Matt_1976

Wild Wild West is a masterpiece in complex storytelling. What this team have pulled off is a brilliant body of work that grows and grows, hits hard at times, slows down and lingers with you long after the credits fade. The catalogue of media and b-roll alone is mind boggling and as a film maker I'm in awe of the effort that has gone into this and no-doubt the exhaustive hours behind the scenes - collating, sifting, selecting, editing it all in - along with the in-depth interview material which was superbly directed. Wild Wild West is a testimony to the power of storytelling. When done right, it brings so many layers to life that makes us stop, think, reflect and wonder. Bravo to all involved, you should forever be proud of pulling this one off.

Firstly don't get me wrong this true story of survival by these brave children so young and so vulnerable for 40 days in the Amazon is an incredible one. However the documentary was extremely dragged out and unnecessary and should've been told in a much shorter format - nit a feature length. It was also disappointing to research after that many of the facts weren't covered correctly and were in fact contrived or missing completely. It was moving that the children were able to survive the ordeal, that's the real story and this detail would have been more interesting to learn about rather than focusing on the rescuers themselves for the entire documentary. The children are the real heroes and these unique indigenous jungle skills they used in order to survive for 40 days was skimmed over. A decent story but let down due to these reasons.

As a documentary filmmaker myself that loves soaking up the genre, I was totally absorbed by American Manhunt: The Search for Osama bin Laden. It's a masterclass in storytelling - seamlessly blending an engaging, complex narrative and world class production techniques that feels both cinematic and deeply informative.

The level of detail and cohesion across such an immense body of material is extraordinary. From the tragedy of 9/11 to the final raid, the series unpacks the manhunt with precision, clarity, and tension. The edit is tight, the cast of interviewees is extensive and well-chosen, and the tone is pitch-perfect throughout.

This is high-calibre documentary work - a triumph of structure, research and emotional weight. Huge respect to everyone involved. If you appreciate exceptional documentary craft, this one deserves a spot high on your list.