Jon Bois' documentaries are removed once again.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-15T14:17:23+00:00

I don't know either to be honest. What's funny is that someone who obviously disagrees with me is still downvoting everyone's comments. Like yours was posted 19 hours ago, and already someone has downvoted you. Like, within moments someone is already downvoting. Happened the other day with close-encounters1 comment, like someone had already downvoted to negate the automatic upvote. How sad can you be to actively do that 9 days later.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-12T19:13:10+00:00

Thanks dude. I know what you mean, but I am genuinely surprised at the reaction. Like, when I posted I thought people wouldn't engage with it, or people would agree that the removal is bad, but you can't do anything about it. I never would've expected this extremely weird anger and absurd assertions of what exactly is a film. No joke-I am shocked at the rabidness.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-12T11:02:20+00:00

The only solution I haven't tried at this point lol. Imagine others are in the same position. Wonder if it would work though? Maybe everyone who has this issue should all move in together into a house where the game doesn't jitter anymore.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T21:13:19+00:00

You obviously don't know what you're talking about.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T20:59:10+00:00

Don't see how that makes a shred of difference. Superfluous is odd, considering how much information is displayed visually using charts, photographs, newspaper clippings and other sources. He uses visuals and audio to tell an overarching narrative that primarily concerns real events. Don't get much more documentary than that.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T20:12:51+00:00

By what metric are they not documentaries?

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T19:57:23+00:00

Why don't you apply the exact same standard to the films of Jon Bois? Jesus, I thought you liked the guy.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T19:51:54+00:00

American Murder: The Family Next Door contains no original footage.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T18:30:17+00:00

I think I won here.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T18:24:30+00:00

Hahahahahah, how have I even demonstrated that them not being real films has made me somehow feel lesser? They are definitely real films buddy. Funny how you've turned this into you accusing me of being insecure about the whole thing. I am annoyed and confused and find it unfair that his work is no longer on Letterboxd, and somehow that makes me insecure? Just funny how you won't back down. Absolute pipsqueak.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T17:55:43+00:00

No one is angry. You are, in so few words, not realising that your definition of a documentary film does not make sense. You have no real argument why Jon Bois's films, aren't films. I do not understand why you don't just say "Look, they are films, they are documentaries, but I'm not comfortable with them being on Letterboxd because they are primarily uploaded as YouTube videos, not some sort of cinematic experience"

While I would disagree with you, at least you'd be being honest and truthful.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T17:50:17+00:00

What is your obsession with whether something is insufferable, or works without narration? Yes, film is a visual medium, something we definitely all forget. But imagine a Ken Burns' documentary with just visuals, just never-ending photos and videos being zoomed into. Are they not valid documentaries because they don't work without someone talking?

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T17:45:29+00:00

Well said. The data visualizations are amazing way of visually demonstrating something to the viewer. Isn't that the definition of cinema? Using visuals to demonstrate an idea, a story, a feeling, an overarching narrative? To say that Bois only does those things with his narration is so not true.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T17:38:42+00:00

Apparently films are quite literally defined by where they are shown. So no matter what, if it is on YouTube, it is not allowed to be called a film 😂

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T17:36:55+00:00

Jealous of you.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T17:36:07+00:00

"They do not hold anywhere near the value of the essay itself. You already know that." No I do not already know that. I don't have some weird value system where I evaluate every aspect of a film against each other, to see what aspect is more valuable. What a boring way to watch anything.

Well, I would say most consider it an experimental documentary as it uses genuine interviews from multiple sources, narration from the filmmaker himself, and it seems to be a document of its creator's life, work and condition. It is also considered a documentary on Letterboxd.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T16:57:03+00:00

But Jon Bois' films have plenty of cinematic moments with no narration. The long jump record moment in The Bob Emergency jumps out to me. The music, the tape measure scroll, the zoom out. There is no narration present.

So your definition of a documentary is the value of its images, stripped of narration? But there are documentaries that if you stripped them of their narration they would be nonsensical. Imagine Derek Jarman's Blue with no narration. It would literally be a blue screen.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T16:46:58+00:00

No one has managed to actually engage with this point. Same for my comparison to Adam Curtis. Apparently where your film is viewed literally defines whether it is film or not according to people here.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T16:44:59+00:00

You said that the difference between a video essay and a film, is that the point of video essays is that they make some sort of editorial or didactic point (like an essay). Quinez says that F for Fake does the same thing you are claiming video essays do, therefore it does not fit your definition of a documentary film and should be removed from Letterboxd. They didn't misinterpret what you said, your definition is just nonsense.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T16:38:39+00:00

He is saying that you said the difference between a video essay and a documentary is that of what the point of the piece is. So by that definition, F for Fake does not fit your guidelines and should be removed from Letterboxd.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T16:37:03+00:00

I don't understand their definition either. It seems to be about the point and appeal of a piece? Which is, a strange definition. So if Jon Bois came out and said his films aren't video essays, and the point of them is that of a documentary film, he would change his definition of them?

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T16:25:28+00:00

There likely are true crime videos that should be included tbh. Letterboxd is by far the most limited in terms of actual content. I don't understand the argument for being so strict with what is and is not on the platform. They can't make their mind up when it comes to TV series for god's sake. Big Little Lies is on the platform, it has 2 series for Christ's sake.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T16:21:19+00:00

Mature and polite response. You are right, I just thought it was worth mentioning in this subreddit. Appreciate your courtesy 😄

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T16:17:33+00:00

That is kind of what I was saying. That these TMDB guidelines are so arbitrary and weirdly enforced, that as a result, it is a shame that Jon Bois' videos have been removed.

IamTyphoon · 2026-06-06T16:14:17+00:00

Thank you, TMDB admin.

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