TRIUMPH OF THE WALL- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Bill Stone sets out to document a novice stonemason’s construction of a 1,000-foot wall in rural Quebec, but his plans soon begin to unravel. When the mason realizes he’s in over his head, the film becomes a comic chronicle of determination.”
5/31/13- Miserable reviews all over, including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment June 4th, 2013
SIRIUS- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The Earth has been visited by advanced Inter-Stellar Civilizations that can travel through other dimensions faster than the speed of light. What we have learned from them about energy propulsion can bring us to a new era, but those in power have suppressed this information in order to keep us at their mercy. It is time for you to know.”
5/31/13- Uniformly critical reviews from the pros but audiences have liked it. TRDB.
Add comment June 4th, 2013
LA CAMIONETA- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This quirky documentary follows the journey of a decommissioned school bus from the United States to Guatemala, where it’s renovated and resurrected as a brightly colored vehicle that transports Guatemalans to work each day.”
5/31/13- A good review in today’s NY Times for this documentary. TRDB.
Add comment June 4th, 2013
EVOCATEUR: THE MORTON DOWNEY JR. MOVIE- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Rude, crude and polarizing, Morton Downey Jr. was the profane right-wing prince of talk show hosts during his brief heyday in the late 1980s. This colorful documentary includes archival footage of Downey’s riotous show with revealing interviews.”
6/7/13- An OK, interesting review in today’s NY Times. Other critics have liked it very much. TRDB.
Add comment May 25th, 2013
DIRTY WARS- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Exploring America’s covert operations in the war on terror, investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill takes viewers on a revealing journey through drone strikes, night raids, kill lists that include U.S. citizens and secret government-condoned torture.”
6/7/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment May 25th, 2013
VALENTINO’S GHOST- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Valentino’s Ghost shows the way in which the U.S. foreign policy agenda in the Middle East, drives the U.S. mainstream media’s portrayals of Arabs and Muslims.”
5/17/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and from the few other professional reviews that I could find. The Times’ review said that the film gave a different picture of the Middle East than we are used to. TRDB.
Add comment May 19th, 2013
RE-EMERGING: THE JEWS OF NIGERIA- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This documentary follows Sam, a young Igbo man from Nigeria, as he seeks the truth about his people, who legend suggests may be of Jewish descent. The film delves into Igbo culture and reveals clues from around the globe that support Sam’s quest.”
5/17/13- Mixed early reviews of the few that were available. TRDB.
Add comment May 19th, 2013
ELEMENTAL- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Three activists pursuing different causes are profiled in this environmental documentary, which moves from India to Australia to Canada. Among them is Rajendra Singh, who’s committed to saving the Ganges River from industrial pollution.”
5/17/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. The review stresses that the movie is more about the lives of the activists than about the cause itself. TRDB.
Add comment May 19th, 2013
CAPE SPIN: AN AMERICAN POWER STRUGGLE- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Cape Spin! An American Power Struggle tells the surreal, fascinating, tragicomic story of the battle over America’s most controversial clean energy project. Cape Wind would be the U.S.’s first offshore windfarm…But strange alliances formed for and against: Kennedys, Kochs, and everyday folks do battle with the developer and green groups over the future of American power.”
5/17/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times, mixed reviews in general and audiences have liked it. TRDB.
Add comment May 19th, 2013
TRIUMPH OF THE WALL- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Bill Stone sets out to document a novice stonemason’s construction of a 1,000-foot wall in rural Quebec, but his plans soon begin to unravel. When the mason realizes he’s in over his head, the film becomes a comic chronicle of determination.”
5/14/13- Only a few reviews and they are poor. TRDB.
Add comment May 14th, 2013