Posts filed under 'Documentary/History'
THESE AMAZING SHADOWS- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Fueled by exclusive interviews and dazzling archival footage, filmmakers Paul Mariano and Kurt Norton shine a light on the work of the National Film Registry and the art of preserving aesthetically, culturally and historically significant cinema. Highlights in this Sundance selection include input from the likes of Christopher Nolan, John Waters, Rob Reiner, Debbie Reynolds, Tim Roth and George Takei.” At Sundance 2011.
11/26/11- This documentary is a must-see for anybody seriously interested in movies and their influence on our culture. Quotes I loved are “movies are a window to the world” and “movies are a time capsule of our society.” Great Documentary. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: documentary
January 29th, 2011
BHUTTO- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Duane Baughman and Johnny O’Hara’s documentary is an in-depth and at times incendiary look at the epic life and tragic death of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, whose 2007 assassination sent her country’s political system into a tailspin. As a passionate and outspoken voice of reason and democracy, Bhutto‘s return to the seat of power seemed inevitable; but as a deeply divisive figure, her death was perhaps inescapable as well.” Very good early reviews.
5/19/11- A very well done documentary if a little one-sided toward the Bhutto family. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: documentary
January 29th, 2011
PAGE ONE: A YEAR INSIDE THE NY TIMES- 2011. Premise by Netflix. “Documentarian Andrew Rossi goes inside the New York Times to examine how the venerable paper and its reporters are responding to the massive changes in how news is gathered, analyzed and dispersed. Is there any future for newsprint? The creative process of journalism is also dissected, with journalists David Carr, Brian Stelter and many others providing insight into their writing processes and where they think the news business is headed.” At Sundance 2011. Fairly good audience reactions. TRDB.
7/15/11- Excellent documentary that we all need to listen to as newspapers with shrinking revenues fold right and left. TRDB. At the Theater.
Tags: documentary
January 29th, 2011
HOW TO DIE IN OREGON- 2011. Premise by Netflix. “Director Peter Richardson’s documentary takes you into the lives of terminally ill men and women as they consider availing themselves of physician-assisted suicide, which is legal in Oregon under the state’s 1994 Death with Dignity Act. As patients discuss their wishes with families, friends and doctors, Richardson examines all sides of this weighty issue and even documents an assisted suicide as it occurs.” Very good reviews. TRDB.
3/1/12- A completely fascinating documentary which was about the Oregon law but even more about some of the people who took advantage of it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: documentary
January 25th, 2011
I AM- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Hollywood comedy director Tom Shadyac (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective) gets contemplative in this documentary, which finds him conversing with prominent philosophers and spiritual leaders about what ails our world and how we can improve it. Traveling the globe to conduct his in-depth interviews, Shadyac finds insights and inspiration from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, historian Howard Zinn, philosopher Noam Chomsky and other luminaries.” Winner at 2011 Palm Springs Film Festival. OK review in NY Times on 3/18/11.
Tags: documentary
January 17th, 2011
PRECIOUS LIFE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Mohammad Abu Mustafa, a 4-month-old Palestinian boy living in the barricaded Gaza Strip, was born without an immune system and faces certain death if he does not receive a bone marrow transplant at an Israeli hospital — an unlikely prospect. Learning of the story, a well-known journalist tries to generate public sympathy for the boy’s plight, knowing full well the grim outcome if he’s unable to find the funds to make the miracle happen.”
1/11- Great documentary and clearly the director was able to gain the confidence of the Palestinian couple who were the subjects. Loved the movie. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: docmentary
January 8th, 2011
VISION- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Directed by longtime star of independent German cinemaMargarethe von Trotta, this reverent biopic chronicles the fascinating story of 12th-century Christian mystic and scientist Hildegard von Bingen (Barbara Sukowa). Despite living in an era when women are proscribed from preaching and interpreting scripture, Hildegard believes that the visions she experiences are a gift from God that she must reveal — even at the risk of condemnation.” Very good reviews.
1/11- I liked this movie although I thought it could have been 15 to 20 minutes shorter. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: docudrama
January 5th, 2011
MARWENCOL- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “After a terrible beating left Mark Hogancamp brain damaged, he began creating models of a fictional town, Marwencol, to process the trauma. Jeff Malmberg’s documentary explains how Hogancamp uses the elaborate dioramas as stand-ins for real life. When Hogancamp’s work attracts the attention of a prestigious New York art gallery, however, he’s forced to leave the safety of his make-believe world and reconnect with the real one.” Great reviews.
4/11- Despite the uniformly rave reviews I had trouble getting into this film and although I found the idea clever and finally turned the movie off. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: documentary
January 5th, 2011
OUTSIDE THE LAW- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Left without a home in their homeland, three Algerian brothers (Jamel Debbouze, Roschdy Zem and Sami Bouajila) split from their mother and seek out strikingly dissimilar lives. But fate won’t keep the siblings apart, eventually summoning them all to Paris for a reunion. This foreign-language drama from writer-director Rachid Bouchareb is set amid Algeria’s post-World War II fight for independence from France.” Very good reviews.
Tags: docudrama
January 4th, 2011
OF GODS AND MEN- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Awarded Grand Prix honors at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, this compelling historical drama relates the ordeal of seven French Trappist monks in the mountains of Algeria who are taken captive by Islamic fundamentalists. Before the monks’ abduction, they have ample reason to believe they may be in danger, but their assumption that there can and must be common ground between Islam and Christianity leads them to remain at the monastery.” Great reviews. Opens in NY on 2/25/11.
3/11- Very well done and well acted but a bit too long and definitely not for a general audience. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: docudrama
January 4th, 2011
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