Hey folks, Harry here... sort of in the midst of dealing with site funk, notice the missing Sunday Articles... Sigh... Well, at least it wasn't a multi-day ordeal (knock on wood)... Well, Saturday night I had a great party here at Geek Headquarters where I screened a double feature of THE MARK OF ZORRO and EXCALIBUR. There were many adorable femme geeks in the yaaawwwd (said in my best Boston Accent) and none so fair as the lovely Annette Kellerman. In the moonlight, to the sounds and fury of EXCALIBUR... well... The whole scene cried out for Merlin to wake the dragon and make a mist and transform me into the likeness of Leonardo DiCaprio... But... Merlin is not here, dagnamit... So instead... How to awaken the carnal delights of Annette? Hmmmm... Roses and chocolates will not suffice. Neither will silken cloth or jeweled baubles... Nay... Instead, I must draw upon that which is closest to her heart... A documentary on AUTOPSY!!! Sure enough when I put the box in her hands... well... let me let her tell you....
It is I, Annette Kellerman, here to report on a documentary that Harry handed to me just as I was leaving his latest backyard bash. With one of those demented twinkles in his eye he tends to get from time to time, he chuckled,"I think YOU need to check this one out." Without hesitation, I lifted the shiny coverbox to my face, squinting through the darkness, to read the title that head geek deems most appropriate for me to review for the site.
Hmmm...immediate curiousity struck me as the letters (and Harry's intentions) became clear- AUTOPSY:THROUGH THE EYES OF DEATH'S DETECTIVES was definitely meant for me to review!
Now let me begin my backing up and clarifying this "calling" for you a bit. If you are an avid reader of this site, you may have already picked up on the fact that I am a huge fan of gore and splatter flicks. While its not the most conventional hobby for a gal my age, I truly consider every disgusting, gag-inducing effect in such films as a masterpiece. Even the bad ones, because then I constantly wonder what could have been done to make the effect work(a little more pressure for the arterial spray here...a bit more sinew for that dismemberment there).
Now that you are reading, you might be saying to yourself, "Yeah, great, but you're talking about a documentary with real autopsies. That's different."
And I know this! You see, part of my fascination with the human body and its physiology can, in part, be blamed on my education. Like thousands of college students entering various health professions, I was required by the powers that be to pass the most notorious of courses-Gross Anatomy. Over a semester, I dissected three cadavers, carefully and tediously studying each and every part. Sure, it was disturbing, but the challenge of literally delving into a corpse to discover everything that you can about the person once occupying it is amazing. Despite the daunting amount of work and study time that inadvertently desensitized me to the whole dissection process, there were always brief yet frequent moments I would reflect on mortality. I mean, these were people, just like me, just like my friends, like my mom...ENOUGH of that.
So now you know that I'm not just some gore freak who enjoys seeing people disemboweled. I can actually offer a somewhat knowledgable perspective and understanding to the subject matter with which I was presented. Curiously, I sometimes look upon the task of reviewing a film, as almost a sort of autopsy itself. I mean, here you are, faced with the challenge of "dissecting" a "body" of work without "chopping" it into so many "bits and pieces" that the "soul" or the original demeanor of the person...er,uh...I mean film can still be...um...appreciated.
On this particular assignment I found all components to be in excellent condition. Seriously, director Michael Kriegsman has a great documentary on his hands. Focusing on the pathologists who perform the dreaded feat, Kriegsman highlights the importance of autopsies not only in defining cause of death, but also in the research and treatment for patients who suffer from similar conditions.
Each dissection sequence is handled incredibly tastefully-I mean I've seen many an autopsy video, and its never an easy image to let soak into your brain. However, Kriegsman and his crew manage to capture a decidedly non-exploitative view.
In the usual documentary style, images and voices overs of the doctors at work and in interview converge to tell the behind-the-scenes workings of the L.A. coroners department. In a departure from the average slew of autopsy videos, interviews with friends and family members shed light on the lives of the docs who have taken on such a curious profession.
A haunting score by Ira Newborn sets a tone of decency throughout the film that allows you to objectively journey into a rather dark subject-something I really appreciate considering most of the aforementioned autopsy videos I've seen were set to the death metal of some Gwar-garage band.
All of that said, if you're in the mood for a documentary that features shock value in an extremely tasteful and informative format, seek out this video.
Until next time...
Annette
