![]() Why it's worth a watch: A piece of history that many of us just don't know about, this is one of many examples of sexism that’s so ingrained in our collective past that we don't realize it. Dubbed the Mercury 13 – after the first US space mission, Mercury – these women underwent the same rigorous testing as their male counterparts, and yet were denied the chance to take flight. Don’t remember these women? The film explores why that’s the case, revealing the truth behind their absence in history. "Stand-up is dissecting humanness and the flaws of being a human," one woman says in Killin' Is Easy, and by that characterization the film is beautifully human.The documentary: Tackling a topic that sadly still permeates our culture, Mercury 13 is nevertheless a must-see, diving into the reality of being a female astronaut in the '60s. The price of authenticity is on display here, with the extremely authentic and genuine O'Neal alienating so many around him through never compromising his identity. His friends in the comedy scene may have loved him, but they're completely honest that "he was a f***ing a**hole," as one comic says O'Neal would hardly disagree, often saying "I'm a complete misogynist" and wondering why anyone would be with him. Though he was hilarious, he was also arrogant, sexist, rude, and hard to work with. He wanted the truth." Combing through the years of O'Neal's stand-up career with extremely direct interviews with family, friends, and a fiance, Killin' Is Easy documents one of the greatest but also troubled and complicated comedians of all time. "Killing is easy," a friend says, "but that's not what he wanted. Patrice O'Neal died so young, but he was a comic who 'killed,' or did so well his audiences often erupted in laughter he was more interested, however, in being himself. It's certainly only one perspective a queerer, more radical documentary still needs to be made, but in the meantime Pray Away is a necessary and difficult reminder that these traumas exist and must be addressed. Using dated footage and current interviews with an interesting and subtle editing system, the film follows supporters and deniers throughout different phases of their beliefs, detailing the psychological (and sometimes physical) torture the 'pray the gay away' movement has dealt. Religion itself is not on trial here, but rather the intolerance of institutions, megachurch leaders and televangelists who spouted hateful rhetoric which kept generations of people fearful about their own identities. Religions have often made terrible choices based on phobias and fears, with some of the worst regarding LGBTQ+ people and especially ' conversion therapy.' Pray Away documents this abusive, phony practice from the perspectives of those who preached and lived it, revealing how easy it is to be sold a lie in the name of God and family. These are the top ten documentaries of 2021. ![]() Documentaries put a frame around the familiar in this way and push audiences to notice something different than the noise, reminding viewers of the vast array of great stories in our midst so often missed. Life happened very fast in 2021, so it's a true treat when one can slow down and meet interesting people through great art. ![]() So many things are happening across this breakneck culture, and 'the individual' is easily swept up and forgotten in important national and global processes like climate change, the coronavirus, #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, to name only a few. These personal stories are crucial for a society in flux. ![]() Seven of the year's top ten documentaries delve into the lives and careers of diverse people, be they volatile actors, famous footballers, dirty comics, celebrity chefs, human rights activists, or musicians young and old. Whatever the reason, intimate character studies have dominated the documentary landscape this year. ![]()
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