RED OBSESSION- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Russell Crowe narrates this sobering study of how the tastes of China’s nouveau riche are driving up wine prices in France’s Bordeaux region — and pushing out Western customers who can no longer afford it.”
8/23/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.
9/6/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment August 23rd, 2013
OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE SKY- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Directed by a family member of one of the victims, this gripping documentary tells the story of financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, which took the lives of 658 of the company’s employees.”
9/6/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and from mostly everyone else too. TRDB.
10/29/14- A terrific documentary about the Cantor Fitzgerald firm after the 9/11 attacks using interviews with executives of the company and bereaved love ones. Should be a must-see. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment August 23rd, 2013
GOOD OL’ FREDA- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Freda Kelly was just a shy Liverpudlian teenager when she was asked to work for a local band hoping to make it big: the Beatles. In Good Ol’ Freda, the band’s former secretary tells her personal stories for the first time in 50 years.”
9/13/13- Mixed reviews, mostly positive but the NY Times didn’t care for it, saying that it was more coy than candid. TRDB.
Add comment August 23rd, 2013
FIRE IN THE BLOOD- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmmaker Dylan Mohan Gray delves into Africa’s AIDS crisis to put a human face on those caught in the battle over inexpensive, generic HIV drugs. Gray reveals the power of American pharmaceutical companies in the global market and what’s at stake.”
9/6/13- Mixed early reviews– the NY Times felt that the movie deserved a better vehicle for its message. TRDB.
Add comment August 23rd, 2013
BEST KEPT SECRET- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “High school teacher Janet Mino has dedicated herself to helping a group of autistic students overcome obstacles and plan for normal lives. This documentary follows Mino as she prepares her kids — and their families — for the challenges ahead.”
9/6/13- Great reviews all around and in today’s NY Times as well. TRDB.
Add comment August 23rd, 2013
SPARK: A BURNING MAN STORY- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Each year, Nevada’s Burning Man festival gathers revelers for one free-spirited weeklong party in the middle of the desert. Capturing the energy of the festivities, organizers and attendees share their passion for this renowned artistic event.”
8/16/13- A few professional reviews and they are good including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment August 16th, 2013
HERBLOCK: THE BLACK & THE WHITE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this lively documentary, luminaries including Tom Brokaw, Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, Ted Koppel and Jon Stewart salute the remarkable life, career and indelible influence of Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Herbert Block.”
8/16/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. Audiences have liked it a lot. TRDB.
Add comment August 16th, 2013
IN SEARCH OF BLIND JOE DEATH: THE SAGA OF JOHN FAHEY- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Known as the father of American Primitive Guitar, many consider John Fahey to be a foundational figure in American folk music. As both musician and musicologist, Fahey made a fundamental contribution to our understanding and appreciation of such music genres as Delta blues, Appalachian bluegrass and New Orleans jazz.”
8/16/13- Poor reviews in general but an OK one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment August 16th, 2013
DREW: THE MAN BEHIND THE POSTER- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A feature-length documentary film highlighting the career of poster artist Drew Struzan, whose most popular works include the Indiana Jones, Back to the Future and Star Wars movie posters. Telling the tale through exclusive interviews with George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Michael J. Fox, Frank Darabont, Guillermo del Toro, Steven Spielberg and many other filmmakers, artists and critics, the journey spans Drew’s early career in commercial and album cover art through his recent retirement as one of the most recognizable and influential movie poster artists of all time.”
8/16/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times, mostly because the film did not delve into anything less than positive about the subject. Other critics agreed with the rating. TRDB.
Add comment August 16th, 2013
OUR NIXON- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Nixon himself wasn’t the only one obsessively recording his presidency; three of his top aides were filming it, too, with Super 8 cameras. These home movies –from H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman and Dwight Chapin — form the basis of this portrait.”
8/14/13- Some very good early reviews. TRDB.
Add comment August 14th, 2013