Our pick this week comes from relatively unknown director Chris Bell.  Unknown, perhaps, but still exceptionally talented at putting together a thorough, interesting, funny, touching documentary about the ups and downs of steroid abuse in the United States. 

Bell turns the spotlight on his family, particularly his brothers and himself, to give us a rare human insight into what the youth (mainly young men) of the United States are subjected to, simply by being members of this society.  It follows the choices he and his brothers make regarding the illegal drug, and the effects those choices have on their lives and the lives of their families. 

Much as Super Size Me pointed the finger at big corporations yet also at consumers, Bigger, Stronger, Faster approaches the issue from both sides of the fence, and Bell does an admirable job of trying to make his documentary as unbiased as possible.  Many of the most serious and morally interesting points are made simply by his examination of the facts regarding steroids, which for some may be eye-opening, to say the least.  His indictment of the United States (steroids are a by-product of our ideology) is timely and acute, and speaks to a host of issues, far beyond steroids, that are affected by our imperialistic American perception of the world. 

Bell's style is sharp and sparse, and while he doesn't provide all the answers, he certainly asks many of the right questions, not the least of which is: why are steroids illegal?  If you think that's an easy one to answer, give Chris Bell an hour and forty minutes of your time... he just might change your mind.

[If you haven't tried Netflix, find out what you're missing after the jump] 

 

Our Netflix pick this week is a documentary that almost silently made the rounds at independent theaters, called Man on Wire.  It's the story of Philippe Petit, a French wire walker who managed, almost through sheer force of will alone, to tie a rope between the twin towers (then still standing in 1974) and walk across it.  It's not the newest of releases, but it's one that many of you may not have seen.

I had never heard of this (quite historical) moment before glancing in my local rag (The Alibi) and seeing it playing at my local independent theater.  It actually ended up being a first date of sorts, which was made all the better by the fabulousness of this film, which follows Petite and his friends (cohorts) as he follows his dream. 

What makes the film truly shine are the people whose lives we are entreated to enjoy for an hour and a half.  Petit's friends (and the people he meets along the way), and especially Petit himself (his manic, eccentric delivery is a highlight), are beautiful in their simplistic humanity.  Petit's obsession with the feat that in the end he accomplishes tests the limits of his relationships, friendly and romantic, yet Petit will not be moved from his task.  His singular vision and almost claustrophobic telegraphing toward his one goal is at once amazing and humbling.  Would that I had even a tenth of the drive, even to finish one class, much less test the limits of my own humanity and ability in such a profound yet simple way.  Man on Wire is insightful in its capacity for expressing the simplistic nature of human thinking and how it can force us into ever-deepening corners of complexity from which often we do not escape.  But Petit does, and gloriously, beautifully, powerfully.

Man on Wire will run you through the gamut of emotions, and will inevitably overcome you with its singular, shining vision of hope.  In a time where we are all being tested in our own personal ways, Man on Wire reminds us that we are still human, and that in itself is amazing.  Our Netflix pick.

[ Try Netflix Free for 2 weeks, more info after the jump... ] 

This begins a new, weekly series of posts called Netflix Pix. Seeking to weed out the cinematically terrible from the Terifik, our goal in this is to help you identify the truly unmissable new releases on Netflix. Our picks may include films that are not actually new, but are simply new to Netflix.  If you have time for only one movie on the weekend, we hope to help make your decision a little easier. 

This first Netflix Pix may seem like a no-brainer of sorts.  The Dark Knight was loved by critics in general, and adored by fans the world over (except in third world countries where, you know, rice is more important than an outing to your local non-existent movie theater).  So while this pick might seem a bit, well, cheap if I may, the reasons for it are not.
 
Inevitably, there will always be contention about who actually IS Batman.  Is it Michael Keaton?  Christian Bale?  Adam West?  Certainly not Val Kilmer or George Clooney.  Everyone will have their opinions, as do I, but there's simply no denying what Christopher Nolan has done with the series.  With his films, based on The Dark Knight series of Batman comics, Nolan has (and is one of the few comic book directors to do so) taken Batman seriously.  While no one could dispute the wonderful characterizations, comedy and style of the first two Batman films (starring Keaton), neither of them, and especially not their sequels, really took Batman seriously.

Where Batman Begins was an intelligently directed, darkly conceived origin tale, The Dark Knight moves beyond it in terms of scope, audacity and sheer power.  Christian Bale, back as the bat, sinks deeper into his portrayal of both Bruce Wayne and Batman, and the second time around, since we already know him in the role, we can just sit back and enjoy his gritty performance.  Aaron Eckhart does an admirable job in his descent from white knight Harvey Dent to morally depraved half-human Two-Face.  Much has been made about Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker, and I'm certainly not going to go against the grain.  Ledger's performance is nothing short of genius.  It elevates the film beyond what could have been merely the second coming of Batman Begins.  Ledger's Joker is a calculating, searing whirlwind of nefariousness (yes, nefariousness).  Posthumous Oscar, no question.  Almost everyone else, from the always fabulous Morgan Freeman to the understated Michael Caine, is wonderful as well.  The film does falter in its portrayal of Rachel Dawes, which is sad because Maggie Gyllenhaal is certainly capable with a better script.  And this may be my own personal gripe, but with the attempted realism of the rest of the film, I found Harvey's Two-Face face a little too over-the-top.

Minor gripes aside though, from the stunning IMAX action sequences to the psychological framework, from the killer script to the killer clown, from the... well, you get the idea.  It's a gem.  My Terifik Netflix pick of the week!

[ Find out why Netflix is so great after the jump... ]