Capturing the Friedmans

Anyone still wondering what all the fuss is about with documentaries should take a look at Capturing the Friedmans. What starts off seemingly as a heartwarming account of a suburban family that enjoys capturing their quirky day-to-day lives on film soon reveals itself to be an unsettling exposé on paterfamilias Arnold Friedman, who may or may not have molested dozens of his pupils in the 80s with the aid of his son Jesse. Making the whole experience all the more disconcerting are the inconsistent accounts put forward by police officers and alleged rape victims, as well as the unexpected revelations that emerge throughout the court trials. Less a documentary about abuse, more about how obscure a concept the truth really is.

5/5  

22 Jump Street

Much like its two protagonists, 21 Jump Street was a buddy cop movie that posed as a hilarious high school comedy. While 22 Jump Street doesn’t quite manage the same hat trick with the college scenario, it does however succeed as a parody of blockbuster sequels that is not afraid to poke fun at itself. As one character notes, nobody gave a shit about the Jump Street reboot to begin with, but after its unexpected success a lot of money has been invested to make sure this program keeps going (wink wink). The movie is made all the more enjoyable by Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum’s side-splitting and occasionally touching bromance.

3/5