JUST WILLIAM: The Documentary One

This column begins with a thanks to everyone who got in touch with their answers last week – it made for most enjoyable reading, and made yours truly feel much better about some of this year’s sporting frustrations.

I’m taking a different tack this week: Documentaries. In a year which has been ‘unique’ (to be charitable) one good thing that we’ve seen – as with every summer – has been documentaries. And this had me thinking – what are the best documentaries you’ve seen this summer?

Having been locked down – like yourself and nearly everyone reading this – we’ve obviously had a bit more time to take some deep dives, so I’ve put the ten best documentaries I’ve seen through the summer in a list format below. Don’t take too much notice of the numbering system either – each entrant had something special about it.

I’ve split my top picks into two categories – one for sport and one for all other issues – and the only criteria for your submissions (which we’ll add below as they come in) is that you must have seen the documentary for the first time this summer – we’ll make the start date May.

A content warning for the suggestions below – these aren’t easy watches.

1️⃣ Once Upon A Time In Iraq (KEO Films, BBC)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000kxwq

If you’ve seen this documentary already, or read about it, you know why it’s number 1 on the list. If you haven’t, then you need to see it. So much has been said and written about the Iraq War, but never enough from the people whose lives were torn asunder. This series rights that wrong, but does so much more.

2️⃣ Nixon by Nixon: In His Own Words (HBO/Sky Documentaries)

https://www.sky.com/watch/title/programme/1a020459-a055-4787-a499-887d09febc6a

Whether you love or loathe Richard Nixon, it cannot be denied that he was one of the most fascinating Presidents in history. He also operated like no other occupier of the office, and his conversations – which contain truly appalling amounts of anti-semitism and homophobia, amongst other things – are a sickening yet compelling insight into one of the most memorable presidencies in history. Not for the faint hearted.

3️⃣ The Rise Of The Murdoch Dynasty (72 Films/BBC)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000kxw1/the-rise-of-the-murdoch-dynasty

Now more than ever, we live in a world influenced – and maybe even created, some might say – by Rupert Murdoch. The media magnate who’s had more influence than any mogul since William Randolph Hearst has been the subject of many great books and stories, but once again the BBC manages to give a slick, broad portrait that uncovers new information. Those in the know at Newmarket will be aware of fleeting references towards Charlie Brooks, the husband of Rebekah.

4️⃣ The Regan Show (Dogwoof/Sky Documentaries)

https://dogwoof.com/thereaganshow

Until Donald Trump, it’s fair to say that Ronald Reagan was the TV president. Infact, you might well say he still is – no administration had recorded as much of their activity as Regan’s during his time in office – and by letting historical footage speak for itself, without any talking heads to tell us what to think, The Regan Show provides a literal first hand insight into one of the most unique presidencies ever.

It is a light touch – there is nowhere near enough interrogation of Reagan’s faults, and they are many in the eyes of yours truly – but once you start watching it’s nearly impossible to stop.

5️⃣ Panorama: Escaping My Abuser (BBC)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000lwkz/panorama-escaping-my-abuser

A very recent addition, but a necessary one. It’s a shocking watch – Victoria Derbyshire’s revelation that she ran away from a violent father at home was particularly heart-breaking – but it’s the important and necessary watching which is what we ask of the BBC. If you haven’t seen it, do – it’s not for the faint hearted, though.

SPORTS

1️⃣ The Edge (Noah Media Group/BBC iPlayer)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000lhvt/the-edge

Only one English test cricket side has been ranked Number 1 in the world. Some of the readers here will be fans of test cricket, and regular readers of Ryan Sidebottom’s pieces – so the players who took us to Number 1 will be very familiar to you as we hear from Andrew Strauss, Sir Alastair Cook, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott and the man at the head of it all – Andy Flower – for a journey like no other English cricket has ever taken. Compelling watching.

2️⃣ Diego Maradona (On The Corner/Film 4/Channel 4)

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/diego-maradona

Look at the title and you can already take a guess as to why this film made it here; Few figures in sporting history have had as such a tale as Maradona. That made the job Asif Kapadia did in immersing the viewer through Madarona’s time at Napoli all the more impressive, and this two-hour masterpiece is best described as immersive.

3️⃣ Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist (Madman Films/Sky Documentaries)

https://www.sky.com/watch/title/programme/660fc656-6e33-4cb4-9e28-cfa3db29c218/pantani-the-accidental-death-of-a-cyclist-660fc656-6e33-4cb4-9e28-cfa3db29c218

The most compelling argument I can make in favour of you watching this documentary which I shamefully saw for the first time during May, comes from Paul Bradhshaw of Total Film:

“Essential watching, even for anyone who can’t stand the sport.”

Can’t say better than that. Well worth the two hours.

4️⃣ Ali & Cavett: The Tale Of The Tapes (Cavalier Films/HBO Documentary Films)

https://www.hbo.com/documentaries/ali-and-cavett-the-tale-of-the-tapes

As you can tell by now, I’m a big fan of stories which are taken from just one source. You don’t need me to tell you how great Muhammad Ali is, nor that he was a truly brilliant showman. These tapes of him from the Dick Cavett Show – imagine a US version of Michael Parkinson – provide as good an window into his extraordinary on screen presence.

5️⃣ Take Us Home: Leeds United (The City Talking/Amazon Prime)

Behind the scenes documentaries on football teams have exploded in recent years – I could have picked any number of documentaries here and I don’t think too many would have complained – but the tremendous story of Leeds coming so near and yet so far, along with a splash of Bielsa, means it’s Take Us Home that gets the last spot.

What are your favourites? Do get in touch with your suggestions below and some might make next week’s column. Thanks for reading!

Please get in touch via william@starsportsbet.co.uk !

Best,

William

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Views of authors do not necessarily represent views of Star Sports Bookmakers.

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