Fan Rant: What's Up, Doc Committee?
Filed under: Documentary, Independent, Awards, Distribution, Fan Rant
There's a reason that us critics tend to hold certain films in excessive regard -- because after seeing hundreds and hundreds of them every year, to champion one or two or a dozen across those fifty-two weeks is a chance to bring attention to something that deserves it, something distinctly non-mediocre and perhaps unconventional.
Dear Zachary: a letter to a son about his father falls into that category. Erik praised it effusively from its Slamdance premiere and beyond; soon joining his ranks would be Monika; and it currently lingers second to only one on my own tentative top ten list for 2008. We get it. According to Rotten Tomatoes, 33 out of 34 critics get it. In fact, it seems like the only ones who don't get it just happen to make up the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The AMPAS documentary voting committee, like its oft-derided foreign language committee, narrow down their eligible titles by processes that elude me at the moment (my skepticism would likely hold firm regardless of explanation). At any rate, there's always likely to be some film that somebody holds dear left behind. But as far as this year's list is concerned, we have some usual suspects -- namely, Werner Herzog (Encounters at the End of the World) and Errol Morris (Standard Operating Procedure) -- and all your expected issue movies -- Trouble the Water is about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, At the Death House Door concerns the death penalty, I.O.U.S.A. faces our nation's debt dilemma -- but that's five out of fifteen I can vouch for.
Actually, make that six. Man on Wire is also quite high on my best-of list at the moment, and it still stands as Rotten Tomatoes' Best-Reviewed Film of All Time (that's doc or otherwise, my friends). Okay, seven: In a Dream is a well-made portrait of a troubled family, but frankly, it's no Dear Zachary... For me, that's what it boils down to. I recognize three of the remaining titles by name alone, leaving five that are completely brand-spanking new to me. Hey, they could each and every one of them be brilliant, but if that were the case, then surely, I might've heard of them in the past eleven months.
Now, Pete Hammond may be able to spew forth hyperbole like nobody's business, but when grown men are left sobbing wrecks (myself included), and when they can then each openly state to the world, with no small amount of conviction:
- "one of the best documentaries I have ever watched in my entire life" (Erik Davis)
- "Dear Zachary will move you. It will make you question your faith in the world. But it will also introduce you to some of the most inspiring, strong, and caring people to ever grace the big screen." (Monika Bartyzel)
- "one of the best documentaries you will see and it may actually be the best that I've EVER seen" (Erik Childress)
- "a tough film, one that left me a wreck and is guaranteed to put you through an emotional wringer, but that shouldn't keep you from seeing it... manages to find hope in the most awful of situations, that connects directly to your humanity" (Devin Faraci)
- "as emotionally devastating as any film, fiction or non-, released this year" (Nick Schager)
- "a film that nobody should ever feel forced to make, but just about everybody should see" (Chris Barsanti)
Folks, please: do everything you can to avoid reading much into the story of Dear Zachary... itself (there's a reason I haven't linked to either the IMDb page or David Edelstein's review) until you can catch it for yourself.
For those readers not in New York, Los Angeles, or any of the select markets in which the film is making the rounds (that would be Portland, OR; Nashville, TN; Santa Fe, NM; and San Jose, CA), you can catch what is truly the Best Documentary Feature of the year on MSNBC starting December 7th.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-18-2008 @ 11:31AM
techstar25 said...
Correct if I'm wrong here, but maybe it isn't eligible. Here's why.
Eric D. Snider recently wrote here (in the article about Outrageous Oscar disqualifications) that Fahrenheit 9/11 was disqualified for the awards because it was released theatrically in July 2004, and then appeared on pay-per-view television just a few months later in November 2004. Apparently that short window was against academy rules.
If Dear Zachary is just now being released theatrically (opened on Oct 31), and will appear on television only two months later (on MSNBC in December), would it not break the same rule?
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11-18-2008 @ 11:38AM
Erik Davis said...
It screened theatrically for one week in August in both NYC and LA in order to qualify for the Oscars, then had its publicized opening in October.
11-18-2008 @ 11:46AM
Kevin said...
In Eric Sniders article it said that the documentary must air on TV no sooner then 9 months after its release. So if it had a limited release in August and then plays on TV in December then it would be ineligible. So if that time period rule is still in effect than it indeed could not be nominated. Seems like a shame, cause this movie sounds spectacular, but its one of those rules that theres a precedent for the Academy enforcing, so if they wanted a statue they should've waited to put it on TV.
11-18-2008 @ 11:49AM
techstar25 said...
Erik is correct. Thanks for the clarification. The rules appear to have been modified.
The rule is on this page:
http://www.oscars.org/81academyawards/rules/rule12.html
"7. No type of television or Internet transmission of a contending documentary feature may occur anywhere in the world until 60 days after the completion of the New York and Los Angeles seven-day qualifying runs."
11-18-2008 @ 12:41PM
Jenn Brown said...
Dear Zachary qualified according the rules posted here: http://www.oscars.org/81academyawards/rules/rule12.html where it indicates 60 days from the qualified runs in LA and NY. It's not airing on MSNBC until December.
I suspect it was either the film being so subjective, and/or no-budget. It's an unconventional film for a theatrical release, so I suspect the fact it's so personal that it alienates the more conservative people who have control over making that short list.
I just heard back from Kurt Kuenne, who admits to being a little disappointed, but reminded me of the fact it's not the ultimate goal (although it would have helped). I'd say more, but it'd spoil it for those who haven't had a chance to see it yet.
It has been submitted to the Spirit Awards, the National Board of Review, the DGA, WGA, Ace Eddie awards, so hopefully at least ONE of those organizations will have enough vision to appreciate the film.
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11-24-2008 @ 12:29PM
Bill said...
You can check out Patrick Creadon's I.O.U.S.A. now on Lycos Cinema, the social video site that allows viewers to watch and chat with other viewers in real-time, here: http://cinema.lycos.com/movies/iousa
It's free and gives you a chance to discuss it live with other viewers.
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12-08-2008 @ 9:36AM
Elizabeth said...
I just watched this on MSNBC. I assume that none of it was cut. I was devastated watching this. Sadly, what drew me to it was the mention of Pittsburgh, PA, which is my hometown. I was channel surfing, heard the city mentioned, and then didn't leave the channel until I had watched the show--twice. I cried no less the second time than the first, but crying is no justification for judgment. I was awed--just awed at the naturalistic and seemingly stream-of-conscious nature of the film. By that, I mean that I was no less drawn into the drama of this narrative than I am by the fictional BS that we are often fed...low budget or not; personal or not; this story harkens back to the Joe Amrine story without the "happy" ending. The hope that we all can change failing social structures and secure our future one child at a time still sits with me. It sits with me right next to my tears. I dare Hollywood films to do what this film did.
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12-08-2008 @ 12:31PM
gloria said...
I am so disappointed it didnt make the Oscars nod. For whatever reason it did not, I am sure it was not the directors goal for this amazing documentary. I was changed forever from the images of this film. It was definitely a two box of tissue film. I woke up the next day still thinking of it. That I feel is the directors goal. To keep Andrew and Zachary alive forever....and it worked. I will always remember them, they are forever embedded in my memory.
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