Posts filed under 'Documentary/History'
COLLAPSE- Premise by Netflix. “In an avant-garde soliloquy, investigative journalist Michael Ruppert details his unnerving theories about the inexorable link between energy depletion and the collapse of the economic system that supports the entire industrial world. Helmed by filmmaker Chris Smith (American Movie), Ruppert’s monologue explains how the lies and political propaganda fed to Americans by big business will eventually lead to human extinction.” Very good reviews.
6/10- A very interesting and unusual documentary that I would definitely recommend. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
June 5th, 2010
LIVING IN EMERGENCY: STORIES OF DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS- Premise by Netflix. “American surgeon Tom Krueger and Australian doctor Davinder Gill — two newcomers to the human rights organization Doctors Without Borders — learn the difficult ropes of providing medical care under harrowing conditions. Joined by two veteran doctors, these medical heroes work, laugh, cry and argue their way through decimated urban centers, remote bush outposts and other extreme locations in this inspiring documentary.”
Tags: documentary
June 4th, 2010
PHYLLIS AND HAROLD- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “Most people know the story of how their parents met. But for better or worse, filmmaker Cindy Kleine digs even deeper to expose every aspect of her parents’ 59-year marriage, revealing touching details and a few painful family secrets. Mixing on-camera interviews with archival photos and creative animation, Kleine’s candid documentary looks at the evolution of a dissonant union — and the harsh truth about love.” Generally good reviews.
7/10- Well done and interesting documentary leaving many questions as to the daughter’s motivation for doing this film. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: documentary
May 23rd, 2010
THE SUN- Premise by Netflix. “From renowned director Aleksandr Sokurov comes a piercing historical drama about Japan’s emperor Hirohito at the end of World War II. Faced with his country’s defeat and the renunciation of his divine status, Hirohito must establish his own identity. Sokurov’s exquisite cinematography accentuates this examination of diplomacy and personal responsibility as Hirohito agrees to meet with American Gen. MacArthur in an attempt to move Japan forward.” Very good reviews.
6/10- Very slow but wonderful depiction of Hirohito and the emotional conflict regarding Japan’s surrender. Highly recommended but not if you’re tired. TRDB.
Tags: docudrama, Foreign
May 23rd, 2010
FAIR GAME- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “After her husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson (Sean Penn), writes op-ed columns accusing the Bush administration of misleading the public to justify invading Iraq, Valerie Plame Wilson’s (Naomi Watts) status as a covert CIA agent is leaked by administration officials. Based on events described in Plame Wilson’s memoir, this drama explores the political scandal that led to the conviction of Lewis “Scooter” Libby.” Fair review in NY Times on 11/5/10.
11/10- This movie was very well done and packed a wallop. I liked it a lot. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: docudrama
May 21st, 2010
In this eye-opening, equitable documentary, filmmakers Kate Davis, David Heilbroner and Franco Sacchi explore the lives of evangelical Christians who believe that Armageddon is imminent and that Israel will be the site of Christ’s second coming. The film follows evangelicals as they prepare for the apocalypse and examines how their beliefs have influenced the U.S. government’s relationships with Israel and the Muslim world.
5/10- Very informative and well done. I enjoyed it as much as you can enjoy hearing about the end of the world. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
May 18th, 2010
JOHN RABE- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “Florian Gallenberger directs this gripping drama about John Rabe (Ulrich Tukur), a German businessman living in Nanking, China, who in 1937 used his Nazi party affiliation to save some 200,000 Chinese civilians from slaughter at the hands of the Japanese army. As Rabe labors to establish an official safety zone to shelter the innocent, he forms an unlikely friendship with an American doctor (Steve Buscemi). Anne Consigny and Daniel Brühl co-star.” Very good reviews.
9/10- It was nice to learn about this man but the movie was so full of melodrama that for me it took away from the importance of the topic. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: docudrama
May 9th, 2010
AFTER THE CUP: SONS OF THE SAKHNIN UNITED- Premise by Netflix. “After becoming the first soccer team with an Arab majority to win the Israeli Cup, Bnei Sakhnin faces a slew of challenges its very next season. Overwhelmed by pressure and constant attention, the team struggles to stay united and win the cup again. Directed by siblings Christopher and Alexander H. Browne, this captivating sports documentary features great insight into the Arab-Israeli conflict, sympathetic players and a truly nail-biting finale.”
Tags: documentary
May 9th, 2010
VISUAL ACOUSTICS: THE MODERNISM OF JULIUS SHULMAN- Premise by Netflix. “Filmmaker Eric Bricker directs this fascinating documentary about the life and times of architectural photographer Julius Shulman, whose work is known for helping to launch the careers of giants like Rudolf Schindler and Frank Lloyd Wright. With insight from fellow architects Frank Gehry, Ricardo Legorreta and Shulman himself, Bricker’s effort illuminates the legendary artist’s gift for capturing space, form and design.”
5/31- Learning about his work was interesting but learning next to nothing about the man wasn’t. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
May 9th, 2010
LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT- Premise by Netflix. “Financed by the Sundance Documentary Fund, filmmaker Petr Lom (On A Tightrope) offers audiences a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse inside the regime of controversial Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Inspired by the millions of letters written to the outspoken leader throughout his term, Lom tracks Ahmadinejad on a tour across the Middle Eastern nation and captures the wide-ranging reactions the president garners from the Iranian people.”
Tags: documentary
May 4th, 2010
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