded trees in Forks, Washington. Thanks to this documentary, we get to see a lot of them.”

Least-Liked
Grizzly Man (2005) on 2012/09/30

* * * *

“Treadwell spent a remarkable, miraculous 13 summers living – literally – among the grizzlies. And by ‘living among,’ I mean reaching out to pat them on the snarling nose. Did I mention this documentary was really stressful?”

Show Me
Force of Nature (2010) on 2012/09/18

* * * * *

“Less strident than Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth, there are few overt threats made. Instead Suzuki discusses challenges, proposing they can be resolved or avoided.”