BUCK
(AVAILABLE ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO)
Dear equine lovers, this one is for you. This 2011 documentary tells the story of Buck Brannaman, more famously known as “The Horse Whisperer.” And yes, Robert Redford makes several appearances and MAN, does he hold up whew! Buck grew up as a child performer of rodeo rope tricks who was horrifyingly abused by his violent and angry father. But like all good documentaries the journey twists and turns and Buck grows into one of the most successful and innovative horseman in the world. Learning from his painful past, Buck teaches horse training clinics 9 months out of the year that teach extreme gentleness and sensitivity instead of the “breaking a Bronco” approach.
FUN FACT: Buck and I drink the same libation. You have to watch to find out what it is!
JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI
(AVAILABLE ON NETFLIX)
I’m shamefully admitting right now that I used to be the type of sushi eater who only ordered California Rolls. I know, I know. I’m a moron. After this documentary though — bring on the sashimi baby!! This film takes a look at Jiro Ono, an 85 year old sushi master who is absolutely fucking adorable AND who owns, arguably, the best sushi restaurant in the world. It’s called Sukiyabashi Jiro and it’s a 3-Star Michelin restaurant located at the bottom of a Tokyo subway station. The film is well-rounded and delves not only into the fascinating world of sushi-mastery and it’s incredibly delicious nuances but also into the life of a man who ardently believes that hard work and discipline can make anything possible.
FUN FACT: Obama himself visited the restaurant while President! Rumor is: he didn’t finish his meal. Ooh. Faux Prez.
SPINNING PLATES
(AVAILABLE ON ITUNES OR YOUTUBE)
I know, I know. Another food doc? Guys, I really love food. I like it a lot. (Say it like Jim Carrey so it’s funny) This salivating documentary takes a look at three wildly different restaurants and the people who run them. My favorite story highlights the Chicago hotspot Alinea–known as the best restaurant in the United States and its young, hipster-fab chef Grant Achatz. Grant recounts the story of when he discovered he had cancer and found out that he would have to lose the most important organ in his body for a chef—his tongue. For a chef, losing their tongue would be like losing their soul so rest assured the stakes are not only incredibly high in this film but they are also cooked to perfection. Hey-O!
LAST PLAY AT SHEA
(AVAILABLE ON ITUNES AND YOUTUBE)
This is probably my number 1 choice for every single person in your family. It’s hard to describe but if you like Billy Joel, The Beatles, New York and Baseball-you just found yourself your new favorite documentary…you’re welcome. (I accept compliments as a “thank yous” by the way). It basically parallels Billy Joel’s 2008 Concert at Shea Stadium right before it was demolished with the history and importance of the stadium and Long Island. Great music. Great story lines. With fabulous surprise guests and surprisingly fun animated footage–RENT THIS ASAP for a good family time.
FUNFACT: It’s narrated by Alec Baldwin!
CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS
(AVAILABLE ON ITUNES OR YOUTUBE)
Made in 2010 by one of my favorite documentary filmmakers Werner Herzog, it tells the history of the Chauvet Cave in France that holds the earliest human-painted images ever discovered. We’re talking Ice Age, Woolly Mammoths and Neanderthals, people. The amazing part of this film is that no human other than scientists have ever entered the cave since the images were created so the hand-drawn paintings of lions, tigers, panthers and horses look like they were drawn yesterday. Unbelievably, some of the images are drawn with extra horns or feet so as to make it look like the animal is moving when lit by torch light. That’s early cubism. Picasso n Shit. Watch it now.
FUN FACT: Keep a look out for the hand print of the dude with the crooked pinky. You can follow him throughout the cave.
