Posts with the tag 'documentary'
SOUTH OF THE BORDER- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Eager to investigate how the U.S. media has depicted Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, director Oliver Stone journeys south to interview the man himself and speaks with several other South American presidents in the process. Among the distinguished subjects in Stone’s probing and controversial documentary are Bolivia’s Evo Morales, Brazil’s Lula da Silva, Argentina’s Nestor Kirchner and Cuba’s Raúl Castro.” Poor reviews.
11/10- This documentary is, of course, completely one-sided but it is the most thorough series of interviews with regional world leaders that I can remember and provides us with views that we do not see in our media. Definitely worth seeing. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: documentary
June 18th, 2010
RESTREPO- Premise by Netflix. “Sebasatian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm, teamed with photographer Tim Hetherington to spend a year embedded with the Second Platoon in Afghanistan, documenting the hard work, fear and brotherhood that come with repelling a deadly enemy. Hunkered down with the soldiers in one of the region’s most strategic valleys, the filmmakers uncover the dark humor, sleepless surreality and constant anxiety of war in this Best Documentary winner at Sundance.” Very good early reviews.
7/10- Excellent documentary and clearly done by two men who won the confidence of their subjects. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
June 16th, 2010
8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Filmmaker and ex-Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints member Reed Cowan examines that church’s nationwide efforts to prevent the legalization of gay marriage — including California’s Proposition 8, which was passed by voters in 2008. Confidential church documents, statements by high-ranking church officials and other sources detail 30 years of efforts to turn back gay rights, particularly by the Mormon-sponsored National Organization for Marriage.” Fairly good early reviews.
8/10- What more can I say– the film was well done and also addresses the many conflicts that families of gay people wrestled with on dual loyalties to their family and to the Church. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: documentary
June 13th, 2010
JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Documentarians Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg provide an uncompromising glimpse into the personal and professional life of comedian and red-carpet mainstay Joan Rivers, a woman clinging stubbornly and steadfastly to the pop-culture bandwagon. Stern and Sundberg — whose previous film, The Devil Came on Horseback, covered the Darfur genocide — take a no-less-intensive approach to their subject here, taking a hard look at fame’s bitter toll.” Fair reviews and good reviews in equal number.
12/10– Very good documentary about the diva, the ups and downs of her career and her need to continue and all costs. Definitely recommended. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: documentary
June 8th, 2010
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
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
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
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