B documentary Directed by Julie Cohen & Betsy West I didn't really want to watch or review this documentary about Julia Child. Why? First of all, current cinema is overflowing with documentaries about the lives of famously beloved people. If you're not a fan of the subject, the movie doesn't mean much. And I've never … Continue reading Julia Child and French Cooking
Category: Documentaries
Ascension: The Rat Race in “Communist” China
A Documentary Directed by Jessica Kingdon If you think America is the land where people desperately fight for a piece of the pie, you should see how it works in so-called "socialist" China. Jessica Kingdon's spellbinding, narration-less documentary shows the People's Republic as a country of paupers scrambling to raise themselves financially - or at … Continue reading Ascension: The Rat Race in “Communist” China
UNAFF: The United Nations Association Film Festival
The United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF) sees itself as a "two-decade-long celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasizing our readiness to resume resolute strides towards lasting solutions." It opens Thursday. Although most of the festival will happen on the peninsula - Stanford and Palo Alto - UNAFF will have one day in … Continue reading UNAFF: The United Nations Association Film Festival
Mill Valley Film Fest: Preview 1
Here's my first set of capsule movie reviews of films playing at this year's Mill Valley Film Festival. Some of these capsules are unusually short; the festival requires many of the films to be reviewed in 50 words or less. You'll probably guess which ones. A- Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of … Continue reading Mill Valley Film Fest: Preview 1
My Name Is Pauli Murray
B Historical documentary Directed by Julie Cohen & Betsy West I hadn't even heard of Pauli Murray until very recently. Either I'm the only person who missed one of the most important people of 20th-century America, or almost everyone else has missed her, too. Either way, documentarians Julie Cohen and Betsy West are trying to … Continue reading My Name Is Pauli Murray
Fauci by Fauci
B+ Documentary Directed by John Hoffman & Janet Tobias Warning: The first few minutes of Fauci, a generally optimistic documentary contains the voice and face of Tucker Carson, along with similar TV clowns. Your blood pressure may go up while people tell us that Anthony Fauci's head belongs on a spike. But this torture is … Continue reading Fauci by Fauci
Advertising Broadway
C show business documentary Directed by Directed by Oren Jacoby On Broadway is not so much a documentary, but advertising for New York City's big and flamboyant theater district. But I'm not sure who they're marketing to. Is the film for people who might buy a ticket or two, or those who are considering investing … Continue reading Advertising Broadway
Catch Mr. Rugoff tonight!
Last night I saw Searching for Mr. Rugoff, an important documentary about the business of independent cinema. It will screen tonight, at 6:45, at the Roxie. I don't know when it will screen, or stream, again. If you love independent cinema, you must watch this film. Which is why I am writing a short, and … Continue reading Catch Mr. Rugoff tonight!
The Lost Leonardo: Hobbies of the filthy rich
C art documentaryDirected by Andreas Koefoed Was the Salvator Mundi painted by Leonardo da Vinci? Or one of his students? Or was it painted by someone who's name is lost to history? But the possibility that da Vinci may have painted it has turned the picture into the most expensive painting in history, being sold … Continue reading The Lost Leonardo: Hobbies of the filthy rich
Three cinematic views of the Pray Away the Gay movement
Tuesday night I watched the new Netflix documentary, Pray Away, directed by Kristine Stolakis. It's a very good film, that won't be seen by as many who need to see it. This is the third feature-length film I've seen about gay conversion therapy, where Christian fanatics (I assume that in real life there are Jewish … Continue reading Three cinematic views of the Pray Away the Gay movement
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