Reviewed by GREG KING Documentary Director: Gavin Fitzgerald. Not to be confused with the 2009 biopic of rapper Notorious B I G, this documentary charts the rise from obscurity and poverty to wealth and success of mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor. Director Gavin Fitzgerald was granted lots of intimate access to McGregor over the four years of filming. We first meet him …
THE GROUND WE WON – interview with Christopher Pryor
Shot in black and white, The Ground We Won is a verite documentary exploring one season with a rural New Zealand rugby team. Director Chris Pryor joined us on the program and spoke with guest host Terry Phibbs. It screened at MIFF on August 8 and August 10. https://www.mediafire.com/listen/si5fu7crt5c8tst/chris_pryor_the_ground_we_won_9_aug_15.mp3 …
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ALL THIS MAYHEM
Reviewed by GREG KING Documentary Director: Eddie Martin. Most skateboarding documentaries are pretty dull and of limited interest, mainly aimed at fans of the sport who will get off on the extreme action and stunts. There have been a few exceptions though where they have occasionally had broader appeal - films like Stacy Peralta's 2001 documentary Dogtown And Z-boys, which looked at the evolution of the skating …
THE ARMSTRONG LIE
Reviewed by GREG KING Documentary Director: Alex Gibney. Lance Armstrong is something of a modern American hero. A former teenage cycling champion and cancer survivor he won an unprecedented seven consecutive Tours de France before retiring from the sport in 2005. However, his achievements were always surrounded by whispers of banned substances, illegal drugs and blood transfusions aimed at sustaining his …
TT 3D: CLOSER TO THE EDGE
Reviewed by GREG KING Documentary Director: Richard De Aragues. Every year since 1907 the Isle of Man has hosted the Tourist Trophy, a motorcycle endurance race that has been recognised as the greatest motorcycle road race in the world. Competitors race around 60 miles of winding roads and small villages at speeds of up to 250km/h. The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy is also amongst the most dangerous …
FIRE IN BABYLON
Reviewed by GREG KING Documentary Director: Stevan Riley. Like all great documentaries, Fire In Babylon has a broad appeal that goes beyond an interest in the subject matter. While Fire In Babylon is about the game of cricket it actually also delves into the politics of the sport and places it into the broader context of the social change that was occurring. In the late 60’s, the West Indies cricket …