Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press on Netflix June 23

I never watched the footage of Hulk Hogan that is the linchpin of this documentary, but I have definitely witnessed the downward spiral of media trust in its aftermath. Gawker posted a lot of questionable content and salacious gossip, as its name might lead one to assume, but they also provoked mainstream media channels to ask tougher questions. I was sad to see them go, especially as the casualty of a rich dude's ego. Unpresidented…


Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press debuts on Netflix June 23

When the online tabloid Gawker posted a surreptitiously filmed sex tape of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, it ignited a high stakes legal battle that pit privacy rights against the first amendment. The staggering verdict bankrupted Gawker and its founder Nick Denton, but also exposed a shadowy figure behind the scenes -- Silicon Valley venture capitalist Peter Thiel. Nine years earlier Gawker had outed Thiel on its site and the furious billionaire had been waiting for his chance to destroy them.

The Florida trial happened against the backdrop of a contentious election. Thiel’s battle with Gawker, along with Sheldon Adelson’s secretive purchase of the Las Vegas Review–Journal and President Trump’s treatment of journalists, portend a sinister trend threatening a free press and has brought to light a potential threat to democracy. Are the very wealthy thwarting the First Amendment to silence critics? In an age of extreme inequality, how vulnerable is a free press that has lost most of its traditional sources of income? Perhaps most frightening, what could a billionaire with the executive branch at his command do to those who have angered him?

Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press is directed and executive produced by Brian Knappenberger; produced by Luminant Media and SubLA; in association with The Filmmaker Fund and Field of Vision. The film premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.

Celebrate Earth Day with Planet Ocean

There's one thing that consistently bums me out about living in Kansas. We're totally landlocked. I was born and grew up with easy access to the ocean and my kids don't have that in their lives. Of course, they have a vast and open sky and plains that go on forever to make up for that but they won't grow up with the beach in their blood.

Today is Earth Day and I plan to celebrate with my family by thinking about the ocean. We recently received a copy of the excellent documentary Planet Ocean, which was released on Blu-ray and DVD last week. Directed by highly-acclaimed photographer, filmmaker and environmentalist Yann Arthus-Bertrand and narrated by actor Josh Duhamel, Planet Ocean provides a gorgeous look at ocean life across the globe, with sweeping aerial and underwater cinematography that allows you to see marine life as you never have before. Especially if you live in Kansas!

This trailer does not feature the vocal stylings of Josh Duhamel but you can get an idea of the epic scope that the filmmakers have captured:


How are you celebrating Earth Day? 


In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that we received product samples to facilitate this review. No compensation was provided. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

Disneynature's Chimpanzee

Here in Wichita, we are lucky to have a very nice primate habitat, including many chimpanzees, at the Sedgwick County Zoo but I'm anxious to see their antics in the wild. I'm looking forward to celebrating Earth Day 2012 with the release of Chimpanzee, a live-action adventure following the trials and triumphs of a young chimp named Oscar growing up in the African forest. It's the fourth film from Disneynature, following in the illustrious footsteps of recent hits such as “Earth,” “Oceans” and “African Cats” as well as Walt Disney classic True-Life Adventures like “Seal Island” (1948), “Beaver Valley” (1950), “The Living Desert” (1953) and “Jungle Cat” (1958).

Click the images below to download an activity guide and a parent/educator guide to enhance your viewing experience:

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I did not receive any incentive for posting about this film. I just like chimpanzees. All opinions are, as usual, strictly my own. 

Freakonomics in Select Theaters Today

Freakonomics is the film adaptation of the bestselling eponymous book by economist Steven D. Levitt and journalist/author Stephen J. Dubner. Instead of keeping the study of economics mired in a jumble of numbers, the collaborators created a new category of incentive-based economic theory that encompasses, uh, just about everything you could think of. They dubbed it Freakonomics.

True to the groundbreaking nature of the book, the film adaptation of Freakonomics charged an ensemble of documentary directors to create their own vignettes based on the original book, including Academy Award® winner Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, Casino Jack and the United States of Money), Academy Award® nominees Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing (Jesus Camp), Academy Award® nominee Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me), Eugene Jarecki (Why We Fight) and Seth Gordon (The King of Kong).

In this excerpt, Morgan Spurlock explores just how important the name you choose for your baby can be to their future happiness and earning potential. Seriously hilarious but also worth thinking about.

Freakonomics opens in theaters in select US cities today. Click here to see if it's playing near you. If you're in a smaller city (like me), you can rent Freakonomics on iTunes.


Disclosure: I received a download code to rent and review Freakonomics .

The Horse Boy on PBS tonight

I've been a big PBS viewer since I was little but it's especially important to me to support KPTS, the only public television station in Kansas, since our state legislature has approved a measure to cut funding by 50%. (If you live in Kansas, why not use this form to relay your displeasure about this to the Governor?)

Anyhow, I wanted to tell you about Independent Lens, the weekly PBS series that is your in-home independent film festival. Tonight's featured documentary is The Horse Boy, the story of an autistic boy who finds his connection to the outside world through horses. The Horse Boy gives insight into the autistic mind first in Rowan's native Texas and then on his epic journey through outer Mongolia to seek guidance from traditional shamanic healers.



Be sure to check your local listings tonight for The Horse Boy.

Disclosure: I received a DVD of this film to preview.