Documentary Review: Making The Monkees

Sometimes you find things on TV unexpectedly and that's what I did last night at about 11:00 PM. The Smithsonian Channel was airing their Monkees documentary and for some reason I sat down to watch.

Since Davy Jones passed away last Feb 29th, I've avoided all things Monkees.

Why?

Its depressing to watch.

Making The Monkees is really no exception. Any hard core fan will know most of the story. It has been documented in countless bios of the band, and autobiographies by the band members. One thing is for sure, they may have been the only 4 guys in the height of the 60s that seem to remember it all.

This documentary does put a lot of focus on the shows creators Bob Rafelson & Bert Scheinder as well as the guys themselves. There was also some focus of Don Kirschner who was the music director for the guys until the big rift in the Beverly Hills Hotel sent him packing.

One thing that anyone watching the documentary will likely take away is that Don Kirschner was the big butt head that the guys made him out to be.

Maybe it was editing or maybe not, but he came across as arrogant and "I think I'm Godlike" which makes it easy to understand how someone might put their fist through a wall after having a discussion with him, or pouring a Coke over his head.

The best part of the documentary was seeing the guys talk about that period in their lives. It is also the saddest part, because this special is a few years old, and Davy took part.

Of all the guys, it seems like Peter is the most at ease with things and still seems like his old self, albeit a clean and sober self.

Not sure if this is a documentary that fans need to see, unless they have a hankering to listen to the guys talk about stuff they've talked about hundreds of times before. There's nothing new here at all, but then if you are a fan of The Monkees, you might not care.

~ As an aside, this Davy fan fought back tears every time he came on the screen.

Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story

Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story

Okay, Izzard fanatics - this one's just for us.

I will devour anything that has this man's name on it, because he's hilarious, a good guy, & I'm hopelessly in love with him. This documentary shows a whole other side to him.

Yeah, it's funny. Eddie Izzard is in it, of course it's funny. But it's also surprisingly moving, & in a few ways, inspiring. You see Eddie in a way you never have before. We're used to him being funny, talkative, & lively, but here you all that plus a more quiet, reflective, insecure, and even emotional side to him. And it's nice to see, but also a little heartbreaking. We see Eddie Izzard actually in tears. Hard to picture, isn't it?

It's a very honest documentary. Suddenly, Eddie Izzard is so much more than just a devastatingly funny guy who occasionally cross-dresses. Personally, I found myself able to relate to him in some parts, & it made me love him all the more.

It's not full of sadness, though - just snippets. But it is full of other interviews, not just Eddie. Friends, his dad, etc. Plus vintage home movies, clips of his very early street performing days, & home movies & baby pictures! Who doesn't love that? And he was the cutest little kid ever. Seriously.

This is definitely one the fans want to check out. And the great news is, you can do so on the internet for free! Legally! Thank Eddie himself for Tweeting this. Go to www.epixhd.com/invite to get yourself an invite code, & watch it. And while you're at it the code gives you free access to the site for about four days, so take advantage of it & stream as many movies as your heart desires. If you're in the mood for more Izzard, they have the new-ish Live in Wembley show up there, too.

And if you're not familiar with Eddie's stand-up, get off the internet & go watch it because it will not disappoint.

And for the record, if you get the chance, go see the man live. True story: I saw him in Pittsburgh, & laughed so hard I cried. Then the next day someone referenced one of the jokes & I went into hysterics.