30 for 30: The Price of Gold (2014)

30 for 30 is an ESPN series that plays out like documentaries; sports related of course. Fittingly it aired just in time for the 2014 Winter Olympics. This "episode" focuses on the most talked about scandal in sports history: the over-hyped mess of the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding saga.

This production is a strange one. It's intriguing to watch if you remember the hype when it originally happened, but if you only know their names through pop culture and don't really understand any details, this documentary is not a good representation. I imagine it's partly due to the fact that Tonya Harding agreed to be interviewed for this while Nancy Kerrigan declined; which means they could only use archived footage. They do however use the archived footage to make it seem as though Kerrigan was being interviewed for this show; which further portrays Kerrigan in a darker light. The editing is heavily in Harding's favor and they clearly attempt to downplay and excuse her behavior.

Another portion that this film glosses over is the more damning issue of figure skating judges, but I suppose that needs its own documentary.

They do give details that I never knew and the quick updates of the major players is oddly fascinating. The one thing this film is missing is a SHRINK! They have the commentators, the former olympians, the media, and even the prosecutor, but no psychologist to analyze Harding's behavior. A psychologist would have filled in the gaps and made this film more fulfilling to watch.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3417870/?ref_=ttexrv_exrv_tt

Exam (2009)

Another one for the Netflix obsessed! Exam is about an exam, obviously; but the movie is more like a riddle. You find yourself speaking out loud giving your ideas on what should be done. It's probably a lot more fun to watch this movie with someone so that you can express your ideas, but honestly you would end up talking to yourself if you were watching it alone.

With the exception of the one character without a British accent, the acting is pretty decent. No one stands out yet everyone is noticeable.

Mild spoiler ahead...

If there is one thing this movie is missing, it's the lack of definition about the current state of the world. They gloss over the desperation and desire for the available position. There is room for more clarity on the subject through dialogue but even a simple paragraph in the introduction of the movie would be sufficient. Other than that, this movie is fun and not at all scary and barely suspenseful.

It's sometimes difficult to watch movies without many scenery changes. 'Exam' does leave a few unfulfilled wishes but only in the sense that the overarching story leads you to daydream about the possible world the candidates live in.

One thing I would highly recommend is to play along with the movie. Guess who will be the first and who will be the last. It's a terrific ride.

Exam is another hidden gem in the Netflix library!

On a scale of 1-10; Exam is 7.0


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1258197/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1