Reel Corner - July 2019

Documentary Films

July 2019 Issue
by Donne Paine

Documentary films are defined as non-fictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining historical record. This July, seven documentaries are being introduced.

Let’s face it, this spring has been pretty weak in the mainstream film release department, so why not try the real stuff—documentaries.

Marianne and Leonard: Words of Love
The documentary begins on the Greek Isle of Hydra in 1960 where Leonard Cohen, then an unknown fiction writer, and Marianne Ihlen, a single mother with a young son, become part of a community of expat artists, writers and musicians.

Armstrong
A documentary of astronaut Neil Armstrong. This film includes never-before-seen family home movie footage and photos.

Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable
Hamilton is rewriting the rules on being a fearless athlete. This is the untold story of the heart of a champion and her resilience against all odds to become one of the leading professional surfers of all times.

David Crosby: Remember Me
Crosby reflects on his life of music stardom, while forging new paths of relevancy at age 77, in this deeply personal documentary.

Mike Wallace is Here
A documentary look at the legendary reporter, who interrogated the 20th century’s biggest figures in his over 50-year career on air.

Jay Myself
Acclaimed photographer, Jay Maisel, bought a six story, 72-room building on the Bowery in New York City in 1966. Ever since, the site has been his home, studio and repository for a breathtaking collection of items that inspired his work. But now it must be emptied out following its sale in the largest private real estate deal in New York City history. As Maisel prepares for his monumental move and a true end to an era, he reflects on his life and his work.

Kathy Griffin
May 2017 an image of Griffin holding a mask, which resembled the severed head of President Donald Trump, was released. The image went viral, and everything she had worked for in her life vanished overnight.

If documentaries are not your thing, you might want to celebrate our nation’s birthday with more than sparklers, and rent one of these patriotic films:
Independence Day
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Forrest Gump
The Patriot
Captain America: the First Avenger
The Right Stuff
Gettysburg
Seabiscuit
Stripes
Private Benjamin
Lincoln
1776
The American President
Top Gun
Air Force One
Rocky IV
Hidden Figures
Patton
Miracle
Glory
Apollo 13
Saving Private Ryan

References: www.movietone.com, www.wikipedia.com, www.ew.com.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA—Land of the Free, Home of the Brave!


Donne Paine, film enthusiast, once lived around the corner from the Orson Wells Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts where her strong interest in films, especially independent ones, began. Supporter of the arts­—especially films—she travels to local and national film festivals including Sundance, Toronto and Tribeca. There is nothing like seeing a film on the big screen. She encourages film goers to support Hilton Head local theaters—Coligny, Park Plaza and Northridge theaters. To support her habit of frequent movie going Donne is a retired executive recruiter and staff development consultant. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.