The Covid-19 PHZ-Sicks Movie Watch (5/01/20)
With the Covid-19 virus keeping everyone inside, sometimes its really hard to take your mind off what’s going on. Sometimes we need a way to escape and for me, outside of writing, movies are the way I escape.
As long as the virus is here, I will be doing a weekly blog of first watch movies I’ve seen as well as giving you my opinion on it. If you want to follow it in real time, follow the hashtag #covid19moviewatch on Twitter or follow my Twitter account.
American Dream/American Knightmare
Watch on Showtime, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Sling TV
Plot: Documentary that delves deep into the life and storied exploits of the iconic Death Row Records co-founder Suge Knight, as well as the volatile and highly influential era in gangsta rap he presided over. Through a series of interviewers face to face with director Antoine Fuqua, Knight reveals exactly how it all happened and why it all fell apart. Knight is currently in jail pending trial on murder, attempted-murder and hit-and-run charges.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua
Rating: 6/10
I feel like as far as a story goes, there is a lot left out of this documentary. It’s a really one sided documentary coming from Suge’s POV and it seems there are some issues not talked about like the alcoholism that Suge seems to be going through. He seems to be fighting demons before his jail sentencing and we missed out on the actual humanity of this myth of a person.
Computer Chess
Watch on Amazon Prime & Sling TV
Plot: Set over the course of a weekend tournament for chess software programmers thirty-some years ago, COMPUTER CHESS transports viewers to a nostalgic moment when the contest between technology and the human spirit seemed a little more up for grabs. We get to know the eccentric geniuses possessed with the vision to teach a metal box to defeat man, literally, at his own game, laying the groundwork for artificial intelligence as we know it and will come to know it in the future.
Directed by Andrew Bujalski
Starring Patrick Riester, Wiley Wiggins, and Myles Paige
Rating: 1/10
Boy, this movie is not for me. It’s supposedly a comedy. I ddin’t see it. Not sure what this movie was doing but it wasn’t doing anything for me.
Rodman: For Better or Worse
Watch on Hulu, YouTube TV, & Sling TV
Plot: While Rodman is no doubt one of the greatest talents in NBA history, he is just as famous for his off-court exploits. 30 for 30 explores the reasons behind him becoming the character he is known as today.
Directed by Ken Rodgers
Rating: 8/10
On the cusp of the Dennis Rodman episode on The Last Dance, I decided to finish the Jamie Foxx narrated documentary on The Worm himself. This documentary is filled with extravagant flourishes that fit the complicated man that is Dennis Rodman. It goes all the way to him in North Korea and each second of this doc reveals who he is and who he thinks he is. If you like sports documentary, I highly recommend this documentary.
Native Son
Watch on HBO Now & Hulu
Plot: A young African-American man named Bigger Thomas takes a job working for a highly influential Chicago family, a decision that will change the course of his life forever.
Directed by Rashid Johnson
Starring Ashton Sanders, Kiki Layne, and Margaret Qualley
Rating: 7/10
Beautifully shot film by Rashid Johnson, the only fault I see with this film is that its runtime doesn’t allow to fully flush out the themes of the book. The end seems rushed in a film that could be great.