Exit Through The Gift Shop

Director: Banksy

Starring: Thierry Guetta, Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Space Invader

Genre: Documentary

Year: 2010

Run Time: 87 Minutes

How: Apple TV (Netflix)

Notable Awards

Academy Award For Best Documentary - Nominated

Thierry Guetta is a strange man. There is no way around it. Thierry has spent the better part of his life filming...everything. As we learn, Thierry's obsession spawn from childhood trauma and a need to immortalize every moment on film.

Thierry got into the street art scene completely by accident. While visiting family in France, he meets up with his cousin, Invader, a prominent street artist known pasting mosaics of the classic  Space Invaders arcade game in public spaces. Invader lets Thierry tag along while he does his nocturnal activities, and Thierry immediately becomes hooked.

When Invader comes to LA a few months later, he arranges for Thierry to meet Shepard Fairey, a notable street artist most commonly known for the Barack Obama Hope posters. Thierry shadows Shepard as he plans, makes, and places his art, learning the all about the world of street art. Shepard is confused by Thierry's enthusiasm for the subject, not knowing what he plans to do with the hours upon hours of footage he has filmed. Thierry, faced with this question, declares he is going to make a street art documentary, and the two travel around the world, filming several other artists.
Through their travels there was one artist that continuously eluded Thierry, that man was the mysterious Banksy. Banksy, known for his political commentary and style, has gone to great lengths to conceal his identity. By sheer luck, Thierry is put in contact with the enigmatic artist by Fairey and Thierry quickley makes himself indispensable to Banksy, showing him walls, as well as filming the reaction to the art. 

Banksy was intrigued by the enigma that is Thierry. 

Rating: 8.0

Senna

Director: Asif Kapadia
Starring: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost
Genre: Documentary
Year: 2010
How: Apple TV (Netflix)

Notable Awards:

• Sundance Film Festival: World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary

Arguably one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers in history, Aryton Senna is often overlooked due to a career tragically cut short. Delving into the life of a driver at the top his career, and the politics surrounding the sport, Senna is gripping, even for those unfamiliar with Formula 1.

Ayrton Senna was born to a wealthy family in Sao Paulo. Even at an early age he showed great prowess behind the wheel, first driving at the age of seven. By thirteen, Ayrton was competing in karting, which later in life he would regard as "the purest form of racing." The was no money in it, no politics, just racing.  

He swiftly moved up in the racing world and by 1984, had a ride with Toleman, a newer team and not one expected to be very competitive. Senna quickly proved himself an extraordinary driver, especially in the rain, something that he demonstrated at the Monaco Grand Prix. Starting 13th Senna quickly worked his way up to second. The rain continued to intensify, yet he making up a staggering four seconds a lap on the leader, Alain Prost. The race was called before taking the lead but his reputation had been established.

For the 1985 season, Senna joined Lotus-Renault. In the second race of the season, Ayrton took his first career pole and converted it first career win, in what was a very rainy Portugese GP. Senna would stay with the team for another two season, honing his skills before leaving for the more formidable McLaren team.

Much of the story is about Ayrton's rivalry with French driver Alain Prost. Prost, already a two time champion, was known as the "Professor" due to his calculating, methodical approach to racing, doing whatever it took to be ahead on points, a stark contrast to Senna's passionate style. Ayrton was not very comfortable with the politics of the sport, something Prost excelled at. Their rivalty truly evolved during the 1988 season, when Senna joined Prost at McLaren.

Senna and Prost put up a facade of friendliness, but both grasped what Ayrton's signing would mean for the team. McLaren dominated the rest of the field. Between the two, they took all but one pole and one victory the entire 1988 season.  Their only real competition came from each other. The season would come down to the final race in Japan. Senna had the point lead going into the final race of season in Japan. If he won that race he would win his first championship. But Senna stalled at the start, falling to 14th, but then it started to rain. Ayrton would drive an amazing race and storm all the way back to snatch both the victory and the world championship from Prost.

The 1989 season saw the two drivers become more alienated and the politics of the sport come into play. Something Senna did not enjoy. Once again the season came down the race in Japan, only this time if Senna did not finish, Porst would take the championship. The race was neck and neck, then Prost and Senna came together. Prost race was over but Ayrton drove down a slip road and proceeded to win in spectacular fashion, a result Prost would contest. The president of the FIA at the time, Jean-Marie Balestre, was close with Prost and ruled in favor of the Frenchman, giving him the Championship and suspending Senna from the 1990 season. After, Prost would leave McLaren to drive for Ferrari.

For a third third year in a row the season hinged on the race in Japan. Senna won the pole , only to find that pole position had been moved off the racing line, to a part of the track with half the grip, a decision undoubtedly influenced by Balestre.

The film is a fantastic weave of archival F1 film inter-spliced with TV interviews and rare footage from things like drivers meetings. Despite the often low resolution offered in the 80's the quality and breadth of the material makes the documentary incredibly immersive, sometimes feeling like you are hurtling around the track along with Senna. This is a documentary that transcends the racing genre. Even people who don't even like cars will be able to amazing and tragic story.

If you need any more proof check this out, Honda pays tribute to Senna's record breaking lap at the Suzuka Circuit, only in light and sound. 
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/07/honda-senna-tribute/

Rating: 9.1/10

6 Word Reveiw of Gasland

Director: Josh Fox
Starring: Josh Fox
Year: 2010
Genre: Documentary
Run Time: 104 Minutes
How: Apple TV (HBO)

Notable Awards: 

•  2011 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming
•  2011 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature - Nominated

Test your water. Fracking is scary.

Rating: 8.1

180° South

Director: Chris Malloy
Starring: Yvon Chouinard, Doug Tompkins, Jeff Johnson, Keith Malloy, Timmy O'Neil, Makohe
Genre: Adventure Documentary
Year: 2010
Run Time: 85 Minutes
How: Apple TV (Netflix)

Patagonia. One of the last great, unspoiled wildernesses left on the planet. Located at the end of the world, it has some of the most extreme terrain, Ranging from coastline to thick forest to jagged peaks, blanketed in ice. That was what drew Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins there back in 1968.

Back then, Yvon and Doug were living in Ventura, California, surfing, rock climbing, even  making their own equipment (Yvon founded Patagonia Clothing and Black Diamond and Doug, The North Face). Both were very accomplished climbers, having made many notable ascents all across North America, and had set their sights on Mt Fitzroy in Patagonian Chile. So in 1968 the two packed up a van with surfboards and climbing equipment and set off on a 6 month, 10,000 mile journey along the Pan American Highway. They made it to Mt Fitzroy and scaled it over the course of three weeks, much of wich was spent in a snow cave waiting for deadly storms to pass. 

Jeff Johnson, a friend of Yvon and Doug's and fellow surfer/climber, found the footage of their trip and was inspired to recreate it. Jeff's goal was to be Corcavado, a mountain Yvon had given him a picture from his first trip.

Corcovodo

Jeff joins the crew of a small sail boat named the Sea Bear, which is relocating from Seattle back to Chile. Jeff has never sailed long distance before, but relishes the change of pace that life at sea offers. They sail down the coast of Mexico and to the Galapagos Islands. over a thousand miles off the coast of Chile, the Sea Bear's mast snaps, their only option, motor to Rapa Nui a.k.a Easter Island. Stranded on this remote island while they repair their ship, Jeff explores his surroundings. He meets a local woman named Makohe, who is also intrigued by his journey and asks if she can join them when the leave.

After a about a month in Rapa Nui, Jeff and the crew are finally able to remast, using an risky strategy, sailors used to perform such repairs while anchored at sea. With Makohe aboard, the Sea Bear heads east, for Chile. Once in port, Jeff and Makohe continue their journey south by bus. Soon they meet up with Yvon and Doug, both of whom now live in Patagonia.

Yvon and Doug have dedicated their lives trying to preserve Patagonia. They have taken it upon themselves to use their own life savings  to buy up large tracts of land, creating Concervaion Patigonica, basically a national park on private land larger than Yosemite. The film focuses a lot on conservation, how we need to protect our wild spaces, not build factories in pristine wilderness. It kind of become old hat, but you almost forgive it for the beauty of the of the place.

After a long arduous journey they finally make it to Corcovodo. Joined by Jeff's friends, Keith Malloy and Timmy O'Neil, Jeff, Makohe and Yvon being their ascent. There is something compelling about seeing a place few people have ever set foot, even on film. 

The film features a great soundtrack, mainly consisting of music by Ugly Casanova, featuring Isaac Brock, front man of Modest Mouse. It is also interspersed with the likes of Billy Bragg & Wilco and James Mercer. All together the music compliments the breath taking visuals and journey's laid back feel. Though a compelling documentary, the environmentalism in it gets a little stale, Patagonia itself makes for the any wrongdoing.

Rating: 7.8/10