A Music Documentary Directed by Bert Stern The concert documentary didn't start with Woodstock, Gimme Shelter, or even Monterey Pop. In fact, it didn't even start with rock 'n' roll. But it just may have started with Jazz on a Summer's Day. Shot in and around the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, and released a year … Continue reading It’s as cool, & as hot, as Jazz on a Summer’s Day
Category: Documentaries
What a good music teacher can do: River City Drumbeat
B+ Documentary Directed by Marlon Johnson Yes, this is another inspiring music documentary, but that's not a bad thing. River City Drumbeat is about African American children getting a leg up in life thanks to a youth drum team. And no, they're not all expected to have great careers as percussionists. But by working in … Continue reading What a good music teacher can do: River City Drumbeat
After the flames: Rebuilding Paradise
B+ documentaryDirected by Ron Howard When my father retired around 1990, he built a house in Paradise, California and lived there for at least a decade. He did not live long enough to know that the house he built was almost certainly destroyed. From my point of view, watching Ron Howard's documentary about the people … Continue reading After the flames: Rebuilding Paradise
John Lewis and his Good Trouble
B+ political documentary Directed by Dawn Porter Update: I've added more information at the bottom of the article. I'm writing my review of the biographical documentary, John Lewis: Good Trouble, in early June. The murder of George Floyd and the resulting riots are pushing COVID-19 off the front page. I don't know what America will … Continue reading John Lewis and his Good Trouble
Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things
A- entertainment documentary Directed by Leslie Woodhead About halfway through this documentary about the great singer, it occurred to me that it has very little performance footage. Seldom do you actually see her moving while she sings. Far more often, especially in the first half of the film, director Leslie Woodhead shows photos of Fitzgerald … Continue reading Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things
2040: A heaven or a hell?
A- Environmental documentary Directed by Damon Gameau You'd expect a film titled 2040 to bring you into a dystopian nightmare - especially if it's about climate change. It would dramatize a dying civilization where the oceans have risen and much of the planet is barely inhabitable. Something like The Handmaid's Tale with coal fumes. But … Continue reading 2040: A heaven or a hell?
Where music comes Up From the Streets
A Music documentary Directed by Michael Murphy Most musical documentaries get the balance off. They tell you why these musicians are so great, how they became who they are, and what they're doing now (if they're alive). But they rarely give you a chance to enjoy the music. At best, you'll get a few bars … Continue reading Where music comes Up From the Streets
Capital in the Twenty-First Century
B+ Financial documentary Directed by Justin Pemberton Based on the book by Thomas Piketty I can't tell you how many documentaries I've seen about economic inequality. But this one is different. It's kind of fun while it makes you angry. It also takes a wide view of the problem, looking back into the 18th century … Continue reading Capital in the Twenty-First Century
Gerrymandering gets boring in Slay the Dragon
C+ Documentary Directed by Barak Goodman and Chris Durrance We all know that gerrymandering is a threat to our democracy. Filmmakers Barak Goodman and Chris Durrance want us to understand how we can end this problem. But their documentary is sometimes scattered, unfocused, and conventional. It's also occasionally boring. Gerrymandering has been around almost as … Continue reading Gerrymandering gets boring in Slay the Dragon
Robbie Robertson and…oh yeah, The Band
B Musical documentary Directed by Daniel Roher The Band was one of the best groups in the history of rock and roll. As The Hawks, they beautifully backed Screamin' Jay Hawkins and then Bob Dylan. But when they just played only with each other, the music turned into magic. Daniel Roher's documentary, Once Were Brothers: … Continue reading Robbie Robertson and…oh yeah, The Band
