Posts with the tag 'documentary'
FREE RADICALS: A HISTORY OF EXPERIMENTAL FILM- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Avant-garde director Pip Chodorov offers viewers an intimate tour of experimental film and its creators with this fascinating documentary that features rare interviews, historical analysis, clips and in some cases, entire movies. Along with pioneer Stan Brakhage’s last interview, Chodorov presents discussions with Michael Snow and Robert Breer, and examines the influence of transformative artists such as Jonas Mekas and Andy Warhol.”
8/3/12- A good review in today’s NY Times. Fairly good reviews from otheres. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
August 3rd, 2012
GIVE UP TOMORROW- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “With the case continuing to polarize the Philippines, this riveting documentary looks at the trial of Paco Larrañaga, who — despite demonstrable proof of his innocence — was sentenced to death for the 1997 kidnapping, rape and murders of two women.”
No professional reviews but good audience reaction. TRDB.
9/8/12- A well constructed and convincing documentary that I viewed at the Martha’s Vineyard Int. Film Festival. I also had the opportunity to hear a Q and A with the director that was fascinating. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
July 28th, 2012
MEET THE FOKKENS- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Louise and Martine Fokkens are 69-year-old identical twins, working residents of Amsterdam’s notorious red light district for the past 50 years. Today Louise is retired (citing arthritis: “I couldn’t get one leg over the other”), but Martine still works in the window. Dressed in the world’s most endearing dominatrix outfit, she solicits men, young and old, and seems to have no dearth of customers. Brash, funny, racy stories punctuate their conversations: one laughs at the naivety of young prostitutes who are ignorant of the secrets of the trade; the other recalls a client who was a chaplain: “Don’t you remember, we even had a little confessional!” The sisters also have scary stories to tell, but in the main they recall their clients with compassion and affection. The Fokkens are a wonderfully amusing cultural mix: one part beloved grandma, one part Xaviera Hollander, times two.
Very good early reviews. TRDB.
8/8/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
July 28th, 2012
YOU’VE BEEN TRUMPED- 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In this David and Goliath tale for the 21st Century, a group of proud Scottish homeowners take on Donald Trump, as the tycoon prepares to destroy one of Britain’s last stretches of coastal wilderness by building a luxury golf resort. As the locals make their last stand in the face of security harassment, legal threats and the cutting off of water and electricity supplies, director Anthony Baxter is thrown in jail as he seeks out the truth.”
Very good early reviews. TRDB.
8/3/12- The review in today’s NY Times gives no hint as to the merits of the movie and seems more like a mini-documentary to me. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
July 28th, 2012
ABENDLAND- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmmaker Nikolaus Geyrhalter’s penetrating documentary takes a nocturnal look at the contemporary Western world — explicitly its wealth and exclusivity — illuminating patterns of isolation and conformity through an array of sequences.”
7/27/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
July 27th, 2012
SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Decades after Detroit singer-songwriter Rodriguez disappeared following the failure of his two critically praised records in the 1970s, two fans from South Africa, where Rodriguez was a huge hit, try to track down their idol, with intriguing results.”
7/27/12- A confusing but good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
9/3/12- A well structured suspenseful documentary about a legend coupled with great music, great interviews, a likable subject and a thought provoking screenplay make this a GREAT DOCUMENTARY. TRDB. At the Theater.
Tags: documentary
July 18th, 2012
AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This compelling documentary explores three years in the life of celebrated Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei, who uses social media and his art to inspire protests against the state, and suffers government persecution for his actions.”
Good professional reviews and fair audience ones. TRDB.
7/27/12- Excellent review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
1/8/13- A very good documentary about this artist who strives to create transparency in the Chinese government. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: documentary, Foreign
July 18th, 2012
DECONSTRUCTING DAD- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmmaker Stanley Warnow offers a compelling look at the life and work of his professionally successful but personally remote father, musical innovator Raymond Scott — whose career spanned from the Big Band age to the 1970s electronic music era.”
Very good reviews in general and an OK one in the NY Times on 7/14/12. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
July 17th, 2012
FAMILY PORTRAIT IN BLACK AND WHITE- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Sixteen black orphans adopted by Olga Nenya struggle against racism in the Ukraine. Constantly on guard against overtly racist neighbors and skinheads, the kids look to their own inner strength and the help of Westerners to attain a brighter future. Tensions rise when a European couple offers to adopt one of the children, an offer that Olga resists as she attempts to bravely hold her family together.”
Very good reviews in general and an OK one in the NY Times on 7/14/12. TRDB.
Tags: documentary, Foreign
July 17th, 2012
THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Directed by lauded filmmaker and photographer Lauren Greenfield, who won the U.S. Directing Award for Documentary Film at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival for this film, The Queen of Versailles is a character-driven documentary about a billionaire family and their financial challenges in the wake of the economic crisis. With epic proportions of Shakespearean tragedy, the film follows two unique characters, whose rags-to-riches success stories reveal the innate virtues and flaws of the American Dream. The film begins with the family triumphantly constructing the biggest house in America, a 90,000 sq. ft. palace. Over the next two years, their sprawling empire, fueled by the real estate bubble and cheap money, falters due to the economic crisis. Major changes in lifestyle and character ensue within the cross-cultural household of family members and domestic staff.”
Very good reviews in general and in the NY Times on 7/20/12. TRDB.
8/8/12- A very good and insightful documentary that also applied the psycho-social history of the characters to better understand their reaction to adversity. TRDB. At the Theater.
Tags: documentary
July 7th, 2012
Newer Posts
Older Posts