Since the drive-in experience, I've been watching Mill Valley Film Festival movies from the comfort of my couch. So far, I've seen two musical documentaries and two films about the 1960s - and I only saw three movies. A Take Me to the River New Orleans Here's one documentary that will make you tap your … Continue reading More Mill Valley Movies: New Orleans, Laurel Canyon, & the Chicago 7
Category: Documentaries
Little-known documentaries worth watching
Three weeks ago, I posted an article about little-known but excellent movies worth watching. That time, I stuck to narrative (i.e. fictional) films. This time, I'm doing documentaries - including one by Ken Burns! Four of the five got very short theatrical runs; the other went from festivals directly to television. Two are about women … Continue reading Little-known documentaries worth watching
How Jimmy Carter Rocked the White House
B Political & musical documentaryDirected by Mary Wharton Jimmy Carter Rock & Roll President. It's a ridiculous title for a political documentary, and yet it's appropriate. This extremely flattering portrait of the 39th President spends most of its time covering Carter's love of music. But melody isn't what we think of when we consider Carter. We … Continue reading How Jimmy Carter Rocked the White House
Non-fiction at home as DocFest goes virtual
We can't go to a theater, but we can still experience a film festival. Maybe someone should make a documentary about that. The San Francisco Documentary Film Festival, better known as SF DocFest, will run virtually from September 3 to 20. During those 18 days, you can screen up to 25 features and 20 shorts, … Continue reading Non-fiction at home as DocFest goes virtual
It’s as cool, & as hot, as Jazz on a Summer’s Day
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
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?
