Last evening I had the incredibly good fortune of attending the Christmas party at The Belcourt. If you don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t regularly follow this blog or happen to live in Nashville you might not know that The Belcourt is the loveliest place in all of Nashville to see a film. From Bela Tarr?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s rarely screened ?¢‚Ǩ?ìSatantango?¢‚Ǩ¬ù to the Gilliam and Monty Python retrospective that will be screening to coincide with the release of Gilliam?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s new film ?¢‚Ǩ?ìTideland?¢‚Ǩ¬ù Toby Leonard (himself an occasional contributor to our growing more magical by the moment family of bloggers) and the rest of the team at The Belcourt make showing great films an absolute labor of love and their Christmas party was assembled with just as much love and care.

I arrived at the festivities with my wingman (wingwoman? Wingperson?) our own Roxanne Benjamin and as we entered we were greeted with a wonderful sight, a table full of fine holiday eats placed right in front of the tiny theatre?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s largest screen, onto which ?¢‚Ǩ?ìNational Lampoon?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Christmas Vacation?¢‚Ǩ¬ù was being projected. This struck me as a mighty fine way to kick things off. But the fun didn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t stop there, soon ?¢‚Ǩ?ìThe Party Bus?¢‚Ǩ¬ù arrived and Christmas spirits and blood alcohol levels alike soared to staggering heights. For those of you unfamiliar with the ?¢‚Ǩ?ìParty Bus?¢‚Ǩ¬ù phenomenon I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ll take a moment to try and explain. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìThe Party Bus?¢‚Ǩ¬ù is a former school bus that?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s been equipped with bench seating, a steady stream of adult beverages, a dance floor (a light-up Saturday Night Fever style dance floor at that) and an on board DJ whose name escapes me but who was responsible for playing both Salt and Pepa?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s ?¢‚Ǩ?ìPush It?¢‚Ǩ¬ù and The Weather Girl?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s ?¢‚Ǩ?ìIt?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Raining Men?¢‚Ǩ¬ù at least two times each and at decibel levels far louder than I ever thought I would hear either.

After a brief explanation of the rules of the Party Bus?¢‚Ǩ‚Äùwhich range from the fairly obvious, no narcotics or homemade shivs to the slightly more bizarre explanation of the bus?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ ?¢‚Ǩ?ìblack boxes?¢‚Ǩ¬ù. I won?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t go into too much detail but I will say that these ?¢‚Ǩ?ìblack boxes?¢‚Ǩ¬ù are much different than the type you might find on an airplane. They are constructed out of plywood and are meant to act as the bus?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ line of defense against any passenger who may suddenly find him or herself unable to hold their nog in any longer. Luckily, for the entire duration of our Party Bus experience the boxes remained unused but I did allow myself to briefly wonder what sort of horrors these ?¢‚Ǩ?ìblack boxes?¢‚Ǩ¬ù had seen during their tours of duty.

I didn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t entertain such dark notions for very long though, as my attention couldn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t help but be pulled in the direction of the dance floor where Belcourt Manager Elise Tyler and a slew of others proved without a shadow of a doubt that ?¢‚Ǩ?ìcrunk?¢‚Ǩ¬ù is not a racially exclusive term (those crazy kids have some moves on ?¢‚ǨÀúem). Also in attendance were brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall the masterminds behind Infinity Cat (a very cool local record label) and one of Nashville?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s best bands, Jeff. Not to mention one of my favorite Nashville people and a bit of an East Nashville icon Manda Hackney who busted a number of dance floor moves herself and was kind enough to show me the exact spot where she encountered the ghost of the supposedly haunted Belcourt. So I thank each and every one of the good folks of The Belcourt for a rather festive holiday memory and also proof filled pudding that cinephiles know how to throw down with the best of them. I never thought i’d say this but…ahem…God bless us everyone.

2006 brought with it disaster in Iraq, and, of course, an exercise by Mel Gibson - megastar actor, director, native Australian and noted Roman Catholic.?Ǭ†Apparently?Ǭ†the best way to unwind after producing, writing and directing “Apocalypto,” a bloody two-hour-and-15-minute?Ǭ†Mayan epic, is to drink tequila, drive 90 mph on a two-lane road and tell a California?Ǭ†cop that the Jews are to blame for the wars of the world.?Ǭ†

Gibson’s?Ǭ†recipe for relaxation makes sense considering how much of a?Ǭ†male-fantasy movie “Apocalypto” turns out to be. “That was awesome … but I don’t think the Aztecs were really that crazy,” said some guy behind me in the theater as the credits rolled.?Ǭ†And that?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s problem. The movie is as well made and compact as the finest set of luggage. It flies by. The variety of tattoos, haircuts and nose bones alone are worth the price of admission. But in essence it is beautifully shot, exciting, state-of-the-art pulp, with no real message or character development.?Ǭ†

It might have been better if it were based on a specific event, like Gibson?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s massively successful ?¢‚Ǩ?ìThe Passion of the Christ,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù the story of Jesus Christ?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s crucifixion. Instead, ?¢‚Ǩ?ìApocalypto,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù a Greek word for ?¢‚Ǩ?ìnew beginning,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù is the film version of “Pitfall,” the old Activision video game. Jaguar attacks, group waterfall jumps, beehive explosions, toad skin-poisoned blow darts, quicksand, vines lowering people into underground pits, monkey fights and effortless underwater childbirth come to mind.?Ǭ†The movie packs lots of powerful images, but I think Gibson lost his story somewhere in Mexico after drinking lots of tequila.

Just wanted to take a moment to say my weekly hello and let you fine folks out there in on a couple of things that will be happening here on www.documentarychannel.com. First and foremost, if you already read Roxanne’s last blog then you know we’ve been preparing our very first audio podcast. And yes there was a “recording in progress” sign. And yes?Ǭ†said sign?Ǭ†was scrawled on legal paper and held up with Scotch tape but harnessing?Ǭ†the legal pad pages and their bright yellow coloring (a color which clearly states PROCEED WITH CAUTION) coupled with the supenatural adhesive abilities of Scotch brand?Ǭ†tape was necessary to create a work environment condusive to the creation of genius. I’m happy to announce that the legal pad/scotch tape method worked and that I was able capture a whole mess of the aforementioned genius on tape (though it got a little humbling when I realized my “recording session” was really just me in our Media Room by myself talking to a computer).?Ǭ†After my momentary embarrassment subsided, i’m pleased to report?Ǭ†the podcast (which contrary to Roxanne’s last blog features an interview?Ǭ†with “Screamers” filmmaker Carla Garapedian) is coming together beautifully and will be available shortly at www.documentarychannel.com/podcast. There is a ton of the sort of shenanigans you’ve come to expect from me and if you already happen to follow my From the Vault column then you’re no stranger to your old pal Chris imposing his taste on you (but you’ve come to love it, haven’t you? ahem, haven’t you?). So there is lots to love on the Doc Channel Podcast and it’s only gonna get cooler from here. You’ll laugh, You’ll cry, you’ll decide to incorporate a little more fiber into your diet but mark my?Ǭ†all caps words?Ǭ†YOU SHALL NOT BE BORED! And?Ǭ†hey,?Ǭ†Next time we’ll read some selections from ye olde viewer mail bag, we’ll take about the making of Jaws, we’ll play games (this is a lie), we’ll exchange pre-holiday pleasantries. You might even have to pause it in the middle so that your mind and body can properly process all the fun. So there you have it, with a build up like that now i’d better deliver huh? Fear not gentle viewer. When have I ever let you down? Ok, maybe that one time but it was only once and I promise not to do it again. Christmas is the time for forgiveness you know.

I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve been seeing all of these ?¢‚Ǩ?ìholiday buyer?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s guides?¢‚Ǩ¬ù floating around the ?¢‚ǨÀúnet and in some magazines but very few actually feature good documentary films. Sure there are DVD?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s on these lists but no docs. So, for those who care, here?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s a list in no particular order of five fantastic documentaries that would make great gifts.

American Movie
There?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve been a lot of films about people making movies but this documentary is one of the best, if not the best, of its kind. American Movie follows the exploits of filmmaker Mark Borchardt and his buddies as they try to make a short horror film. On the surface he seems like the last person you?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢d think would successfully finish a film but he does. It takes him years, but he?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s determined. It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s an extraordinary and hilarious character study that would please general film fanatics as well as documentary fans.

?Ǭ†

Brother?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Keeper
Four elderly and only semi-literate brothers living as outcasts in Munnsville, New York are brought into the spotlight when one of the brother?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s turns up dead. Another of the brothers is arrested and under questioning, signs a confession. The documentary asks whether he was mentally competent to sign such a document and moves into even stranger territory as filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky try to uncover the truth.

?Ǭ†

Grey Gardens
Grey Gardens is a decrepit old mansion located in East Hampton where Edith Bouvier Beales and her daughter Edie live in near seclusion with cats and raccoons for company. Edith was once a member of high society; she and her daughter are cousins of Jackie O. The film follows the two in their day to day activities and gives them a chance to share their stories as well as their eclectic behavior. Grey Gardens is a documentary classic, one of the best character studies ever made.

?Ǭ†

Dark Days
Filmmaker Mark Singer makes a big commitment for this film. He goes underground, near the Amtrak train tracks to live with squatters who have built a little community there. They?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve drug scrap wood and old furniture down there and built houses for themselves. A one time electrician has even found a way to get a bit of power there and there?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s a leaky water pipe they use to shower. Singer follows them on their daily adventures and learns their stories.
?Ǭ†

Reel Paradise
Filmmaker John Pierson packed his family up and moved them to a poor and remote village in Fiji where he reopened a long closed theater and attempted to bring cinema to a people who hadn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t had it in many years; some members of the community had never even seen a film. Pierson showed a variety of classic and cotton candy films throughout his time there. To his chagrin, the low brow humor of films like Jackass appealed more to the audience than some of the classics he hoped would catch on. The film covers his families last month in the village. Suzie and I met Pierson at a film festival and he offered us the keys to the theater if we?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢d move there and reopen it.

No, unfortunately I am not referring to a remake nor a sequel to the 1983 Spanish science fiction thriller with the lovable elephant-like alien baby and it’s evil human-devouring mother (but one can dream…).?Ǭ† The pod people in question are your loyal and almost as lovable Doc Channel staff, who will soon be gracing the proverbial airwaves with some witty repartee, obscure doc lore, and interviews with top docmakers.?Ǭ† That’s right, friends and neighbors, we are finally launching our long-awaited podcast.?Ǭ† At this very moment I am locked out of our media room (thwarted by an 8-by-11 sheet of legal pad ,no less, scotch-taped to the door with the words “Recording in Progress! Do Not Enter!” scrawled across it semi-legibly with a black sharpie).?Ǭ† Soon you’ll be able to enjoy the sounds of our rants and raves, filmmaker interviews, doc news, and even some great music tracks to boot all on your very own i-Pod or laptop while you flirt with that cute bartender or barista at your local coffee shop.?Ǭ† So be prepared, our very first ‘cast is on it’s way, and let me tell you it is not to be missed.?Ǭ† And here’s a hint on this cast’s featured filmmakers: they’re big fans of everyone’s favorite mid-70’s man-eater, whose film ruined beach tourism for the entire year of it’s release.?Ǭ† If you think you know the film to which I’m referring, do some internet-sleuthing and email us here at the channel with the name of the documentary in production that focuses on the film.?Ǭ† If you’re the first to guess the answer, we’ll send you some great Doc Channel goodies.