Louis Theroux: Miami Mega Jail

Watch Part I
Watch Part II

Here, my boy Louis ventures into a Miami county jail. This is the type of jail that people go to before their court date, aka before they've actually been convicted of crimes. Some of these guys are killers, rapists, burglars, etc...

These guys reside in cells that can have many people living in them at once. Often guys will get the shit kicked out of them because they're from different gangs, or they're saying dumb shit.

This one guy is accused of attempting to murder a chick because she pissed him off... This guy is so small and weak, I almost feel bad for the guy cuz I know he won't make it very far in this jail.

Check it.

8.1/10

Deepwater Disaster: The Untold Story

This is a tight one about the 87 day battle to close the burst BP pipeline at the bottom of the god damn ocean. I never realized how many different things they tried... So many failures. Unfortunately it turned into one of the worst environmental disaster in US history.

It doesn't so much investigate BPs mistakes as it does document the events that unfolded after the pipeline burst. Decent.

7.5/10

Afghan Heroin

Afghan Heroin: The Lost War is a documentary which investigates how the war on terror in Afghanistan has unleashed heroin into the mainstream.
Heroin is one of the most addictive drugs on Earth. Some 90 per cent of the drug is grown in Afghanistan and this hard hitting documentary investigates how the War on Terror has inadvertently unleashed a massive supply of the deadly drug.
After the Western coalition troops started their hunt for terrorist Osama Bin Laden and his Taliban allies in late 2001, the country torn apart from decades of war once more became the world’s opium growing capital.
Many impoverished farmers had no choice but to grow the opium poppy to feed their families.
The documentary delve into the devastating effects of addiction that includes shocking scenes of a young Norwegian couple hustling, scoring and shooting up several times a day in order to appease the monster inside them.

8/10

You Don't Know Jack

Dr. Jack Kevorkian died today at age 83. In 2010 HBO made a documentary about him called Kevorkian but I can't find it. Fortunately, also in 2010 there was a film made about him starring Al Pacino called You Don't Know Jack

Fighting for Bin Laden

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

This one is truly bad-ass. Since it's so new, it's kind of in fragments, all of which are interesting.

It starts of by highlighting the fact that Pakistan may in fact be harboring Al Qaeda, despite claiming that they're working with the US gov to stop terrorism. This part also shows how the US government is hiring a private Afghan army to help them do some fighting.

The next part looks at the drone war; the use of drone planes to spy on and destroy enemies from the skies. These planes, in case you're not aware, are unmanned aircraft that have the ability to destroy small targets from many miles away. Since the Obama admin., the use of these types of planes has skyrocketed.

The third part is an interview with author Steve Cole. This guy knows tons about everything to do win Osama Bin Laden. He brings up an interesting point: Osama's organization attacked the twin towers in hopes that the U.S. would pull out of Afghanistan and the Middle East. Clearly that plan failed. Maybe the US shouldn't have been there in the first place? I don't know.

The last part is the longest and most awesome. Report Najibullah Quraishi actually chills with a loyal band of fighters who are loyal to Bin Laden. He has to go on a 3 day hike, and think's he's about to die a few times. The leader is super sketchy, and the guy never really knows when he's allowed to be filming. This small group of fighters are pretty loyal to the entire Allah cause. They're even training children to fight.

9/10

One Night in Bhopal

Check it out, I think this writeup explains this doc the most effectively:

"The Bhopal disaster (also referred to as the Bhopal gas tragedy) is the world’s worst industrial catastrophe. It occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. A leak of methyl isocyanate gas and other chemicals from the plant resulted in the exposure of hundreds of thousands of people. Estimates vary on the death toll. The official immediate death toll was 2,259 and the government of Madhya Pradesh has confirmed a total of 3,787 deaths related to the gas release. Other government agencies estimate 15,000 deaths. Others estimate that 3,000 died within weeks and that another 8,000 have since died from gas-related diseases. A government affidavit in 2006 stated the leak caused 558,125 injuries including 38,478 temporary partial and approximately 3,900 severely and permanently disabling injuries.UCIL was the Indian subsidiary of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC). Indian Government controlled banks and the Indian public held 49.1 percent ownership share. In 1994, the Supreme Court of India allowed UCC to sell its 50.9 percent share. The Bhopal plant was sold to McLeod Russel (India) Ltd. UCC was purchased by Dow Chemical Company in 2001.Civil and criminal cases are pending in the United States District Court, Manhattan and the District Court of Bhopal, India, involving UCC, UCIL employees, and Warren Anderson, UCC CEO at the time of the disaster. In June 2010, seven ex-employees, including the former UCIL chairman, were convicted in Bhopal of causing death by negligence and sentenced to two years imprisonment and a fine of about $2,000 each, the maximum punishment allowed by law. An eighth former employee was also convicted but died before judgment was passed."

Total carnage.

8/10

The Rockefellers

I know the Rockefellers have had a bad rep when it comes to breaking human rights, establishing massive monopolies that control entire industries or the country itself, and basically acting evil. But I think this documentary will help you see the world from their point of view.

For decades, the Rockefeller name was despised in America–associated with John D. Rockefeller Sr.’s feared monopoly, Standard Oil. By the end of his life, Rockefeller had given away half his fortune–but even his vast philanthropy could not erase the memory of his predatory business practices. His only son, John D. Rockefeller Jr., would dedicate his life to recasting the family image.

In the quest for redemption and respectability, Junior would give away hundreds of millions of dollars, and would insist that his six children behave impeccably. Their contributions transformed America. When he died at age 86, Junior left his six children and 22 grandchildren an invaluable inheritance: a name which stood not for corporate greed, but for “the well-being of mankind.”

7.5/Tizzen

The Vice Guide To North Korea

Watch The Vice Guide To North Korea

This is about a white guy going to North Korea to film a documentary. I was surprised at how much shit he gets to see and film. The most bomb part is in part 3, The Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance Arirang which celebrates Kim Il Sung's birthday.

8.628/10

Keith Richards - Life

Keith recently wrote an autobiography called "Life." This is basically a BBC interview with Keith, asking him stuff about his life, and what it was like being a Rolling Stone.

Keith Richards my favourite guitar player, and possibly my favourite musician of all time... This clip shows everyone how truly bad ass he is. It covers the start of his musical career and ends basically in 1970. It gets awesome toward the end when shit starts to hit the fan in the States.

8.99/10

Deep Water

Deep Water is the stunning true story of the first solo, non-stop, round-the-world boat race, and the psychological toll it took on its competitors.

Sponsored by the Sunday Times of London, the event attracted a field of nine, including amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst, who set out to circumnavigate the globe in late 1968.

Battling treacherous seas and his own demons, Crowhurst almost immediately comes apart as he faces the isolation of nine months on the high seas. Part adventure yarn and part metaphysical mystery, Deep Water is an unforgettable journey into one mans heart of darkness.

This documentary is extremely well done, I absolutely loved it.

9.3

Shadow Company

PMCs. Private Military Companies.

These bad-asses/mercenaries go and work for private companies that provide military and security services in various war zones around the world. They escort military convoys, protect massive bases, blow shit up, and do other tasks that the U.S. military can no longer afford because their bank execs put the country in a hole. Most of them have a military background, and moved to the private industry because they wanna get paid more.

There are some problems though... These guys are not fighting for their country, nor is their country responsible for them; they just do it for the hard cheeze. Obviously, as a corporation is obliged to do, it seeks areas to cut costs in. Sometimes it costs more to provide some extra backup or security than it does to let a few guys die, which happens a lot. Another problem is that there is basically no bidding, so when the government wants to hire them they just go to one company, make an offer, and go with it.

Things get really fucked up when the guy doing the hiring is on the board of directors of these companies.

Violent as fuck.

8.4/10

Louis Theroux: Black Nationalism

Take a trip with Louis Theroux through New York and meet the religious leaders of 3 groups: Al Sharpton (Christians), Khallid Muhammad (Black Muslims) & the leaders of street preaching Hebrew-Israelites during the times of the murder of Sean Bell.

These guys are seriously pissed off most of the time, although some of them are G's.

8/10

Louis Theroux: Thai Brides

Louis Theroux struck gold yet again in this brilliant documentary which featured the ‘Introduction Services’ available in Thailand to men from overseas seeking Thai women for marriage. White dudes from everywhere are going to marry these Thai chicks... Some of them get married after a few days, it's pretty jokes.

Although presented in a fairly light-hearted format, it was very thought-provoking. Of course, to most of us the notion of these agencies is abhorrent to say the least, but I think they're pretty OK. Largely due to the style of presentation, it was quite revealing to listen to the viewpoints of the ‘clients’ and owners, who seemed to feel comfortable expressing their views. Louis Theroux’ style, which does not at first appear overly challenging, allows a truer insight into a person’s behaviour and makes him/her less defensive and consequently more candid.

7.9/10

I am a Motherfucker

Watch I Am A Motherfucker

If you don't already know who epic beard man is, you never saw this video. Thomas Bruso (beard man) became famous as a result of this video and another where he gets tased at an A's game. This documentary reveals what kind of boss Bruso is, "I knocked my own motherfucking father out at age 15 he was 6'5" 250lbs". This shits only 17 minutes.

9/10

Exit Through The Gift Shop

Watch Exit Through The Gift Shop

This is a documentary about street artists. The guy filming is a bit dumb but somehow gets extremely lucky. He hangs out with Shepard Fairey, the guy that made the Obama poster, and eventually meets and films Banksy. It gets even more interesting when Thierry, the cameraman, decides on a whim to make his own street art. Despite people working with him calling him "kind of retarded", he ends up selling a million bones worth of his art in one exhibition.

9/10

The Confessions

Watch The Confessions

Frontline does it again. In The Confessions, Frontline investigates the conviction of four men -- current and former sailors in the U.S. Navy -- for the rape and murder of a Norfolk, Va., woman in 1997. In the first television interviews with the "Norfolk Four" since their release, Bikel learns of some of the high-pressure police interrogation techniques -- the threat of the death penalty, sleep deprivation, intimidation -- that led each of the men to confess, despite the lack of any evidence linking them to the crime.

The series of events in this is so crazy that it's almost unbelievable. Furthermore, it highlights the fact that the government can get just about anyone to confess to killing someone, details and everything. I truly feel sorry for these fuckers, some of them are in jail for like 13 years before they get let out. Once they're out, they're convicted sex offenders, so they can't get a job or live anywhere by their parents houses.

You gotta watch this one, the timeline of events is incredible.

8.4/10

Totally Bill Hicks

Watch Totally Bill Hicks

I didn't know who Bill Hicks was until I clicked a link from some Joe Rogan bullshit I was watching & started laughing my ass off. He wasn't just funny, he spoke the truth about some far out shit. He was a well read guy, whether it was religion, politics, consumerism, or some other bullshit. This documentary is part stand up and part interviews with comedians and tv personalities that knew him. If I had to compare him to another comedian it would probably be George Carlin, but more direct and foul.

9.3/10

Death By Fire

Watch Death By Fire

This documentary, in my eyes, dumps a huge steamer on people who still believe that the death penalty is a good idea. Since 1976, when the Supreme Court lifted a ban on execution, Todd Willingham is the most prominent case of a person who was convicted and executed for a crime he may not have committed.

Basically, while his wife was gone, his house burned down and his three children were inside. He did not rush in to save their lives. Later that night he was seen at a bar playing darts, getting drunk, and having a good time. How fucked up is that? At first, you'd believe that he's the murderer. Further in, real experts with valid opinions will make their voices heard, and you'll realize that you were thinking like a southern idiot. Who cares if he gets drunk at a bar after? Who cares if he appears to be having a good time? All that matters is the real evidence. According to arson experts, there was nothing in the evidence presented at his 1992 trial that suggests it was an arson fire that killed his three children. Basically, Willingham is innocent.

Oops. Too bad. Already sentenced him to death, and he is on death row. But wait, the Governor can stop his death by haulting the execution, and he has 7 years to do it. Again, too bad the Governor is an idiot and relies on his instincts (wrong) rather than facts and rationality (right).

So Todd dies.

Check it out.

7.4/10

Bloomberg: Game Changers

A new Bloomberg original documentary series.

This is a such a recent series that not all of the episodes have aired, but each show tells the history of some of the most influential leaders of our world.

This series is both relevant and incredibly interesting.

Watch:

1 - Mark Zuckerberg

2 - Steve Jobs

3 - Jon Stewart

more to come...

War Child (The Story of Emmanuel Jal)

Watch War Child

Press Play:

Emmanuel Jal was born in Sudan during a war, grew up with war, and fought in four battles as a child soldier. The above song 'Emma' is about an aid worker that smuggled him from a village in Sudan to Nairobi, Kenya and took care of him until she died in the 90's. There he became a well known hip hop artist and escaped the slums.



The film follows Jal to Kenya and through Sudan visiting places he passed through as a child. It includes footage of Jal as a kid (who is never seen without his Asterix shirt) that was taken from an earlier film. As you follow his story, you also learn the story of Sudan as a whole.

I don't even like hip hop, but i can't ignore the power of this music:

from song above:
now i cry myself to sleep
in my dreams i often weep
my children are hungry, my back in pain
and still they come to rape again

Also, check out Emmanuel on TED.com

8.8/10