When HBO launched HBO Max, it became a streaming service like Netflix and Hulu. Although the streaming service is still relatively new, HBO itself predates its streaming rivals by a wide margin, and Warner Bros. owns a large number of movies that are only available on the streaming platform.
When you add all of that to the numerous masterpieces from The Criterion Collection, recently released films, each DC title, and a plethora of TV shows, HBO Max becomes a popular choice. Additional evidence might be found in the list of original films that will be released in 2022. HBO published a wide variety of films last year, including both documentaries and movies.
Call Me Miss Cleo
The character of Miss Cleo, a TV psychic from the 1990s, is Youree Dell Harris. This documentary focuses on Miss Cleo and questions if she actually possessed supernatural abilities or merely had the charm and chutzpah to fool people.
On the Psychic Readers Network, her faux-Jamaican accent and unique energy enthralled both believers and sceptics. This documentary investigates the real Youree Dell Harris through interviews with those who knew her prior to, during, and following her transformation as Miss Cleo.
Endangered
Endangered is a documentary about four journalists who report from Mexico, Brazil, and the United States. It is enraging but also motivating. The threats that journalists Patricia, Carl, Sáshenka, and Oliver face—which can range from intimidation to outright violence—are examined in this documentary. Even if they all work in democracies, there is a need to fight for the truth because of online misinformation and the contempt that world leaders have for the media.
George Carlin’s American Dream
The biography George Carlin’s American Dream details the life of the renowned stand-up comic. This film chronicles his 50-year career and shows how, unlike any other comic, he changed and evolved with time, continuing to be relevant even after his death in 2008. He also made appearances in 14 HBO comedy specials and more than 130 times on The Tonight Show throughout the course of his career, which immortalises his work for future generations, in addition to this documentary to honour his legacy.
How to Survive a Pandemic
Given that they experienced this documentary firsthand, How to Survive a Pandemic may not be a film that everyone is ready to view just now. Nevertheless, it is well worth seeing. This documentary explores the specifics of the amount of study and labour that went into designing, approving, and disseminating COVID-19 vaccinations.
Filming for this documentary began in 2020, and it follows the largest public health endeavour in history as it battled a pandemic and government blunders along the way. The labour of researchers, scientists, pharmaceutical corporations, governmental organisations, and crucial frontline workers is highlighted in How to Survive a Pandemic. Even though the COVID-19 epidemic is a topic that most people are familiar with, this movie offers a behind-the-scenes look that many people weren’t able to get.
Katrina Babies
Edward Buckles, Jr. produced Katrina Babies, a documentary that was shot over the course of seven years and shows how Hurricane Katrina affected the kids of New Orleans from the viewpoint of someone who was a child himself. This documentary employs a range of media, including survivor testimonies and home recordings.
Through storytelling and community, Buckles uses his camera to aid in the healing of his city. The documentary Katrina Babies is a personal and insightful look at the adolescence and adult lives of children who were abandoned by the government during a moment of crisis.
Kimi
Angela, an agoraphobic computer genius, attempts to fix bugs in KIMI, a futuristic in-person equivalent of today’s Alexa or Echo. Since most people don’t venture outside in the post-pandemic world, Angela finds romance with Terry, a man who lives across the street. The only person she actually sees in person is him.
She overhears what she thinks is a violent incident one day while at work, and thanks to her access to technology, she is able to confirm her suspicions. When she tries to report the crime, she encounters resistance, learns she must defy her employer to do what is right, and, what’s worse, she must vacate her flat. Being directed by Steven Soderbergh, the movie is undoubtedly elegant and a suspenseful conspiracy thriller.
Love, Lizzo
The documentary Love, Lizzo took three years to produce. It follows the well-liked and gifted star as she experiences the epidemic throughout her Cuz I Love You world tour and as her album Special is being created. Lizzo was able to explore body positivity, self-love, and t he credit she accords to the accomplishments of Black women in depth in this documentary. With an up-close look at Lizzo’s life on tour and her inspiring life narrative, it functions as both a concert movie and a behind-the-music doc.
Moonshot
Cole Sprouse (Walt) and Lana Condor feature in the science-fiction comedy Moonshot (Sophie). While Walt’s desire of visiting Mars is closer to reality than anybody else’s right now, Kovi Industries Student Mars Program, a programme that sends students to Mars, consistently rejects him because they don’t believe he can benefit humanity there.
Mars. Sophie, a no-nonsense college student, is devastated when her boyfriend decides to stay on Mars longer. Conveniently, Walt falls in love with a woman just before she departs for Mars, and he persuades Sophie to purchase a ticket so that he can get aboard. It’s important not to miss this maelstrom of a movie.
Navalny
The novel Navalny tells the tale of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny’s life after being poisoned with Novichok. The documentary chronicles his miraculous recovery and less miraculous arrest after arriving in Russia. He is revered as a symbol of resistance in Russia, like many notable opposition members and protestors, but given that he is still behind bars, his tale may have a tragic conclusion. The ruthless assaults on Ukraine and this documentary’s opportune publication bring to light some unpleasant realities about Putin’s dictatorship.
Santa Camp
A yearly summer camp for professional Santas, elves, and Mrs. Claus is the subject of the documentary Santa Camp. Up until this point, the camp has had relatively little variety. A Black Santa, a transgender Santa, and a Santa with a disability are a few of the newly invited Santas. They all come from different backgrounds and struggle to find their voices in the effort to broaden this adored figure.
The wage difference between Mr. and Mrs. Clause, if she is featured at all, and how Mrs. Clause is frequently overlooked in the Christmas industry are other topics covered in this video. The documentary Santa Camp is a must-watch because it not only immerses viewers in the weird Santa subculture but also makes larger observations about American issues against this surreal yet vivid backdrop.
Say Hey Willie Mays!
Greetings, Willie Mays! recounts the journey of one of the first Black baseball heroes to break down racial boundaries, Willie Mays, from the Negro League to the Major Leagues. This documentary follows him as he fulfils his American Dream both on and off the field. He had a big personality that was made for the spotlight, a brilliant smile, and he enchanted fans all over the country by supporting baseball games and paving the way for future Black sports heroes. Everyone should watch this documentary about his life and journey.
The Fallout
The drama about growing up School shootings are the primary topic of The Fallout. Vada, a young adolescent, is in the restroom when a shooting occurs at her school. She and another student, Mia, hide out in a group during the catastrophe and manage to escape unharmed, unlike others of their peers.
The remainder of the film explores how Vada experiences the fallout from a school massacre as she drifts away from her former companions and gets closer to Mia. The audience observes how these tragedies affect young people’s lives in various ways, frequently leaving them with little trace of their former selves. Even though it’s really challenging to see, this film offers a fascinating look at what teenagers fear most about going to school each day.
The Janes
The Janes is a documentary about a group of women who operate behind the scenes to provide women with safe, legal abortions. They go under the name “Jane” in an effort to hide their identities and avoid detection. This documentary tells the story of seven women who were detained in 1972 for this operation on Chicago’s South Side.
The narrative is compelling, but what makes this video even more compelling is that it includes first-person stories from the Janes, including some who have never spoken up before. With the government attempting to remove this life-saving safeguard, it is extremely crucial to view this documentary about the pre-Roe v. Wade era and what women did to protect one another.
The Princess
In the documentary The Princess, Princess Diana’s tragically brief life is examined in greater detail. She (and her son) are still in the news over 20 years after the beloved Princess of Wales her away under strange circumstances. She became an international legend thanks to her glitz, generosity, and advocacy. The Princess uses current audio and film from archives to depict her life in chronological order. Both fans of Princess Diana and those unfamiliar with her are sure to enjoy this documentary.
We Met in Virtual Reality
We Met in Virtual Reality is a documentary that shows viewers the inner workings of the VR movement and even reveals the intimacy and connection that can flourish in this isolating technological age. The video was shot fully in virtual reality. The observational scenes in this video demonstrate how important this new method of communication has become, particularly in light of the COVID-19 lockdown. Despite being an online documentary, it offers a glimpse into a distinct human experience that will influence next generations.
