4 Highly Recommended Documentaries I watched this week

"Until the Light Takes Us": is a documentary about the Norwegian black metal subculture of the 1990's famous for church arsons and with-in band murders. If you don't know the stories, this documentary is for you. Also features Varg "Count Grishnack" Vikernes interviews from jail where he has a 21 year sentence for killing the singer of another band (when he was merely a baby-faced 19 year old). There's some shocking album art and coverage of the eventual exploitation and mockery of a music scene. But Fenriz, from the clip below, steels the show and my heart. (on NETFLIX)

"Exit Through the Gift Shop, a Banksy Film": The public STILL doesn't know who Banksy is. Could we all love this guy more? But this story is not centered around our favorite modern artist. Banksy follows the filmmaker Thierry Guetta through a series of steps that bring him from L.A. trendy thrift store owner to self made millionaire copy-cat artist. We get a nice dose of Shepard Fairey and Space Invader who's aesthetic and passion is inspiring...long after the film ends. But Banksy's fine art drawing talent and applications still make me gasp. Anyway, this film is not what you think it will be about, but I believe the end brings up the greatest question the modern art world has to offer.

"Who is Harry Nilsson? (And Why is Everyone Talking About Him?)": is a documentary about the 1960's/ 70's songwriter/singer Harry Nilsson. Undeniably artistic, self-abusive, and witty, Nilsson inspired the Beatles songwriting and more. He wrote great pop songs for the Monkees, films, television shows, cartoons, and others. I learned that his biggest hit "Everybody's Talkin'" from the movie Midnight Cowboy isn't actually written by him, just sung by him! Huh... Also learned that the song "One (is the Lonliest Number)" took its pulsating rhythm from the sad busy signal of a phone's dial tone. The songs are beautifully crafted but left me with mixed childhood memories and feeling desperate for a laugh. But probably worth watching for every musician and music fan. Here's a clip from the beginning of Midnight Cowboy. Look how much Jon Voight looks like his daughter Angelina Jolie!!!!!

Midnight Cowboy Intro

"Joan Rivers, A Piece of Work": is a documentary about Joan Rivers, now 75 years old! This film touches on pieces throughout her long career to the present day, when her career couldn't be higher. I LOVE JOAN. She is The GODMOTHER of all female entertainers, truly. I think I'm too gurgling over in passion to review this film or come up with riveting words. TWO clips of the darkly humored and way-ahead-of- her- time Joan.