3 Excellent Netflix Documentaries to Binge-Watch This Weekend (November 13-15)
It's been a great time for Netflix documentaries in November. So far this month, Netflix has released Taken: Natalee Holloway, a true crime series about a missing person's case, and Avedon, an informative movie about a legendary photographer. And if those don't pique your interest, here are three more documentaries to consider.
1. Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom
A basketball star comes back to life. An NBA fan like me recognizes the name Lamar Odom, a tall, lefty forward who played 14 seasons. After breaking out for the Los Angeles Clippers and a short stint with the Miami Heat, Odom went to the Los Angeles Lakers and achieved the most success of his career. With the Lakers, Odom played for two championship-winning teams (2009 and 2010) and won the Sixth Man of the Year Award (2011).
Odom is so far removed from the game that some people might associate him more with the Kardashian family than basketball. In 2009, Odom married Khloé Kardashian after dating for one month. Odom then became a reality star in the process because of his high-profile relationship. Behind the scenes, Odom was struggling, and his battles are examined in Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom. The Netflix documentary depicts Odom's tumultuous life outside basketball, which was often defined by heavy drug use.
When you learn about Odom's struggles, it's a miracle that he's still alive. In 2015, Odom survived an overdose after suffering 12 strokes and six heart attacks. Addiction is a powerful disease, and Odom recognizes how it contributed to his health scares. The Death & Life of Lamar Odom is a harrowing depiction of a man's struggles to fight back against his inner demons.
2. Unprotected: Murder in Galicia
On Nov. 13, Netflix will release Murder in Galicia, a three-part crime series about a survivor of a brutal attack who dies in a hospital 37 days later. It's a crime that feels too real to be true. If you share this sentiment, then your instincts are correct. Murder in Galicia is based on a true crime committed in 2015. If you're searching for the real-life account of the attack, then check out the new Netflix documentary Unprotected: Murder in Galicia.
In April 2015, Isabel Fuentes was attacked in her home in Pazos, a village in Verín, Galicia, Spain. The attackers left Fuentes on the verge of death, and she required immediate medical assistance at a hospital. However, not all the clues add up. Naturally, Isabel's husband, Aniceto Rodríguez, is questioned by the authorities, and his story quickly falls apart. While recovering in the hospital over a month after the attack, Isabel is stabbed to death.
No wonder Netflix wanted to release a documentary about this subject before the drama series. No one would believe the events depicted in the drama were based on a true story. Unprotected: Murder in Galicia is Netflix's way of saying, "See, we are the king of true crime. We have the craziest stories."
3. Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story
I'm not sure if Dane Cook means anything to kids these days. In the early 2000s, Cook might have been one of the five biggest comics on the planet. Cook was selling out arenas on his stand-up comedy tour. He successfully crossed into Hollywood as an actor, starring in Employee of the Month and Good Luck Chuck. Cook even had two comedy albums, 2005's Retaliation and 2009's Isolated Incident, chart in the top five of the Billboard 200. I was always a fan of his "Bless You" rant.
Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story covers Cook's rise and the dark side of his comedian career.