PORTRAIT OF WALLY- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fascinating documentary examines the historic court battle over Egon Schiele’s Portrait of Wally, a Nazi-looted painting that was stolen from a Jewish art dealer fleeing Vienna and wound up in New York’s Museum of Modern Art.” Very good early reviews. TRDB.
5/11/12- NY Times review today was non specific. I could not even guess if the reviewer liked it or not. TRDB.
Add comment May 6th, 2012
NEVER STAND STILL- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Legendary dancers and choreographers Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Suzanne Farrell, Mark Morris, Judith Jamison and Bill Irwin appear alongside new innovators to reveal the passion, discipline and daring of the world of dance.” Weak early reviews. TRDB.
Add comment May 5th, 2012
CHRONICLING A CRISIS- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Award-winning Director Amos Kollek takes a penetrating look in the mirror, at the addiction that is filmmaking, after the failure of his film Happy End. He chronicles his family from 2004 to the present, especially his conflicted relationship with his father, the mythical mayor of Jerusalem. Intertwined with Amos’s story is the story of Robin, a NY prostitute who Amos meets on his quest to fund his next film. Both struggle with their highs and lows trying to find some harmony to help them proceed to the future.”
5/4/12- An OK review in today’s NY Times but other reviews are not as good. TRDB.
Add comment May 5th, 2012
JOFFREY: MAVERICKS OF AMERICAN DANCE- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance tells the story of this groundbreaking cultural treasure, known as the first truly American dance company. Narrated by Tony and Emmy Award winner Mandy Patinkin and directed by Bob Hercules (Bill T. Jones-A Good Man), the film documents how The Joffrey Ballet revolutionized American ballet by daringly combining modern dance with traditional ballet technique, combining art with social statement and setting ballets to pop and rock music scores.”
4/27/12- This movie had received only fair professional reviews but audiences have liked it. TRDB.
Add comment April 27th, 2012
DOLPHIN BOY- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Morad – a teenager from an Arab village in the north of Israel disconnects himself from humans following a violent attack that he experienced. As a last resort before hospitalization in a Mental Institution, he is taken by his devoted father to be treated with Dolphins in Eilat. Morad starts speaking again after months of silence, but he erases his past and refuses to go home to his awaiting mother. This documentary about the devastating havoc that human violence can wreak upon the human soul, and about the healing powers of nature and of love, was filmed over the course of the past four years.”
4/27/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment April 27th, 2012
SURVIVING PROGRESS- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This bracing documentary considers whether human “progress” stemming from the Industrial Age could be paving the way for civilization’s collapse. The film asks a range of thinkers whether the modern world might be headed for a “progress trap.”
Very good reviews with a few distinct negatives as well. TRDB.
Add comment April 26th, 2012
INVENTING OUR LIFE: THE KIBBUTZ EXPERIMENT- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Set against the backdrop of its glorious 100-year history, Inventing Our Life: The Kibbutz Experiment reveals the heartbreak and hope of Israel’s modern kibbutz movement as a new generation struggles to ensure its survival. Can a radically socialist institution survive a new capitalist reality? How will painful reforms affect those who still believe in the kibbutz experiment, and continue to call it home?”
Just a few reviews and they are not good. TRDB.
Add comment April 23rd, 2012
FOLLOW ME: THE YONI NETANYAHU STORY- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Two story arcs that will tragically and heroically connect. The first is the dramatic Entebbe hijack and rescue, 8 days when a nation held its breath and executed a military miracle that redefined the Jewish Nation’s call “Never Again!” The second is the remarkable life story of Jonathan Netanyahu, a young soldier who struggled to find the balance between the people and the Nation he loved. This film is about Jonathan’s life, and what led these two dramatic story arcs to intersect on that fateful day.”
4/21/12- An excellent documentary that dealt with a complex man living in a complex time. I liked it very much. At the 2012 Westchester Jewish Film Festival at Jacob Burns Film Center.
5/18/12- Today’s NY Times thought that the movie made him look too saintlike. TRDB.
Add comment April 22nd, 2012
LAST CALL AT THE OASIS- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This compelling documentary explores the global water crisis, examining deficiencies in the supply system and communities affected by water shortages. Scientists, activists and social entrepreneurs shed light on this shocking and pervasive problem.”
Poor early reviews. TRDB.
5/4/12- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment April 21st, 2012
FIRST POSITION- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fascinating documentary follows dancers training for the Youth America Grand Prix, one of the world’s most prestigious ballet competitions. The stakes are high: Their performances will determine the success or failure of the young girls’ dreams.”
Very few reviews and they are OK. TRDB.
5/4/12- A good review in today’s NY Times that brought up a bit of controversy in the making of this documentary. TRDB.
5/22/12- A well done and interesting documentary about what it takes to make it in this field and what it’s like to be a child competitor. The controversy with this movie was related to the fact that the competition organizers had a hand in the making of the movie. In particular they helped select the subjects to be followed and were involved in other aspects as well. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
Add comment April 21st, 2012