With 2023 Emmy Awards voting to begin in just a days on June 15, Gold Derby can exclusively reveal that “Documentary Now” will be in the limited series categories. It’s a shocking move from the television academy since previous seasons have brought nominations for Best Variety Sketch Series. That specific category has been renamed as Scripted Variety Series, and that is where AMC awards campaigners asked for the show to be placed for the 2023 ballot. That petition was ultimately denied.
The fourth season debuted on October 19, 2022, and finished on November 16 for AMC+. The series pretends to be a long-running documentary series but is actually a mockumentary of famous documentaries from the past. Dame Helen Mirren provides the narration for the program.
See‘Barry’ season 4 rave reviews: Bill Hader’s direction ‘remains a highlight of any series on TV’
The show boasts an impressive list of executive producers and producers, including Lorne Michaels,...
The fourth season debuted on October 19, 2022, and finished on November 16 for AMC+. The series pretends to be a long-running documentary series but is actually a mockumentary of famous documentaries from the past. Dame Helen Mirren provides the narration for the program.
See‘Barry’ season 4 rave reviews: Bill Hader’s direction ‘remains a highlight of any series on TV’
The show boasts an impressive list of executive producers and producers, including Lorne Michaels,...
- 6/7/2023
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Documentary Now! is back on IFC and it is set to premiere Season 53 on Wednesday, October 19 at 10 p.m. Et with two new episodes. The titles of the two-part season premiere are “Soldier of Illusion,” written by John Mulaney, and “Trouver Frisson,” which plays tribute to the Agnès Varda films.
Alexander Skarsgard (Big Little Lies), Nicholas Braun (Succession), and August Diehl (Inglorious Bastards) star in the premiere episode titled “Soldier of Illusion,” which was inspired by the Werner Herzog-focused documentary Burden of Dreams. Skarsgard plays a visionary German filmmaker in the 1980s who tries to will his magnum opus into existence while working in the remote, punishing conditions of the Russian Ular mountains.
Deb Hiett returns as narrator in the episode that also stars Kevin Bishop (The Tracey Ullman Show), Gana Bayarsaikhan (Wonder Woman), Matthias Rimpler (Ludzie i Bogowie), and Fred Armisen (SNL).
The second episode of the premiere...
Alexander Skarsgard (Big Little Lies), Nicholas Braun (Succession), and August Diehl (Inglorious Bastards) star in the premiere episode titled “Soldier of Illusion,” which was inspired by the Werner Herzog-focused documentary Burden of Dreams. Skarsgard plays a visionary German filmmaker in the 1980s who tries to will his magnum opus into existence while working in the remote, punishing conditions of the Russian Ular mountains.
Deb Hiett returns as narrator in the episode that also stars Kevin Bishop (The Tracey Ullman Show), Gana Bayarsaikhan (Wonder Woman), Matthias Rimpler (Ludzie i Bogowie), and Fred Armisen (SNL).
The second episode of the premiere...
- 8/7/2022
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Alexander Skarsgård, Nicholas Braun, French actor Liliane Rovère and others have joined the cast for Season 53 of “Documentary Now!,” IFC announced Friday. The channel also released a first look teaser as well as final details for two new episodes to round out the season.
Known for paying homage to the world of documentaries, “Documentary Now!” Season 53 will debut with on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 10 p.m. on IFC and on AMC+ the same day. New episodes will debut weekly on Wednesdays.
The two-part season premiere episode “Soldier of Illusion,” written by John Mulaney and starring Skarsgård, Braun and August Diehl, was inspired by the Werner Herzog-focused documentary “Burden of Dreams.” Set in the early 1980s, the episode follows a visionary German filmmaker (Skarsgård) as he tries to will his magnum opus into existence while working in the remote, punishing conditions of the Russian Ular mountains. Kevin Bishop, Gana Bayarsaikhan, Matthias Rimpler,...
Known for paying homage to the world of documentaries, “Documentary Now!” Season 53 will debut with on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 10 p.m. on IFC and on AMC+ the same day. New episodes will debut weekly on Wednesdays.
The two-part season premiere episode “Soldier of Illusion,” written by John Mulaney and starring Skarsgård, Braun and August Diehl, was inspired by the Werner Herzog-focused documentary “Burden of Dreams.” Set in the early 1980s, the episode follows a visionary German filmmaker (Skarsgård) as he tries to will his magnum opus into existence while working in the remote, punishing conditions of the Russian Ular mountains. Kevin Bishop, Gana Bayarsaikhan, Matthias Rimpler,...
- 8/5/2022
- by Carson Burton
- Variety Film + TV
Taran Killam as Benedict A. Juniper, John Mulaney as Simon Sawyer – Documentary Now! _ Season 3, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Rhys Thomas/IFC IFC today released a first look teaser and final details from the highly anticipated 53rd season of Documentary Now!. The two-part season premiere episode, “Soldier of Illusion,” written by John Mulaney, and “Trouver Frisson,” paying tribute to the films of Agnes Varda, join previously announced episodes “Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport,” “How They Threw Rocks” and “My Monkey Grifter” to round out the season. Known for lovingly paying homage to the world of documentaries, Documentary Now! Season 53 will debut with a two-episode premiere on Wednesday, October 19 at 10 Pm on IFC, and on AMC+ the same day. New episodes to debut weekly on Wednesdays. The upcoming season of the critically acclaimed comedy, co-created by Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers and Rhys Thomas, executive produced by Lorne Michaels and produced by Broadway Video,...
- 8/5/2022
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
IFC on Friday released a first look teaser of the 4th season of “Documentary Now!” — or in the show’s parody universe, the 53rd season — which finds Alexander Skarsgård as a Werner Herzog-inspired filmmaker slogging through the Russian mountains in the two-part season that premieres on IFC and AMC+ on October 9.
Skarsgård is joined by “Succession” star Nicholas Braun and August Diehl of “Inglourious Basterds” in the John Mulaney-penned ode to Herzog’s “Burden of Dreams.” Kevin Bishop, Gana Bayarsaikhan, Matthias Rimpler, and, series co-creator Fred Armisen will also star.
The new season also spoofs beloved late director Agnès Varda in “Trouver Frisson,” in which French actor Liliane Rovère stars as filmmaker Ida Leos, who is searching for “frisson,” the goosebumps that have always been her guide. Written by series producers Matt Pacult and Tamsin Rawady and co-directed by Micah Gardner, the episode also stars “Documentary Now!” alumni Gary Kraus.
Skarsgård is joined by “Succession” star Nicholas Braun and August Diehl of “Inglourious Basterds” in the John Mulaney-penned ode to Herzog’s “Burden of Dreams.” Kevin Bishop, Gana Bayarsaikhan, Matthias Rimpler, and, series co-creator Fred Armisen will also star.
The new season also spoofs beloved late director Agnès Varda in “Trouver Frisson,” in which French actor Liliane Rovère stars as filmmaker Ida Leos, who is searching for “frisson,” the goosebumps that have always been her guide. Written by series producers Matt Pacult and Tamsin Rawady and co-directed by Micah Gardner, the episode also stars “Documentary Now!” alumni Gary Kraus.
- 8/5/2022
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
The first round of casting for the next season of Documentary Now! is complete.
Cate Blanchett, Jamie Demetriou, Trystan Gravelle, Jonathan Pryce, John Rhys-Davies and Harriet Walter, with singer Tom Jones join the comedy series.
Created by Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, Seth Meyers and Rhys Thomas, and hosted by Dame Helen Mirren is known for lovingly paying homage to the world of documentaries, six all-new episodes of Documentary Now! Season 53 is set to air on IFC and AMC+ in the Fall of 2022. The show is produced by Lorne Michaels and Broadway Video.
The synopsis of three episodes are out and here is the breakdown:
Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport will star Cate Blanchett and Harriet Walter who pay homage to fashion documentaries 3 Salons at the Seaside and The September Issue, the episode is a fly-on-the-wall portrait of a hair salon owner (Walter) and her staff (Blanchett...
Cate Blanchett, Jamie Demetriou, Trystan Gravelle, Jonathan Pryce, John Rhys-Davies and Harriet Walter, with singer Tom Jones join the comedy series.
Created by Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, Seth Meyers and Rhys Thomas, and hosted by Dame Helen Mirren is known for lovingly paying homage to the world of documentaries, six all-new episodes of Documentary Now! Season 53 is set to air on IFC and AMC+ in the Fall of 2022. The show is produced by Lorne Michaels and Broadway Video.
The synopsis of three episodes are out and here is the breakdown:
Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport will star Cate Blanchett and Harriet Walter who pay homage to fashion documentaries 3 Salons at the Seaside and The September Issue, the episode is a fly-on-the-wall portrait of a hair salon owner (Walter) and her staff (Blanchett...
- 7/12/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
IFC today released the first round of casting for “Documentary Now!” Season 4 which includes Cate Blanchett, Jamie Demetriou, Trystan Gravelle (“Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”), Jonathan Pryce, John Rhys-Davies and Harriet Walter as well as musical artist Tom Jones.
The all new six-episode season will begin airing on IFC and AMC+ later this fall. Blanchett previously guest starred in the Season 2 episode “Waiting for the Artist.”
Co-created by Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers and Rhys Thomas, and hosted by Helen Mirren, the series is executive produced by Lorne Michaels and produced by Broadway Video. The announced cast toplines the three previously announced episodes from the upcoming season written by Meyers.
Also Read:
‘Unprecedented': 7 Biggest Takeaways From the Trump Documentary
“Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport” will star Blanchett and Walter as it pays homage to fashion documentaries “3 Salons at the Seaside” and “The September Issue.” The episode is...
The all new six-episode season will begin airing on IFC and AMC+ later this fall. Blanchett previously guest starred in the Season 2 episode “Waiting for the Artist.”
Co-created by Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers and Rhys Thomas, and hosted by Helen Mirren, the series is executive produced by Lorne Michaels and produced by Broadway Video. The announced cast toplines the three previously announced episodes from the upcoming season written by Meyers.
Also Read:
‘Unprecedented': 7 Biggest Takeaways From the Trump Documentary
“Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport” will star Blanchett and Walter as it pays homage to fashion documentaries “3 Salons at the Seaside” and “The September Issue.” The episode is...
- 7/11/2022
- by Brandon Katz
- The Wrap
“Documentary Now!” has unveiled the first details of its upcoming fourth season (or 53rd according to the show).
While the new season of the IFC comedy series does not have a premiere date, it is expected to air on IFC and AMC Plus in 2022. The new season will consist of six episodes and is currently in production.
Documentaries to be featured in the upcoming season include:
· Paying homage to fashion documentaries “3 Salons at the Seaside” and “The September Issue,” “Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport” is a fly-on-the-wall portrait of a hair salon owner and her staff in the small coastal village of Bagglyport as they prepare their yearly stylebook.
· In the vein “When We Were Kings” and other great explorations of sport, “How They Threw Rocks” chronicles the Welsh sport of Craig Maes, also known as “Field Rock”, and the iconic 1974 bout dubbed “The Melon vs. The Felon.”
· Drawing inspiration from “My Octopus Teacher,...
While the new season of the IFC comedy series does not have a premiere date, it is expected to air on IFC and AMC Plus in 2022. The new season will consist of six episodes and is currently in production.
Documentaries to be featured in the upcoming season include:
· Paying homage to fashion documentaries “3 Salons at the Seaside” and “The September Issue,” “Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport” is a fly-on-the-wall portrait of a hair salon owner and her staff in the small coastal village of Bagglyport as they prepare their yearly stylebook.
· In the vein “When We Were Kings” and other great explorations of sport, “How They Threw Rocks” chronicles the Welsh sport of Craig Maes, also known as “Field Rock”, and the iconic 1974 bout dubbed “The Melon vs. The Felon.”
· Drawing inspiration from “My Octopus Teacher,...
- 2/10/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
IFC has unveiled details for the latest chapter of its cult-favorite, spoof series Documentary Now!, created by Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers and Rhys Thomas.
After nearly three years since news of Season 4 dropped, IFC shared that the Emmy-nominated Documentary Now! will return in 2022 on both IFC and AMC. Hosted by Dame Helen Mirren and known for lovingly paying homage to the world of documentaries, Documentary Now! and its in-show “fifty-third” season returns with six new episodes and is currently in production. Among the documentaries getting new comedic spins in Season 4 are the Oscar-winning docs When We Were Kings and My Octopus Teacher.
In the vein When We Were Kings and other great explorations of sport, Documentary Now!’s “How They Threw Rocks” will chronicle the Welsh sport of Craig Maes, also known as “Field Rock”, and the iconic 1974 bout dubbed “The Melon vs. The Felon.”
Drawing inspiration from My Octopus Teacher,...
After nearly three years since news of Season 4 dropped, IFC shared that the Emmy-nominated Documentary Now! will return in 2022 on both IFC and AMC. Hosted by Dame Helen Mirren and known for lovingly paying homage to the world of documentaries, Documentary Now! and its in-show “fifty-third” season returns with six new episodes and is currently in production. Among the documentaries getting new comedic spins in Season 4 are the Oscar-winning docs When We Were Kings and My Octopus Teacher.
In the vein When We Were Kings and other great explorations of sport, Documentary Now!’s “How They Threw Rocks” will chronicle the Welsh sport of Craig Maes, also known as “Field Rock”, and the iconic 1974 bout dubbed “The Melon vs. The Felon.”
Drawing inspiration from My Octopus Teacher,...
- 2/10/2022
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
After three years of static, “Documentary Now!” fans can rejoice: the Emmy-nominated docu-comedy series is returning for a fourth season to IFC and AMC+ sometime this year.
Dame Helen Mirren resumes her hosting duties for six brand-new episodes of the show, which parodies a wide range of classics and lesser-known gems of the documentary genre.
Details on three of the six titles have been announced, with more to come. “Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport,” an homage to fashion documentaries “3 Salons at the Seaside” and “The September Issue,” profiles a hair salon owner and her staff in the small coastal village of Bagglyport as they prepare their yearly stylebook.
Next up is “How They Threw Rocks,” which draws inspiration from “When We Were Kings” along with other exploratory sports epics. The episode chronicles the Welsh sport of Craig Maes, also known as “Field Rock”, and the iconic 1974 bout dubbed “The Melon vs.
Dame Helen Mirren resumes her hosting duties for six brand-new episodes of the show, which parodies a wide range of classics and lesser-known gems of the documentary genre.
Details on three of the six titles have been announced, with more to come. “Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport,” an homage to fashion documentaries “3 Salons at the Seaside” and “The September Issue,” profiles a hair salon owner and her staff in the small coastal village of Bagglyport as they prepare their yearly stylebook.
Next up is “How They Threw Rocks,” which draws inspiration from “When We Were Kings” along with other exploratory sports epics. The episode chronicles the Welsh sport of Craig Maes, also known as “Field Rock”, and the iconic 1974 bout dubbed “The Melon vs.
- 2/10/2022
- by Harper Lambert
- The Wrap
“Documentary Now!,” the erstwhile lampoon of some of the best-loved documentary films in history, will get a fourth-season berth at cable network IFC.
The AMC Networks-owned cable network has ordered seven new episodes of the series, though it did not announce an air date. The series is produced by Broadway Video and created by Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, Rhys Thomas and executive produced by Lorne Michaels.
“There’s money in hyper-specific fake documentaries which is why we keep making them,” said Meyers, in a prepared statement.
Each episode, hosted by Dame Helen Mirren, takes viewers back in time to honor groundbreaking documentaries. Guest starts in the previous season included Cate Blanchett, Owen Wilson, Michael Keaton, Natasha Lyonne, John Mulaney, Michael C. Hall, Taran Killam and Richard Kind.
”We cannot wait to see what this psychotically talented group behind ‘Documentary Now!’ comes up with next,” said Blake Callaway,...
The AMC Networks-owned cable network has ordered seven new episodes of the series, though it did not announce an air date. The series is produced by Broadway Video and created by Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, Rhys Thomas and executive produced by Lorne Michaels.
“There’s money in hyper-specific fake documentaries which is why we keep making them,” said Meyers, in a prepared statement.
Each episode, hosted by Dame Helen Mirren, takes viewers back in time to honor groundbreaking documentaries. Guest starts in the previous season included Cate Blanchett, Owen Wilson, Michael Keaton, Natasha Lyonne, John Mulaney, Michael C. Hall, Taran Killam and Richard Kind.
”We cannot wait to see what this psychotically talented group behind ‘Documentary Now!’ comes up with next,” said Blake Callaway,...
- 4/8/2019
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
OPENS: Friday, May 30 (Magnolia Pictures)
A documentary with both brains and brawn, "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*" provides a lively and incisive look into the nation's growing preoccupation with pumped-up superlatives.
Director and career gym rat Christopher Bell turns a personal odyssey through the performance-enhancing subculture into a freewheeling survey of the state of the juiced union, where Schwarzenegger and Hulk Hogan go mano a mano with Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds.
Paraphrasing from the Six Million Dollar Man's "Better, Stronger, Faster" mantra, the Magnolia Pictures release, which screened this year at Sundance, could go the distance theatrically on the strength of enthusiastic reviews.
Bell, who shares writing credit with director of photography Alex Buono and Tamsin Rawady, grew up in the supersized '80s, worshipping at the butt-kicking muscles of Arnold, the Hulkster and Stallone before trading his Poughkeepsie, N.Y., home for Venice Beach, Calif.
But unlike his similarly pumped siblings Mike aka "Mad Dog" and Mark aka "Smelly", Chris never got into steroids and now questions whether he made the right decision.
His investigation into everything from the congressional hearing into steroid use in baseball to troubling contemporary images of American masculinity (as evidenced by the evolution of the increasingly juiced G.I. Joe doll over the past several decades) yields some unexpectedly thought-provoking results.
We learn, for example, that performance-enhancing drugs have been a fact of life among U.S. Olympic teams dating back to the mid-'50s, when a drunken Soviet coach bragged to an American coach that Russian athletes had been injected with testosterone injections since the mid-'40s.
Soon after that confession, American scientists were hard at work developing a more powerful oral anabolic steroid.
But though Bell tracks down an unusually colorful lineup of talking heads and archival footage, he never veers too far from his own brothers and sympathetic parents, who keep "Bigger, Stronger, Faster", so relatably and affectingly down-to-earth.
DIRECTOR: Christopher Bell SCREENWRITERS: Christopher Bell, Alexander Buono, Tamsin Rawady EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Terrance J. Aarnio, Robert Weiser, Richard Schiffrin PRODUCERS: Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady, Jim Czarnecki DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Alex Buono MUSIC: Dave Porter EDITOR: Brian Singbiel Rated PG-13, 106 minutes.
A documentary with both brains and brawn, "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*" provides a lively and incisive look into the nation's growing preoccupation with pumped-up superlatives.
Director and career gym rat Christopher Bell turns a personal odyssey through the performance-enhancing subculture into a freewheeling survey of the state of the juiced union, where Schwarzenegger and Hulk Hogan go mano a mano with Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds.
Paraphrasing from the Six Million Dollar Man's "Better, Stronger, Faster" mantra, the Magnolia Pictures release, which screened this year at Sundance, could go the distance theatrically on the strength of enthusiastic reviews.
Bell, who shares writing credit with director of photography Alex Buono and Tamsin Rawady, grew up in the supersized '80s, worshipping at the butt-kicking muscles of Arnold, the Hulkster and Stallone before trading his Poughkeepsie, N.Y., home for Venice Beach, Calif.
But unlike his similarly pumped siblings Mike aka "Mad Dog" and Mark aka "Smelly", Chris never got into steroids and now questions whether he made the right decision.
His investigation into everything from the congressional hearing into steroid use in baseball to troubling contemporary images of American masculinity (as evidenced by the evolution of the increasingly juiced G.I. Joe doll over the past several decades) yields some unexpectedly thought-provoking results.
We learn, for example, that performance-enhancing drugs have been a fact of life among U.S. Olympic teams dating back to the mid-'50s, when a drunken Soviet coach bragged to an American coach that Russian athletes had been injected with testosterone injections since the mid-'40s.
Soon after that confession, American scientists were hard at work developing a more powerful oral anabolic steroid.
But though Bell tracks down an unusually colorful lineup of talking heads and archival footage, he never veers too far from his own brothers and sympathetic parents, who keep "Bigger, Stronger, Faster", so relatably and affectingly down-to-earth.
DIRECTOR: Christopher Bell SCREENWRITERS: Christopher Bell, Alexander Buono, Tamsin Rawady EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Terrance J. Aarnio, Robert Weiser, Richard Schiffrin PRODUCERS: Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady, Jim Czarnecki DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Alex Buono MUSIC: Dave Porter EDITOR: Brian Singbiel Rated PG-13, 106 minutes.
- 5/29/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tribeca Film Festival (Distributed by Magnolia Pictures, produced by BSF Films)
NEW YORK -- This entertaining and journalistically credible documentary about steroid abuse succeeds in immersing viewers in the world of its story. "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*" ranges far and wide in its subject matter: weightlifting, working class relationships and aspirations, Arnold Schwarzenegger's political success and, ultimately, the failure of the American dream to deliver on its promise are just some of the topics covered. This everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach not only makes for pacey entertainment, it also allows director Christopher Bell to delve deep into the matter at hand.
The docu will have definite appeal to sporty ESPN fans, but it could go wider if marketing stresses that it's not a straightforward documentary about substance abuse. Like last year's Tribeca hit. "The King of Kong", it has both drama and narrative. At root, it's a very personal story about the director and his two brothers, and that could broaden its appeal.
Athletes who take steroids are punished professionally, Bell says, as we like them to succeed under their own steam. But, others counter, what's wrong with taking drugs to become bigger, stronger and faster especially when steroids have never been proved to be harmful? Bell, a former wannabe wrestler, and his two steroid-obsessed brothers back up the science and politics with their touching stories of failure. Bell's point is that to achieve the American dream we have to be the best at what we do, and we can only be the best if we cheat.
Bell does his journalistic work well. He puts tough questions to sportsmen, politicians and his own family. He garners opinions from both sides of the steroids debate -- the athletes tend to be for them, the politicians against them, the doctors in the middle -- and he doesn't shy away from science and statistics. Film clips of Schwarzenegger, Stallone, et al, add a pop flavor.
Director: Christopher Bell. Screenwriters: Christopher Bell, Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady. Producers: Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady, Jim Czarnecki. Executive producers: Terrance J Aarnio, Robert Weiser, Richard Schiffrin. Director of photography: Alex Buono. Original music: Dave Porter. Editor: Brian Singbiel. No MPAA rating, 106 minutes.
NEW YORK -- This entertaining and journalistically credible documentary about steroid abuse succeeds in immersing viewers in the world of its story. "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*" ranges far and wide in its subject matter: weightlifting, working class relationships and aspirations, Arnold Schwarzenegger's political success and, ultimately, the failure of the American dream to deliver on its promise are just some of the topics covered. This everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach not only makes for pacey entertainment, it also allows director Christopher Bell to delve deep into the matter at hand.
The docu will have definite appeal to sporty ESPN fans, but it could go wider if marketing stresses that it's not a straightforward documentary about substance abuse. Like last year's Tribeca hit. "The King of Kong", it has both drama and narrative. At root, it's a very personal story about the director and his two brothers, and that could broaden its appeal.
Athletes who take steroids are punished professionally, Bell says, as we like them to succeed under their own steam. But, others counter, what's wrong with taking drugs to become bigger, stronger and faster especially when steroids have never been proved to be harmful? Bell, a former wannabe wrestler, and his two steroid-obsessed brothers back up the science and politics with their touching stories of failure. Bell's point is that to achieve the American dream we have to be the best at what we do, and we can only be the best if we cheat.
Bell does his journalistic work well. He puts tough questions to sportsmen, politicians and his own family. He garners opinions from both sides of the steroids debate -- the athletes tend to be for them, the politicians against them, the doctors in the middle -- and he doesn't shy away from science and statistics. Film clips of Schwarzenegger, Stallone, et al, add a pop flavor.
Director: Christopher Bell. Screenwriters: Christopher Bell, Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady. Producers: Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady, Jim Czarnecki. Executive producers: Terrance J Aarnio, Robert Weiser, Richard Schiffrin. Director of photography: Alex Buono. Original music: Dave Porter. Editor: Brian Singbiel. No MPAA rating, 106 minutes.
Magnolia Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to the Sundance steroid documentary Bigger, Stronger, Faster*.
The film, directed by Christopher Bell, was one of the most buzzworthy at January's festival.
Bigger focuses on the rampant steroid scandals that have dominated the headlines lately as well as the American obsession with winning at all costs. Bell draws from his own personal experience as the brother of two siblings who used performance-enhancing drugs.
Produced by Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady and Jim Czarnecki, the docu also features interviews with such athletes as Barry Bonds, Floyd Landis, Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson.
Magnolia, the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of the Wagner/Cuban Cos., will release the film this year in the U.S. It will be broadcast on HDNet after its release.
"It's informative, fascinating and hysterical -- all the things a movie about steroids should be," Cuban said.
The film, directed by Christopher Bell, was one of the most buzzworthy at January's festival.
Bigger focuses on the rampant steroid scandals that have dominated the headlines lately as well as the American obsession with winning at all costs. Bell draws from his own personal experience as the brother of two siblings who used performance-enhancing drugs.
Produced by Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady and Jim Czarnecki, the docu also features interviews with such athletes as Barry Bonds, Floyd Landis, Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson.
Magnolia, the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of the Wagner/Cuban Cos., will release the film this year in the U.S. It will be broadcast on HDNet after its release.
"It's informative, fascinating and hysterical -- all the things a movie about steroids should be," Cuban said.
- 2/28/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- With three post-Sundance buy announcements within a space of 24 hours (and there are many more to come), it's evident that it is the buyers who seem to have the edge this year. There are more film distribution players now and it seems that every friday (release day) we find a trafficked filled jam of film offerings. It's simple: indie distributors are becoming a whole lot more methodicial with their buys: factoring in the P&A commitment and then weathering the storm of competitition. Today Magnolia Pictures have added a docu film that gels well with the company's usual docu fair. Written by Bell, Alexander Buono and Tamsin Rawady, Bigger, Faster, Stronger is about three brothers, one of whom is the filmmaker, who use steroids. The docu asks viewers to look within when considering the rampant steroid scandals that have been dominating the headlines. Is it any wonder that so
- 2/27/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
- New works from documentary filmmaker faves in Alex Gibney (Gonzo: The Life and Times of Hunter Thompson), Margaret Brown (The Order of Myths) and Patrick Creadon (I.O.U.S.A.) and many first time doc filmmakers make up the section in this year's documentary Comp lineup. I don't count many Iraq-war related items listed below, telling us that the doc vague of such films is officially D.O.A. Click on the individual links below for more info on each film (including official sites and trailers). Documentary COMPETITIONAn American Soldier directed and written by Edet Belzberg ("Children Underground"), a look at one of the U.S. Army's all-time top recruiters, Sgt. 1st Class Clay Usie.American Teen directed and written by Nanette Burstein ("On the Ropes"), an irreverent, frank account of four Indiana high school seniors.Bigger, Faster, Stronger directed by Christopher Bell and written by Bell, Alexander Buono and Tamsin Rawady,
- 11/28/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
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