Posts with the tag 'documentary'
THE WOMAN WITH 5 ELEPHANTS- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Fyodor Dostoevsky’s five major novels — not a herd of pachyderms — are the elephants alluded to in the title of this well-crafted documentary about Svetlana Geier, an 85-year-old Ukranian woman who translates Russia’s literary classics into German. Geier’s work and her extraordinary life are closely bound up with Germany’s 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, which first led her into serving as a translator for the invaders.” No reviews as yet. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
July 10th, 2011
FARMAGEDDON- 2011. A documentary about the government supervision of farming and food production. Fairly good review in NY Times on 7/8/11. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
July 8th, 2011
POLYTECHNIQUE- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Denis Villeneuve helms this searing dramatization of the events that rocked Montreal’s École Polytechnique in 1989, when a disturbed gunman roamed the campus, shooting 28 helpless students before turning the gun on himself. Deliberately targeting women on his bloody rampage, the misogynistic killer (Maxim Gaudette) leaves behind a trail of shattered lives and public outrage. Sébastien Huberdeau and Karine Vanasse costar.” Good review in NY Times on 6/29/11. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
June 30th, 2011
TABLOID- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Errol Morris profiles another intriguingly dysfunctional personality in this complex documentary about Joyce McKinney, a former beauty queen whose lovely exterior hides a genius IQ — and a criminal disposition. Joyce, a one-time Miss Wyoming, kidnapped her Mormon boyfriend and raped him repeatedly, which was only the beginning of her often-illegal and always eccentric behavior as she pursued her romantic ideals.” So far, good professional reviews but audiences do not agree. TRDB.
8/5/11- I’m with the audiences on this one– a classic waste of time as far as I’m concerned. Miss it. TRDB. At the Theater.
Tags: documentary
June 29th, 2011
THE UNDEFEATED- 2010. A new documentary about Sarah Palin. The worst reviews I’ve ever seen for a movie, drama or documentary. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
June 29th, 2011
TURTLE: THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Attempting a perilous odyssey its ancestors have undertaken for millions of years, one loggerhead turtle swims from a beach in Florida across the Atlantic Ocean, encountering stunning sea creatures as well as serious hazards created by modern man. Narrated by actress Miranda Richardson, this extraordinary nature documentary brings marine conservation issues such as overfishing and pollution to the forefront of viewers’ minds.”
6/24/11- OK review in today’s NY Times but the review was critical of the computer assisted work on this film and accused it of dishonesty. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
June 25th, 2011
PROJECT NIM- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Oscar-winning filmmaker James Marsh (Man on Wire) peers inside the landmark 1970s experiment for an unflinching look at Nim, the chimp whom scientists raised as human and taught sign language to prove that apes can communicate like humans. Firsthand accounts, previously unseen archival footage and powerful images tell of Nim‘s life in a human bubble. The result is a fascinating exposé on Nim‘s true nature — and a glimpse into our own.” Great reviews. TRDB.
3/4/12- A remarkable documentary that said as much about the humans involved as it did about the chimp. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: documentary
June 23rd, 2011
IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmmakers Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman examine the case of Daniel McGowan, a member of the radical environmental group Earth Liberation Front who was arrested for committing arson against two Oregon timber companies. Dissecting ELF’s self-described use of “economic sabotage” to stop deforestation and other damage to the planet, the film also explores the ramifications of the FBI’s decision to classify them as terrorists.” Good reviews in general and also in NY Times on 6/22/11. TRDB.
9/12/11- A good documentary, more about the “economic sabotage” than about any one man. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: documentary
June 23rd, 2011
PASSIONE- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “The glorious metropolis of Naples, Italy, is the star of this unusual film from director John Turturro, who crafts a scintillating blend of historical footage, re-enactments and music videos to explore the city’s musical past, present and future. The many cultural influences converging on the city are examined, as are the ways in which music expresses the passions, tragedies and everyday events experienced by the locals throughout the centuries.” Very good reviews in general and especially in NY Times on 6/22/11. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
June 23rd, 2011
AGRARIAN UTOPIA- 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Anthology presents a week-long run of Uruphong Raksasad’s ravishing documentary/fiction hybrid, which portrays two rural families who, facing the seizure of their lands, come together to work the same rice paddy for a season, using pre-industrial farming methods. Its serenely beautiful imagery – golden fields, time-lapse skies – bespeaks a nostalgia for a simpler time, but Agrarian Utopia is also clear-sighted and tough-minded in its assessment of the present-day economic and political realities.” Good review in NY Times on 6/10/11 and a few other positive reviews as well. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
June 21st, 2011
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