I collaborated on this article for Off Campus; it was published on the 28th of May.

Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond

“You’ll have noticed Jim Carrey making headlines of late for his seemingly uncharacteristic behaviour and ‘wacky’ statements about life and identity. This 2017 documentary came at just the perfect time, as the public speculated and sought answers. For fans, it was the film about a film they never knew they needed.

Technically, the doc recounts the story of how Jim completely submerged himself into the role of iconic comedian and performer Andy Kaufman some years back, for a biopic he did; told through (very) intimate behind the scenes footage from the set, and cuts to an astute Carrey himself reflecting on the experience.
But it also serves as a deep dive into how the actor feels about his own career, and how everything has culminated to get him to the place he is now.

Jim & Andy is an insightful, relatively untold tale that will have you utterly fascinated. And don’t expect not to have a few laughs, too; our star may have become ‘enlightened’, but he is still as entertaining as ever.”

– Brianna Bullivant

Take Your Pills

“Ever felt like you couldn’t compete with the kid next to you in class that‘s getting straight-A’s, or the colleague in your office that never seems to tire?

According to this documentary, your nemesis may very well be aided by Adderall, the alleged drug of choice for anyone seeking a competitive edge in our hyper-competitive society; be they a gamer, student, banker, sportsperson or media exec.

With one interviewee genuinely expressing that the side effects of Adderall include ‘being awesome at everything’, this documentary reveals a poignant problem occurring across society.”

– Taryn Priadko

The Hunting Ground

“From the same people as ‘The Invisible War’, The Hunting Ground explores the way American college administrations deal with accusations of sexual assault. This 2016 film documents the protests that were happening on college campuses around America in 2015. In the era of #MeToo, this documentary is a must watch.”

– Maegan Hamill

Amanda Knox

“People talk a lot about the perfect crime, and although this one may not take home the title, it is certainly perfect in it’s telling of it.

Without giving away too much because, frankly, this is a film that needs to be watched with an open mind, wiped clean of all predisposition, Amanda Knox is a story of humanity – or perhaps rather, a question of it. What is it? And more importantly, why is there such an absence of it? Humans are certainly capable of committing heinous crimes, but we are also guilty of our open obsession with them, which – when taken to the extreme – can lead to almost equally monstrous behavior.

This illuminating documentary may be about a girl at the center of a murder trial, but it’s also about someone just like you, or me. And whatever that says about us, you get to decide.”

– Brianna Bullivant

Wild, Wild Country

“Wild is probably the only word to describe this docuseries, so named, which tells the incredible true story of events that followed the en masse move of 2000 members of an Indian sex-cult to the small town of Antelope in Oregon, Virginia.

Featuring extensive interviews with Ma Anand Sheela, the larger-than-life private secretary/lieutenant to Indian guru Baghwhan Shree Rajnesh and various other devotees (including one from Australia) this docuseries paints a vivid and nuanced picture of the unreal occurrences that followed the cult’s move to America, as well as the motivations behind them.”

– Taryn Priadko

Fearless

“Fearless chronicles the wins and losses of Brazilian riders across the United States 2015 Professional Bull Riding (PBR) circuit.  It has only 6, 45-minute episodes so it’s easy to watch from start to finish in one weekend. You also don’t have to be into bull riding to find this show exciting, because Fearless isn’t just about bull riding, it’s the story of human perseverance and being able to continue to hop on the bull even though they know they will be injured. And trust me, there is nothing like watching those 8 seconds in slow motion when someone is trying to stay on a bull!”

– Maegan Hamill

Seeing Allred

“Seeing Allred gives us a biographical insight into the formidable Gloria Steinem, a civil rights lawyer and champion of women that has come up against Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, and Donald Trump, and the harrowing personal trauma that has made Allred the advocate that she is today.

As stories of sexual harassment and violence continue to rise to the fore, Gloria Allred provides a timely reminder that ‘power only understands power’.”

– Taryn Priadko

Flint Town

“This in-depth docuseries takes a hard look at the experiences of residents of Flint, a town in  Michigan that was hit by a water crisis in 2014. It predominantly follows the city’s local police officers as they struggle to deal with a town ravaged by poverty and one of the highest violent crime rates in America, all the while local government is cutting funding to their department. It is glaringly obvious to them, and the viewers, that the community is disillusioned with its Force, however, the creators of the series are more sympathetic of their plight, which at times seems futile.

Stories like these are the reason we have investigative journalism and film-making.”

– Brianna Bullivant

Mercury 13

“Mercury 13 tells the story of thirteen female American pilots that underwent the same rigorous testing as the men NASA selected to be astronauts (often outshining their male counterparts) but, because of their gender, never realised their dream of going into space.

If you loved the 2016 film ‘Hidden Figures’, this is the documentary for you.”

– Taryn Priadko

Reggie Yates Outside Man

“Reggie Yates Outside Man is a 2 season series exploring issues around the world such as poverty, racism, addiction, and teen modeling. This award-winning filmmaker attempts to make these issues more interesting for a younger generation and, honestly, I think it’s working.

If you like Louis Theroux, you should watch this.”

– Maegan Hamill

Icarus

“You’ve heard about the Russian doping scandal that rocked the 2014 Sochi Olympics, now find out the incredible story of the American cyclist that found himself plunged into the scandal and harbouring a whistle-blowing Russian scientist.

This is a story that you really have to see to believe.”

– Taryn Priadko

Evil Genius

“Netflix’s recently-dropped true crime docuseries is being called the next ‘Making A Murderer’ (and, warning, if you don’t know what that is, you’re clearly in the wrong place). Evil Genius is the classic did they/didn’t they story packed with a few absurd twists, none of which you will see coming. The series leaps from an unconventional bank heist to an alarming double-murder plot; all ends seemingly leading to the same toxic love triangle. Captivating, disturbing and bewildering, Evil Genius will have you scratching your heads from the first episode. And don’t forget to source out a viewing-budding before diving in, you’ll be sorry not to have someone to hurriedly discuss theories with between credits.”

– Brianna Bullivant

Dirty Money

“Exposing blatant acts of corporate corruption, this investigative docu-series looks at six true stories of business scandals and shady dealings that will leave your blood boiling and your mouth agape. The series culminates in a must-watch finale entitled ‘The Confidence Man’, a ruthless peek behind the curtain into the business dealings that culminated in President Donald Trump becoming, well, the President of the United States.

Not a consumer sceptic? You will be.”

– Taryn Priadko