Posts filed under 'Documentary/History'
IN SEARCH OF BEETHOVEN- 2009. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Juliet Stevenson (Truly, Madly, Deeply) narrates this straightforward documentary account of the life of composer Ludwig van Beethoven, covering all the major highlights from his birth in 1770 through his death in 1827. Writer-director Phil Grabsky skirts around the option of dramatic period reenactments, and instead opts for an impressionistic approach. He builds much of the film around the basic foundational material of interviews and studio performances of the great man’s work by artists including Ronald Brautigam, Emanuel Ax, and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Grabsky also offsets Stevenson’s traditional chronicle of Beethoven’s life with letters from the composer, read by David Dawson, that unveil an intense and almost belligerent side to the musical giant, leavened with offbeat humor.”
2/10/13-I saw this documentary at the Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach and found it very insightful. I thoroughly enjoyed the music and the “talking heads” were very interesting and personal so we really learned about the man and the music. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
February 11th, 2013
A RUBBERBAND IS AN UNLIKELY INSTRUMENT- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A Rubberband is an Unlikely Instrument is a lyrical exploration of a Brooklyn couple as they navigate their path amidst rapidly changing political, social, financial and spiritual landscapes. Walter Baker is an eccentric, multi-instrumentalist struggling to maintain balance between creating art, making ends meet and raising his twelve year old son with his third wife, a poet. Artistically and philosophically situated on the fringes of mainstream culture, Baker grasps to bear the roles of family man, business owner and aspiring composer.”
2/8/13- Mixed early reviews but the NY Times gave it an OK review today. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
February 8th, 2013
THE BITTER BUDDHA- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This documentary follows unconventional comedian Eddie Pepitone as he prepares for a show in New York City, all the while struggling with self-doubt, sobriety and a challenging family history.”
3/8/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
February 8th, 2013
THE LAST GLADIATORS- 2013- Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Alex Gibney takes an unprecedented look at the National Hockey League’s most feared enforcers and explores the career of Chris “Knuckles” Nilan. The role was simple: protect their teammates no matter the cost.”
2/1/13-Mixed early reviews but the NY Times gave this movie a good review in today’s critique. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
February 1st, 2013
FERLINGHETTI: A REBIRTH OF WONDER- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In this definitive documentary, director Christopher Felver crafts an incisive, sharply wrought portrait that reveals Ferlinghetti’s true role as catalyst for numerous literary careers and for the Beat movement itself. One-on-one interviews with Ferlinghetti, made over the course of a decade, touch upon a rich mélange of characters and events that began to unfold in postwar America.”
2/8/13- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
January 25th, 2013
ONE DAY AFTER PEACE- 2012. This is a documentary about an Isreali woman who lost her son to a Palestinian sniper and is now seeking reconciliation with both the killer and the situation by drawing from the experience of the people of South Africa and their ability to forgive the apartheid government there. TRDB.
1/23/13- I saw this as part of the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival and I thought it was excellent both in terms of the message and the movie itself. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
January 23rd, 2013
MUMIA: LONG DISTANCE REVOLUTIONARY- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Before he was convicted of murdering a policeman in 1981 and sentenced to die, Mumia Abu-Jamal was a gifted journalist and brilliant writer. Now after more than 30 years in prison and despite attempts to silence him, Mumia is not only still alive but continuing to report, educate, provoke and inspire.”
2/1/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
January 22nd, 2013
SOUND CITY- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Deep in the San Fernando Valley, amidst rows of dilapidated warehouses, was rock n’ roll’s best kept secret: Sound City. America’s greatest unsung recording studio housed a one-of-a-kind console, and as its legend grew, seminal bands and artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Rick Springfield, Tom Petty, Metallica and Nirvana all came out to put magic to tape. Directed by Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) and featuring interviews and performances from iconic musicians.”
Great reviews all around. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
January 22nd, 2013
KOCH- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Former Mayor Ed Koch is the quintessential New Yorker. Still ferocious, charismatic, and hilariously blunt, the now 87-year-old Koch ruled New York from 1978 to 1989-a down-and-dirty decade of grit, graffiti, near-bankruptcy and rampant crime. First-time filmmaker (and former Wall Street Journal reporter) Neil Barsky has crafted an intimate and revealing portrait of this intensely private man, his legacy as a political titan, and the town he helped transform.”
2/1/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
January 22nd, 2013
THE GATEKEEPERS- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Meet six leaders of Israel’s secret service, the Shin Bet, which has dealt with conflict amid the quest for peace for nearly 50 years. For the first time, these men discuss the challenging truths and consequences of their counterterrorism mission.”
Excellent reviews all around. TRDB.
3/10/13- I liked this movie very much but it did seem unusual to me that each of the men seemed to distance himself from Israeli tactics. Were there any heads of Shin Bet that agreed with the policies even if they don’t appear to have worked in retrospect? TRDB. At the Theater.
Tags: documentary
January 22nd, 2013
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