Into the Abyss; Bully; Searching for Sugar Man

Into the Abyss – Dir. & Scr. Werner Herzog
Bully – Dir. Lee Hirsch; Scr. Lee Hirsch & Cynthia Lowen
Searching for Sugar Man – Dir. & Scr. Malik Bendjelloul

Recently, at the Wellington International Film Festival, I took in a documentary threesome. All three reminded me how documentaries can move an audience and how powerful a voice a documentary filmmaker can have. And, no, I’m not talking about the likes of Michael Moore, who is too fond of seeing himself on scene for my liking. A good documentary doesn’t force a message down your throat. And while all filmmakers have a bias, a good documentary filmmaker owns up to it but doesn’t let it overpower the story. Into the Abyss, Bully and Searching for Sugar Man – three very different films – succeed to varying degrees. And when they do truly succeed, it’s quite something.

Into the Abyss is the latest from Werner Herzog (Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Grizzly Man, Encounters at the End of the World) and is an examination of why people kill and, in turn, why the state kills. Following the story of death row inmate Michael Perry (who is scheduled to die within days of filming), his crimes and those affected by his crimes, Herzog explores murder and capital punishment in a very personal way.

Bully is Lee Hirsch’s look at peer-on-peer bullying in American schools. He tells the tragic story of youngsters who take their own lives because of the trauma they experience at the hands of other kids. He also follows a few victims of bullying in their day-to-day lives, notably a socially awkward teenage boy called Alex. We are asked to not only examine and question the actions of the bullies, but the inaction of parents, school administration, law enforcement and communities.

Searching for Sugar Man is Bendjelloul’s debut film and follows the story of two South Africans who set out to discover what happened to 1970s singer/songwriter Rodriguez. Virtually unheard in the US, his homeland, Rodriguez is a legend in South Africa. A mysterious legend who they know next-to-nothing about. That’s all the description I’m willing to give. Trust me, the less you know about this movie going in, the better.

The filmmakers in each of these movies are largely invisible – just a voice asking a question. And, in my mind, the relative success of each film is largely based on how much they attempt to direct our outrage or opinion. Or, in the case of Sugar Man, how much they choose to reveal to the audience as the story is told.

For my money, Into the Abyss is the most successful of the three. Perhaps it is helped by having a seasoned pro at the helm. Herzog is a master. But even I was surprised by how little he seeks to colour proceedings. We know very early on his bias – he tells Perry he does not think the state should kill. And I know from interviews with Herzog that he is vehemently opposed to capital punishment. But he does not preach to the viewer. Into the Abyss is a grim, powerful, poignant film in which we are left to make our own judgments and reach our own conclusions. Without question, one of my films of the year.

The least successful is Bully. It is compelling and moving, for sure. But I felt hammered by the director. It’s hard-hitting and, I suppose, that’s the whole point. Hirsch’s aim, it seems, is to shame as many of the “baddies” of the story as possible. At times, it is less a film, more a campaign. But in its quieter moments – as we follow Alex in his efforts to simply blend in, or when we are introduced to a mature-beyond-his-years boy whose best friend killed himself – Bully is extremely human and utterly powerful. Just too selective and manipulative for my taste.

Somewhere beyond Bully but not quite in the same league as Abyss, is Searching for Sugar Man. A film I hadn’t even considered seeing until hearing an excellent and extremely cagey review by BBC Radio’s Mark Kermode. And, boy, I’m glad I did. And I’m even gladder he was so unforthcoming with the details. If you know Rodriguez and his music, this film will be a treat. And, if you don’t (as I didn’t) you’re in for a lovely surprise. Bendjelloul tells the story of the singer, weaving his music throughout the film, through the eyes of some of his biggest fans. And what a story it is. Sure, I’ve no doubt Bendjelloul has been somewhat selective (in fact, I now know this isn’t the whole truth and nothing but the truth). But I simply didn’t care. Sugar Man is an uplifting, amusing, rewarding film. And technically so good that I can’t wait for Bendjelloul’s next outing.

There are a lot of very bad documentaries out there. Preachy, predictable, tedious. These three films have a lot to offer and help to bolster my faith in the genre. I recommend them all.

The Bourne Legacy

Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Stacy Keach, Scott Glenn

Dir. Tony Gilroy
Scr. Tony Gilroy & Dan Gilroy

The Bourne trilogy – Identity, Supremacy, Ultimatum – were smart, visceral, tightly-plotted films. They challenged Bond to step up his game and made Matt Damon a truly bankable star. And I wasn’t really expecting more. So the idea of continuing the Bourne story without, you know, Bourne, was intriguing and a tad terrifying. Legacy is a good film. Some great action, solid performances, a spark of chemistry and a good (if somewhat convoluted) plot. But I left the cinema asking ‘why?’ and lamenting opportunities missed.

Legacy picks up towards the end of Ultimatum. While Bourne has come back to the US and is going after his creators, we are introduced to a couple of his fellow “outcomes”, including Aaron Cross (Renner). Because of Bourne’s actions, their continued existence is a liability. Armed with the knowledge that there is a target on his back and an overwhelming need to get more of the meds that make him what he is, Cross tracks down Dr Marta Shearing (Weisz). Together they try to outrun the shadowy forces that want them dead.

It’s not an easy story to summarise into a paragraph. The first 30 minutes are a whirlwind of intel and jargon. I don’t really see how this would be a rewarding movie-going experience if you hadn’t seen the first three instalments and some would say that’s a major flaw. I don’t disagree, but I have bigger fish to fry here. While it moves along at a clip and is a compelling film, Legacy really misses out on an opportunity. By the end of the film, the story is near identical to Identity. I just don’t know where they can go from here. What makes Bond work so well and for so long is that he is employed by someone. Sure, he falls out with his bosses frequently. But, ultimately, he’s answerable to something. What we have here is another story of a highly trained agent who wants to break free, does so, and now what? I fear the next film, if there is one, will be a rehash of Supremacy. And so on and so forth. They really missed a trick on potentially taking this story in a very different and interesting direction. And while the action scenes are thrilling, they are also copies of what we’ve seen before. In fact, the last hour is so similar I thought I was in the wrong film.

Having said all that, there are elements introduced in Legacy that viewers can really sink their teeth into. The conspiracy we have come to know in the first three Bourne films is certainly more sinister and far-reaching than we ever thought.

What I really can’t fault are the performances on offer. Renner is star waiting for a star-making vehicle. I’m not sure this is it, but he shows here that he can easily carry a big budget film and do so with depth and charisma. Weisz is extremely good in support and takes to the action like a fish to water. What’s more, there is palpable chemistry between them that draws the viewer in. Norton, the baddie of the piece (although, baddie is a relative in the Bourne universe), is cold and calculating and very good indeed. Characters from the previous films are incorporated with finesse.

Legacy is a good film. But, when it comes to Bourne, I expect more than good. I expect new and surprising and intriguing and thrilling. What we have is largely a rehash, which is disappointing. I will, however, watch with interest to see what they do next. Maybe Renner and Damon in a double-act big-bang finale? Stranger things have happened.

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Eric Byer: Jason Bourne was just the tip of the iceberg.