Doc A Day : Vernon, Florida (1981, Errol Morris)

Have I Seen It Before : Nope Viewed Via : Netflix Not having much time , you do have to pay attention to your kids every now and then, I stumbled across a 30 minute short from Errol Morris on Netflix, and it fully examines in its short span why Florida has its own tag on Fark. Morris intended to create a film entitled "Nub City", because folks in Vernon have a thing for losing a limb on purpose to collect insurance. Yep, that's a thing people do. But, and I'm not kidding, FEARING FOR HIS LIFE, Morris decides to instead just film some of the folks in Vernon talking about their day to day life and thoughts. From the couple with a jar of sand to the old men in front of the hardware store. From the swamp hunters to a preacher who gives his sermon on the word "therefor" , Morris just gets out of the way. The film feels and looks like an unmarked VHS tape you found in a box. There is no narrative to speak of, but it doesn't matter. The short run time and selection of interviews is just right. Just remember, all those little places along the interstate you drive past on vacation, are full of these folks. And not just in Florida.

Doc A Day : When The Levees Broke (2006, Spike Lee)

Have I Seen It Before : Yep Viewed Via : DVD Subtitled "A Requiem In Four Acts" , Spike Lee's naked look at Hurricane Katrina and the devastation that it, and the inaction of the US Government, caused New Orleans , is at once heartbreaking and hopeful. Lee tells the story of the storm through raw eyewitness footage and interviews conducted in the aftermath. Be they "someone famous" or not, they are all true citizens of this city and tell their tales honestly, full of emotion that Lee refuses to turn away from. I always liked Spike Lee, but at some point (Somewhere around Girl 6/Summer of Sam), he seemed to "slip". Gone was a passion that had ignited Malcolm X and Do the Right Thing. But this and 25th Hour brought it back full force. Lee is going to show you everything, no matter how hard it may be to see. Its hard to imagine a nation this rich, this well equipped would allow some of its own people to float, dead and bloated down the middle of the street they called home. But there it is , all through Lee's unblinking eye. 255 minutes seems too short when something is done this well.

Doc A Day : Sound City (2013, Dave Grohl)

Proving he can indeed do anything , Dave Grohl directs a documentary about the California recording studio, Sound City. Chances are you have heard/owned/loved more than a few records that were born at Sound City. From Fleetwood Mac to Nirvana, from Johnny Cash to Dio and all roads in between. The reason Grohl succeeds is because he isn't worried about "how" to make a film , or even telling a story (although he does, and very well), but because he has one goal : he wants you to know why he and everyone involved loved the dingy Sound City and its custom Neve Board. In turn he tells you, or reminds you why you love rock and roll. Of why we cherish songs, why some of us used to pour over liner notes. Sound City's story flows from Fleetwood Mac and the seventies heyday, the bleak eighties , the resurgence (along with that of rock n roll) after Nirvana's Nevermind was crafted there (16 days!), and yes, digital "ruins" everything. I can tell you that Grohl and the musicians/Sound City employees he interviews succeed in being compelling. why? Because you will pull out a mix tape/CD/LP , or yes , a MP3 of a song you love after seeing it. Via Amazon steaming/BluRay/DVD also airing on Palladia.

Doc A Day : Circus Rosaire (Robyn Bliley, 2007)

Have I Seen It Before : Nope Viewed via : Netflix streaming I remember always going to the Shriner's Circus as a kid. We were not able to afford the Ringling Bros., so the Shriner's Circus was the next best thing. I loved the circus, at least as a child. I was enthralled by the bios in the programs, how far these performers had brought their talents. All the way from Russia to the Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga Tennessee. What must a Russian bear have thought about pulling in to our small, southern city? Circus Rosaire showcases what has become of the nine generation Rosaire circus family. They, like so many Circus performers, find their way to Florida, traveling the world, raising their bears, chimps and big cats, basking in the fame that was the Circus life. That is until the Berlin wall comes down and "cheaper" outside performers make their way over. Add to this the rise in the animal rights movement and the Circus has become outdated, losing its luster an celeb cache. Despite nearly every man, woman and child having experienced it at some point. Now the Rosaire's find themselves taking work when they can get it, trying to run an animal sanctuary and keeping everyone fed. Seems there were plenty of abandoned big cats in Florida after the drug lords went belly up. And yes, while PETA has a point (I'm pretty sure elephants don't WANT a spandex clad lady in feathers balancing on them), if it weren't for the former circus folks sanctuaries, where would these animals wind up? The Rosaire's reminded me of a long lost 70's rock band, plenty of hits but who wants to see them now? Still traveling, playing smaller places because they love what they do and still need to make a living. Playing the old standbys for those that'll gather,hoping to pick up some new followers along the way. Well directed, at times funny and tragic. Circus Rosaire shows you where the stars go when when tents get smaller. Available via Netflix Streaming/Amazon Instant/DVD

Doc A Day : Confessions of A SuperHero (2007,Matthew Ogens)

Have I Seen It Before : Yep. We all want to believe that anyone can be who or what they want to be. That with the right amount of determination and hard work, and a dose of good luck, we can all be stars. But in watching Matthew Ogens' "Confessions Of A Superhero", we all know at about ten minutes in that none of the costumed hopefuls will show up listed on a movie poster. They walk a small square of Hollywood Boluvard, treading the line between "tips" and "panhandling". Dressed in costumes that vary from spot on to weak Halloween sauce. Heros trying to stay on the right side of the LAPD, while posing with tourists for pictures. Each and everyone believes they will , someday, be discovered. Superman claims, but the film casts some doubt, that he is the long lost son of actress Sandy Dennis. That he is destined to be a star while sharing a small LA apartment that is Superman Hording central with his girlfriend, whom he has molded into the likeness of Crystal Gayle. Batman, claims a dark, mob past. Again, the film casts doubt. Also, he looks , "too much like Clooney", which costs him work. Indeed, he looks like Clooney, after going a round or two with Jake LaMota. The Hulk was homeless and Wonder Woman gets married in Vegas while trying to land a commercial. Ogens' film is a few days in the life of all of these characters. Making up or avoiding their pasts, while trying to scrape out a famous future. Punctuated by beautiful still photos of his subjects, Ogens' style is clean and unobtrusive, putting these stories on full display. At times funny and said, you can't help but hit up IMBD after a watch to see where they are now. And they haven't done too bad. Wonder Woman even has a few tv credits (True Blood, The New Girl). And despite the odds, you have to respect the fact that these heroes at least dared to dream. Available via Netflix streaming and on dvd. Holds up to repeat viewings.

Doc A "Day" Mega Catch Up Short Form Run Down (8,9,10,11,12)

#8 : Finding Shawn : a filmmaker goes back to San Francisco to find a child of hippies all grown up....into a totally normal, regular guy.....interesting , but not enough for repeat viewings. #9 : Shut Up Little Man : Two friends secretly audio record their neighbors fighting, underground tape trading fuels some fame. Amazingly, at one point there were three movies being developed. You will feel terrible when they locate one of the living neighbors years later. Offering them a hundred bucks, while one of the guys who made the recordings still sells merch....he should feel terrible too... #10: Hoop Dreams : Yes its "THE" Doc, but still. No matter how many times I watch it, I have to watch till the end, as if I don't know how its going to all wind up. More compelling than most fiction films. Just watch it.... #11 : Don't Divorce Me! : short doc from HBO where kids talk about divorce. Yep, there's a "luncheon" group of three kids who get together weekly to discuss divorce.... #12 : Americans In Bed : also from HBO Docs. It is it what it says. You will be annoyed by some, borded by one or two. But you will fall in love with the couple married for 71 years. Their life story should be a movie.

Doc A Day #6 & #7 :Gasland 1 & 2 (2010/2012) Directed by Josh Fox

If you ask someone about Gasland you may get : "Its the one where they light tap water on fire." And indeed it is. Most coverage of the film highlighted the flaming tap water that was said to be contaminated due to fracking operations by energy companies to extract natural gas. (Just Google it......but be prepared to see rebuttals to rebuttals.) But Josh Fox's film, and its follow up, Gasland 2 (Electric Boogaloo) are more than the Flame On! of docs. Fox begins his one man band doc after recieving an offer to allow fracking on his family's land, in return for a handsome payday. Fox begins seeking out others who sold drilling rights only to find water contamination, land that can't be sold, and most shocking of all : Big Oil/Gas Can't Be Trusted..... Oh, and Dick Cheney is Satan... Of course even if Fox treads familiar ground, one could reason if we know these things to be true, why haven't we done anything about it? Gasland (s) are activist docs but they sidestep the snark that sometimes bogs down (or saves) other docs of its ilk. Fox's style and strength is just pointing the camera at people and letting them talk, telling their stories. They are OpEds, they do present a particular point of view, no doubt skewed to Fox's side of the story. But they are valid and deserve to be heard. Gasland 2 is more of the same, but its still compelling and worthy of your attention. What Fox lacks in "film language" he more than makes up for with his desire. His need to tell his, and a lot of people's side of this complex story. And he has done what all good Docs do. He has brought about conversation about a subject most were unfamilar with, and now we must face. And he has done it without the budget a big energy company uses to make those shiny , happy commercials, full of shiny happy people. Available via Netflix/HBOGo