4v291o

What is considered to the be the toughest ultra marathon on the planet takes place each year at a state park in eastern Tennessee near Knoxville. All you have to do is complete 5 loops of an off-trail 20-mile course inside a 60-hour time limit. Throw in a dozen quirky race rules along with 54,000 feet of accumulated elevation ascent (and descent) and you understand why that since its inception in 1995, only 17 people have completed The Barkley course. Pretty cool feat that they made this doc happen since the race is a secretive-invitation-only event limited to 35 runners.

Second time around with this one. I had forgotten what a great ing performance Phillip Seymour Hoffman turned in as the beleaguered A's manager Art Howe. Some good scenes where he dug in against GM Billy Beane, and then just withered with resignation. Also the roundtable scene with Beane and the team scouting staff (a number of whom were real MLB guys) was so well done. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill really delivered.

Watched on Tuesday January 2, 2024.

Watched on Tuesday December 26, 2023.

Watched on Thursday April 20, 2023.

Watched on Sunday May 14, 2023.

Watched on Tuesday April 4, 2023.

Watched on Wednesday May 10, 2023.

This doc captures Herzog's miraculous feat of holding the "Fitzcarraldo" shitshow together and seeing it to completion. Loved the part where Klaus Kinski goes fuckin' nuts on the set and threatens a production manager who remains comically nonplussed during the confrontation.

always a pleasure to watch Paul Giamatti work.

Deft use of dark humor to uncomfortably peel off layers of a family's dysfunctional history. The vibe brought back to mind American Beauty (1999).

Benning & Foster are so synced with each other.

Watched on Friday June 23, 2023.

Watched on Monday October 23, 2023.

Sláinte to this gem.

The opening credit sequence alone is staggering as it unfurls the "family tree" that spanned five decades of studio sessions and concert tours with legacy bands. Great collection of interviews, concert footage and storytelling, punctuated with some unexpected animation sequences. These guys deserve to be recognized at the next "Kennedy Center Honors" event.