The film takes viewers on an enchanting journey through the life and legendary career of one of cinema's greatest composers. Directed by John Williams' longtime friend Laurent Bouzereau, it delves deeply into the music that has defined iconic film franchises like “Star Wars”, “Jurassic Park”, and “Harry Potter”. Featuring interviews with esteemed artists and filmmakers profoundly influenced by Williams' timeless compositions, the film explores his extraordinary ability to bring emotion, depth, and grandeur to the screen through his symphonic genius. Archival footage and behind-the-scenes moments illustrate how his unforgettable scores became integral to the movies, revealing just how vital his contributions have been to modern cinema. This intimate tribute captures Williams’ journey from jazz pianist to cultural icon, showcasing the groundbreaking impact of his classical compositions in Hollywood and beyond. From his collaborative masterpieces with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas to his unique approach of composing by hand, "Music By John Williams" highlights the relentless passion and meticulous craft that have defined his career. Personal stories from colleagues, friends, and family, along with moments of Williams conducting before adoring fans, paint a vivid portrait of a man who has shaped our cinematic experiences for over half a century. For anyone captivated by the power of music in film, this documentary is an inspiring and nostalgic celebration of an unparalleled legacy.
The film offers an unprecedented exploration into the life of Elizabeth Taylor, Hollywood's quintessential star. With extraordinary access to Taylor's personal archives and 40 hours of newly unearthed, intimate audio interviews with journalist Richard Meryman, audiences are invited to rediscover, not just a mega star of Hollywood's Golden Age, but a complex woman who navigated lifelong fame, personal identity, and public scrutiny on a global stage from early childhood. These candid conversations peel back the layers of one of cinema's most enduring icons, revealing a woman at odds with her public image, yearning for respect and agency. The film follows the life of an actress who defied the era's expectations by portraying strong-willed women on-screen, offering a nuanced portrait of the intersection of vulnerability and strength.
The saga of a handful of conquerors who built an empire in Central America and invented the methods of one of the very first multinationals. In 19th century Central America, a few entrepreneurial cowboys built an empire that enslaved populations and corrupted governments for over 100 years. The United Fruit Company thrived on unregulated capitalism; this film tells its story and that of its pioneers who feared neither God nor Man, and managed to get away with murder. Until the 1970s, that multinational set up a monopoly by combining violence, repression, corruption, environmental destruction and a formidable marketing machine. It turned an unknown fruit into an instrument of fortune and domination, and created a business model still largely used by today’s tech giants. Using a rich trove of archival footage and documents, including letters to and from lobbyists, telegrams, vintage ads and movie clips, and gorgeous, hand-tinted stills, 'When Banana Ruled' is a story of intrigue that touches on economics, international politics, the history of business and reveals how an array of forces conquered the world through a simple fruit.
The series follows the tragedy that occurred when terrorists attacked at the annual Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. They carried out the attack by placing two homemade pressure cooker bombs which detonated near the finish line of the race 14 seconds and 210 yards (190 m) apart. That resulted in three fatalities and hundreds injured, including 17 who lost limbs. With the help of archive footage, interviews with investigators, witnesses, survivors, and occasional reenactments, it offers details about the FBI investigation into what was quickly deemed a domestic terrorist attack. In the first episode, hours after the blasts, investigators pore over evidence. One photo and a few seconds of footage lead to a breakthrough - and an agonizing choice.
The film follows Opportunity, the Mars exploration rover launched in 2003, affectionately dubbed Oppy by her creators and scientists at NASA. Oppy was originally expected to live for only 90 days but she ultimately explored Mars for nearly 15 years. With access to archival and interview footage with scientists and engineers and re-creations of the rover's treks over the Martian landscape in search of water, we will explore her groundbreaking journey on Mars and the remarkable bond forged between a robot and her humans creators millions of miles away. The narrative interrogates the significance of Opportunity's endurance for the future of interstellar discovery.
In 1971, after being rejected by Hollywood, Bruce Lee returned to his parents' homeland, Hong Kong. Over the next two years, he'd complete four iconic films that would define his legacy, a legacy cut short when he died, stunningly, in the summer of 1973. He was 32 years old. Directed by Bao Nguyen, 'Be Water' is a gripping, fascinating, intimate look at not just those final, defining years of Lee's life, but the complex, often difficult, and seismic journey that led to Lee's ultimate emergence as a singular icon in the histories of film, martial arts, and even the connection between the eastern and western worlds. The film chronicles Lee's earliest days, as the son of a Chinese opera star born while his father was on tour in San Francisco, and then raised in Hong Kong over what became an at times troubled childhood. Sent to live in America at the age of 18, he began teaching Kung Fu in Seattle, and established a following that included his future wife, Linda. His ambition ever rising, Lee eventually made his way to Los Angeles, where he strove to break into American film and television. There, despite some success as a fight choreographer and actor, it was clear Hollywood wasn't ready for an Asian leading man - and so he returned to Hong Kong to make the films that would in fact make him a legend, his international star skyrocketing just as his life was cut short. 'Be Water' is told by the family, friends, and collaborators who knew Bruce Lee best, with an extraordinary trove of archive film providing an evocative, immersive visual tapestry that captures Lee's charisma, his passion, his philosophy, and the eternal beauty and wonder of his art.
This intimate tribute captures Williams’ journey from jazz pianist to cultural icon, showcasing the groundbreaking impact of his classical compositions in Hollywood and beyond. From his collaborative masterpieces with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas to his unique approach of composing by hand, "Music By John Williams" highlights the relentless passion and meticulous craft that have defined his career. Personal stories from colleagues, friends, and family, along with moments of Williams conducting before adoring fans, paint a vivid portrait of a man who has shaped our cinematic experiences for over half a century. For anyone captivated by the power of music in film, this documentary is an inspiring and nostalgic celebration of an unparalleled legacy.