BODY OF WAR- 2007. Synopsis by Netflix. “Tomas Young returned home from the Iraq War paralyzed, struggling to deal with his physical limitations and his changing feelings about the war.”
11/18/14- An excellent documentary vividly showing what it’s like for the young man and many others. The movie also juxtaposed various themes about the duplicity of the government in the entire affair. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Add comment November 18th, 2014
RED ARMY- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Captain of the Red Army hockey team during its glory years in the 1970s and ’80s, “Slava” Fetisov recalls the pride and constant pressure felt by the players on the squad during a turbulent political era in the Soviet Union.”
11/14/14- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.
6/18/15- An excellent documentary that placed hockey into the turmoil in the Soviet Union at the time. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment November 17th, 2014
OCCUPY THE FARM- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this conservation-minded documentary, 200 urban farmers join forces to save the last big piece of farmland in California’s East Bay region. Their solution: Occupy the land and plant 15,000 seedlings to discourage future development.”
11/14/14- Just 3 professional reviews– 2 up and 1 down (the NY Times). Audiences have liked it very much. TRDB.
Add comment November 16th, 2014
LEVITATED MASS- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 2012, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art installed Michael Heizer’s sculpture Levitated Mass — a 340-ton boulder perched atop a trench. This film traces the piece’s journey — from conception to the monolith’s 11-day transport from Riverside.”
11/14/14- Excellent reviews from critics and OK ones from audiences. TRDB.
Add comment November 16th, 2014
DRUG LORD: THE LEGEND OF SHORTY- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two documentary filmmakers begin a quest to find the legendary “El Chapo,” Mexico’s most powerful drug lord and a highly controversial figure. Though authorities portray him as a ruthless killer, many still see the elusive gangster as a folk hero.”
11/14/14- Mediocre professional reviews but audiences have invariably liked it. TRDB.
Add comment November 16th, 2014
VIRUNGA- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Determined to protect the last population of Africa’s mountain gorillas, Congolese wildlife officials must contend not only with outlaw poachers but the effects of fierce combat between government forces and die-hard insurgent groups.”
11/7/14- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
Add comment November 8th, 2014
21 YEARS: RICHARD LINKLATER- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Independent film godfather Richard Linklater and his oeuvre are profiled in this survey of the first 21 years of the director’s career. Revealing interviews with his collaborators round out the picture of a cinematic artist who follows his own muse.”
11/7/14– Weak professional reviews but audiences have liked it very much. TRDB.
Add comment November 8th, 2014
THE INVISIBLE FRONT- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Through archival footage and interviews, this illuminating documentary recounts the story of the Forest Brothers, a Lithuanian resistance movement formed in 1944 to fight the Soviet occupation and communist rule.”
11/7/14- Just a few professional reviews so far and they are all positive. Audiences have loved the movie. TRDB.
Add comment November 8th, 2014
GETTING TO THE NUTCRACKER- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “As revealed in this behind-the-curtain documentary, staging a production of the annual holiday favorite “The Nutcracker” takes a colossal collective effort, from auditioning ballet dancers to grueling rehearsals to the live performance.”
11/7/14- I found just 1 review- from the NY Times that called the movie “too soft.” TRDB.
Add comment November 8th, 2014
ACTRESS- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Shelving a burgeoning small-screen career, actress Brandy Burre settles down to motherhood and domesticity but eventually grows restless. This engaging documentary chronicles the conflicts and complications she faces as she tries to make a comeback.”
11/7/14- Excellent professional reviews. One critic called this the best documentary she had ever seen. TRDB.
1/3/15- This film was a complete bore!!! I can’t imagine what the critics were thinking. TRDB.
Add comment November 8th, 2014