• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

The most dangerous place for a black man in America is in a white man’s imagination.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

“The defense has a certain level of trust in defendant that the government does not.”

This country desperately needs a functioning fourth estate.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

This is dead girl, live boy, a goat, two wetsuits and a dildo territory.  oh, and pink furry handcuffs.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life.

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

Dear elected officials: Trump is temporary, dishonor is forever.

Relentless negativity is not a sign that you are more realistic.

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

Also, are you sure you want people to rate your comments?

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

Republicans: “Abortion is murder but you can take a bus to get one.” Easy peasy.

When we show up, we win.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

“Can i answer the question? No you can not!”

Mobile Menu

  • 4 Directions VA 2025 Raffle
  • 2025 Activism
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / John Cole Presents "This Fucking Old House" / Documentary Update

Documentary Update

by John Cole|  July 11, 202310:37 pm| 53 Comments

This post is in: John Cole Presents "This Fucking Old House"

FacebookTweetEmail

So many documentaries from the previous thread- many of which I have not seen before. I was a little surprised that no one mentioned Koyaanisqatsi.

Regardless, I took all your suggestions into account, and am currently watching… Extraction II with Chris Hemsworth on Netflix.

I have always identified as a straight male, so I don’t know where on the straight to gay continuum this is, but I don’t want to fuck Chris Hemsworth, but if he wanted to hug me and tell me everything is going to be ok I would not decline.

I’ll leave you with that thought.

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Repub Primaries Open Thread: Money, Money, Money, Money
Next Post: On The Road – frosty – Suwanee River State Park (5) On The Road - frosty - Cedar Key, Old Florida 8»

Reader Interactions

53Comments

  1. 1.

    sukabi

    July 11, 2023 at 10:44 pm

    lol.

  2. 2.

    Steeplejack

    July 11, 2023 at 10:46 pm

    Somebody did mention Koyaanisqatsi.

  3. 3.

    NotMax

    July 11, 2023 at 10:59 pm

    Additional title I neglected to toss in yesterday.

    AMC+ or Kanopy or Sundance: Obit.

  4. 4.

    HumboldtBlue

    July 11, 2023 at 11:04 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    Yes they did, and Cole needs to address and rectify this calumny levied against a valued and deeply respected commenter (I forget who it was because I was so fucking annoyed at trying to pronounce Koyaani… however the fuck you say it) and acknowledge it was mentioned.

    Accuracy is all, forsooth.

    And if you need a jolt of a black woman cutting Trump off short, this clip is for you.

  5. 5.

    way2blue

    July 11, 2023 at 11:13 pm

    Late to  the party.  But.

    The Rider [not a documentary, but could be] from Roger Egbert »

    “The Rider,” is the kind of rare work that seems to attain greatness through an almost alchemical fusion of nominal opposites. An account of rodeo riders on a South Dakota reservation, it is so fact-based that it almost qualifies as a documentary. Yet the film’s style, its sense of light and landscape and mood, simultaneously give it the mesmerizing force of the most confident cinematic poetry.

     

    Merchants of  Doubt from Wikipedia »

    …  inspired by the 2010 book of the same name by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway. The film traces the use of public relations tactics that were originally developed by the tobacco industry to protect their business from research indicating health risks from smoking. The most prominent of these tactics is the cultivation of scientists and others who successfully cast doubt on the scientific results. Using a professional magician, the film explores the analogy between these tactics and the methods used by magicians to distract their audiences from observing how illusions are performed.

  6. 6.

    different-church-lady

    July 11, 2023 at 11:26 pm

    I don’t want to fuck Chris Hemsworth, but if he wanted to hug me and tell me everything is going to be ok I would not decline.

    I’ll add a note to your account.

  7. 7.

    different-church-lady

    July 11, 2023 at 11:28 pm

    @HumboldtBlue: ​
    A black woman just showed Trump the door. Literally.

    Black women rock.

  8. 8.

    John Cole

    July 11, 2023 at 11:34 pm

    @HumboldtBlue: was it you

  9. 9.

    Steeplejack

    July 11, 2023 at 11:34 pm

    @HumboldtBlue:

    Deep cut from 2016.

  10. 10.

    Johnb

    July 11, 2023 at 11:35 pm

    once i was looking for a new exercise app, saw hemsworth’s, thought it was just a cynical attempt to build a celebrity app.

    but it turns out that i really love the workouts and the instructors and even though he only shows up very rarely i love him too

  11. 11.

    NaijaGal

    July 11, 2023 at 11:37 pm

    @HumboldtBlue: That made me smile!  I had hoped it was from this year but it happened in 2016.  I’ll take it though :).

  12. 12.

    eclare

    July 11, 2023 at 11:38 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    I thought that looked familiar.

  13. 13.

    BruceFromOhio

    July 11, 2023 at 11:41 pm

     but if he wanted to hug me and tell me everything is going to be ok I would not decline.

    That kinda scratch is good from anyone.

  14. 14.

    Michael

    July 11, 2023 at 11:44 pm

    Yeah.  I would to just want a good hug.

    That would be enough and really great

  15. 15.

    Bupalos

    July 12, 2023 at 12:10 am

    Someone def mentioned Koyaanisqatsi. Actually if I remember recced the trilogy while saying “surely you’ve seen Koyaanisqatsi, but the others are also worth it…”

  16. 16.

    HumboldtBlue

    July 12, 2023 at 12:12 am

    @John Cole:

    It was not, I am wholly unfamiliar with the title or the subject. I wasn’t sure if it was some fusion tentacle-porn-cooking-style-outer-space-fusion-anime or breakfast.

    @Steeplejack: @NaijaGal:

    It scratches an itch.

    Speaking of scratching an itch, nothing screams philosophy like baseball. Here’s Nick Castellanos making his argument for Scooby-Doo being a superhero.

  17. 17.

    Citizen Alan

    July 12, 2023 at 12:12 am

    After decades of grappling with issues of sexuality, I finally reached the conclusion that I am an asexual homoromantic. I don’t particularly want to have sex with anyone. But I crave validation from guys who I think are good looking and/or cool. I don’t have anything against women. I just don’t crush on them.

  18. 18.

    HumboldtBlue

    July 12, 2023 at 12:17 am

    @Citizen Alan:

    But I crave validation from guys who I think are good looking and/or cool.

    Nice try, but Cole is getting married.

  19. 19.

    Bupalos

    July 12, 2023 at 12:18 am

    @different-church-lady: well, don’t love your framing.

    The pastor was happy to let trump blabble IF IT WOULD SERVE HER PEOPLE. When it turned out he turned it another direction, she cut that off.

    It’s an important distinction. Because the version that is about pwning Trump and the wingers really sells this woman short. She’s doing something mich more important than humiliating Trump.

  20. 20.

    eclare

    July 12, 2023 at 12:21 am

    @Citizen Alan:

    Are you on your way to Cali?

  21. 21.

    patrick II

    July 12, 2023 at 12:26 am

    I am just getting to a recording of tonights ABC evening News. Rachel Scott is doing one of her hallway interviews with Tommy Tuberville. Man is she pissed. I am not sure I have then seen a network correspondent go at a U.S. senator like that. Good for her .

  22. 22.

    Redshift

    July 12, 2023 at 12:29 am

    Interesting. Is Koyaanisqatsi considered a documentary? I wouldn’t argue, but I hadn’t really thought of it as one.

  23. 23.

    Mike in NC

    July 12, 2023 at 12:34 am

    “Thor Ragnarock” is a hilarious movie.

  24. 24.

    UncleEbeneezer

    July 12, 2023 at 12:35 am

    Put Brian Tyree Henry (Paper Boi from Atlanta) in that category for me.  He just looks and seems like such a nice guy and probably gives a great hug.  He’s also a really amazing actor.

  25. 25.

    Jackie

    July 12, 2023 at 12:38 am

    @HumboldtBlue: That Preacher is awesome! More of her, PLEASE!!!

  26. 26.

    UncleEbeneezer

    July 12, 2023 at 12:40 am

    On the topic of documentaries:

    Grizzly Man

    Paradise Lost (story of the West Memphis Three)

    OJ: Made In America– The ESPN OJ Simpson documentary

    Jeen-yuhs- The Kanye documentary- it has amazing footage and is fascinating because he really seemed like a fairly normal, nice dude, back in the day.

  27. 27.

    oatler

    July 12, 2023 at 12:50 am

    The Holy Modal Rounders doc  “Bound to Lose” is currently on YT, though without the extras like “Bridge And Tunnel Girls”.

  28. 28.

    dlwchico

    July 12, 2023 at 1:09 am

    I have similar feelings for Montgomery Clift in Red River.

  29. 29.

    NotMax

    July 12, 2023 at 1:19 am

    @dlwchico

    Tyrone Power in Blood and Sand?

    Ramon Navarro in … anything?
    ;)

  30. 30.

    Citizen Alan

    July 12, 2023 at 1:32 am

    @eclare: Leaving friday. Furniture left last saturday, And my SUV leaves tomorrow.

  31. 31.

    Jay

    July 12, 2023 at 1:55 am

    @Citizen Alan:

    I am about 95% cis het.

    I have a type. None of the women I have had a relationship with are my type. It’s all in the EQ that get’s me. So I have had some great relationships with women who arn’t “my type”. Currently married to one that I love insanely.

    Over the years, I have met a few men who hit that 5%, but it’s all EQ and not looks.

    You do you.

  32. 32.

    Major Major Major Major

    July 12, 2023 at 2:02 am

    Was just thinking about that the other day. Not what I’d call a documentary though exactly.

  33. 33.

    AJ of the Mustard Search and Rescue Team

    July 12, 2023 at 2:20 am

    @Citizen Alan: I think this is a great distinction.

  34. 34.

    AJ of the Mustard Search and Rescue Team

    July 12, 2023 at 2:23 am

    I could use a good hug period. Stressing with financial anxiety. Self employment is a roller coaster. I will likely be ok but ugh.

  35. 35.

    Tony Jay

    July 12, 2023 at 4:39 am

    I thought exactly the same thing about Chris Hemsworth too, and at first it was everything you’d imagine; thoughtful, funny, surprisingly lemony, but after a couple of hours of very comfortable snuggling and one too many Tim Tams he always – always – starts in with the “Why didn’t you want to lift my hammer, Liam?” bitterness and it all quickly spirals into spittle-flecked rants about “Wouldn’t even grow a proper beard!” and “Cavill’s cast-offs are laughing at you, bro!“. Couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

    You’d be better off doing what I did and sticking with Scarlett. If you can divert her away from yet another circuit of the “Did you know I write and perform my own songs?” carousel and never, ever, ever mention how funny you think Ryan Reynolds is (Yikes!) she cuddles like a giggly, room-temperature collection of perfectly plumped pillows.

    On the topic of documentaries, I don’t know if it’s available on BBC America (or whatever you guys have over there) but we’re enjoying both ‘Gravity and Me – The Force That Shapes Our Lives‘ with Professor Jim Al-Khalili and ‘Magic Numbers: Hannah Fry’s Mysterious World of Maths‘ with the eponymous Doctor Fry. Parts of the gravity one Blew My Tiny Mind, and I’ll freely admit that, quite apart from her obvious love for and affinity with the awesomeness of maths, I could listen to Fry read The Collected Works of Buzz Killington and still have to pull the car over every ten minutes for a breather.

  36. 36.

    Matt McIrvin

    July 12, 2023 at 7:29 am

    @UncleEbeneezer: and he’s the voice of Miles’ dad in the Spider-Verse movies.

  37. 37.

    Matt McIrvin

    July 12, 2023 at 7:31 am

    @Mike in NC:

    “Thor Ragnarock” is a hilarious movie.

    The sequel was disappointing though–it’s as if there was a threshold of silliness beyond which the audience would stop caring, and Ragnarok went right up to that line but Love and Thunder stepped over it. It also didn’t have Hulk, and the double act of Thor and Hulk was a lot of made the earlier one work.

  38. 38.

    JML

    July 12, 2023 at 8:20 am

    @Matt McIrvin: Part of the problem with the Thor movies is there’s this segment (especially in the critic commentariat) that craves the silliness, and wants the films to lean in on it so they can talk about how “fundamentally dumb” super-heroes and comics are. This has only gotten worse in the current era, where the critics are sick of having to go to and review these movies that most of them didn’t like from the jump. But there’s also a significant part of the fanbase that wants the lean in to the mythological aspects and the epic nature of Thor as a character. And the two things are very hard to mix.

    Ragnarok handled it well, but even there it had fractures (casually killing off the Warriors Three like they were a joke, and not understanding the setup behind Skurge at Gjallerbru for why it’s such a big moment in the comics and expecting people to go wild for it in the movie). Love & Thunder tossed out a lot of the character growth for Thor both in Ragnarok and in the Avengers movies that followed so it could be silly again and have bumbling oaf Thor, which falls flat.

    Ah, well.

  39. 39.

    Citizen Alan

    July 12, 2023 at 9:33 am

    @JML: Ragnarok was one of my favorite MCU movies, but I utterly hated L&T. My pet theory is that it was all chris hemsworth’s fault. He loves doing comedy, but seldom gets to do so as an action star. And he had way too much fun playing party thor in the thor centric what if episode. So he insisted the next thor movie be like that. The problem wasn’t the presence of comedy, but rather the fact that it was all sophomoric, almost frat boy comedy. And worse, It was juxtaposed against storylines involving terminal cancer and a sympathetic villain who had to watch his daughter starve to death. The whole movie was weirdly schizophrenic.

  40. 40.

    opiejeanne

    July 12, 2023 at 10:01 am

    @Redshift: koyaanisqatsi brings to mind an earlier movie that may have been missed: Mondo Cane. it documents all sorts of human/cultural weirdness.

  41. 41.

    No One You Know

    July 12, 2023 at 10:14 am

    @AJ of the Mustard Search and Rescue Team:

    Right there with you.

    *fist bump

  42. 42.

    Ejoiner

    July 12, 2023 at 10:15 am

    Just wanted to jump in with my $.02:

    Loved Thor Ragnarok – my favorite MCU movie and easily in my top 10 all time favs…

    Also really liked Love and Thunder – thought it was just more of the same and lots of fun…is it perfect? No, but I don’t get the hate…I chalk it up to Waititi backlash…

    And on that topic, just rewatched Hunt for the Wilderpeople…what a glorious, wonderful, silly time :)

  43. 43.

    fancycwabs

    July 12, 2023 at 10:21 am

    So what you wanted to watch was a Dadumentary?

  44. 44.

    tihotm

    July 12, 2023 at 10:29 am

    Didn’t see Fire of Love (Hulu) or The Painter and the Thief (HBOMax) listed. Loved both of them. Are any of you letterboxd fans?

  45. 45.

    Jess

    July 12, 2023 at 10:49 am

    I missed the original documentary thread, so I don’t know if this has been mentioned, but I just watched “Gather” last night (Netflix) and thought it was great. I’m doing a deep dive into sustainability issues b/c I’ve been tasked with creating an interdisciplinary sustainability studies program at my university. I’m realizing that this has been a (often unspoken) driving force in politics the past 30 years, mostly on the corporate right, who are terrified of how this issue will probably overturn everything they believe in. I wish we could start a regular post on the subject here.

  46. 46.

    VOR

    July 12, 2023 at 10:50 am

    re: Thor: L&T vs. Thor: Ragnarok. Here is a video comparing the play within the movie scenes in both movies which explains how one (Ragnarok) served the overall plot while the other (L&T) was a waste of time.

    Re: Documentary. The Netflix series “Dirty Money” is a collection of 1 hour documentaries. One of the people involved is Alex Gibney, the documentary filmmaker behind “Going Clear” and a number of other documentaries. Some of the topics covered in the series are:

    • The Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal
    • The Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist. Did you know there was a cartel controlling the maple syrup market? Think OPEC, but maple syrup.
    • Payday loans.
  47. 47.

    tihotm

    July 12, 2023 at 11:00 am

    Fire of Love (Hulu) and The Painter and the Thief (HBOMax)

    Anybody here a fan of letterboxd?

  48. 48.

    Steeplejack

    July 12, 2023 at 11:27 am

    @opiejeanne:

    Great theme song. Won a Grammy.

  49. 49.

    BigJimSlade

    July 12, 2023 at 11:37 am

    Don’t you have to see Koyaanisqatsi at an iMax theater for full effect?

  50. 50.

    Steeplejack

    July 12, 2023 at 11:37 am

    @tihotm:

    Hadn’t heard of it. Will look into it.

  51. 51.

    Raoul Paste

    July 12, 2023 at 12:17 pm

    Not even Christian Bale could save Love and Thunder

  52. 52.

    JML

    July 12, 2023 at 12:22 pm

    @VOR: as amusing as i found the plays in both movies, the second had a lot of “people loved it the first time so we’re doing it again!” stink on it. If there’s anything Hollywood is good at it’s running back a good gag until it’s not funny any longer…

  53. 53.

    Manyakitty

    July 12, 2023 at 11:00 pm

    @opiejeanne: oh those chicks in Mondo Cane. 😬

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

On The Road - 🐾BillinGlendaleCA - The Aurora and the Comet 1
Image by BillinGlendaleCA (12/12/25)

2026 Pets of Balloon Juice Calendar

PLEASE REVIEW YOUR INFO ASAP

Recent Comments

  • sab on Friday Night Open Thread (Dec 13, 2025 @ 2:13am)
  • Eolirin on Open Thread: Harass the GOP Retreat! (Dec 13, 2025 @ 1:25am)
  • RaflW on Open Thread: Harass the GOP Retreat! (Dec 13, 2025 @ 1:08am)
  • wjca on War for Ukraine Day 1,387: Putin Does Not Recognize Anyone Else’s Sphere of Influence and Near Abroad (Dec 13, 2025 @ 1:01am)
  • NotMax on Open Thread: Harass the GOP Retreat! (Dec 13, 2025 @ 12:58am)

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
On Artificial Intelligence (7-part series)

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)
Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Balloon Juice Mailing List Signup

Social Media

Balloon Juice
WaterGirl
TaMara
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
DougJ NYT Pitchbot
mistermix
Rose Judson (podcast)

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Privacy Manager

Copyright © 2025 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!