B+ biographical documentary Directed by Alexandra Dean Hollywood movie star Hedy Lemarr had a fascinating life, but not a happy one. Her striking beauty won her fame and fortune (neither of which she held onto), but it obscured her more important work as an inventor. Her greatest invention, something most of us use daily, never … Continue reading Bombshell: Brains and the curse of beauty
Category: Documentaries
Dream Boat: A gay cruise where not everyone is happy
B Documentary Directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski A large cruise ship leaves port for a week of frivolity. But this cruise is different. All the passengers are gay men, looking forward to dancing, flirting, drag contests, sex, and perhaps some self-realization. Filmmaker Ferland Milewski used this cruise to examine an international cross section of gay … Continue reading Dream Boat: A gay cruise where not everyone is happy
The Final Year captures Obama administration
A- Political documentary Directed by Greg Barker What's it like to work for the commander of the deadliest military in the world, even if your job is keeping the peace? Greg Barker's documentary, The Final Year, follows Barak Obama's foreign policy team over the year 2016. The film introduces you to two important but relatively … Continue reading The Final Year captures Obama administration
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Murder on the Orient Express, The Learning Tree, Finding Oscar, The Leopard Man, & Loving Vincent
Just another selection of random movies I've finally got around to seeing. A- Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Grand Lake Theatre Much better than the stagey 1974 version, and a whole lot more fun - even if it does take considerable liberties with period details and basic plausibility. Director and star Kenneth Branagh turns Hercule … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Murder on the Orient Express, The Learning Tree, Finding Oscar, The Leopard Man, & Loving Vincent
LA 92 looks at Rodney King trial and riots
B Documentary Directed by Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin I watched and reviewed two films about the Robert King riots in less than three months. Of the two, this is the one worth catching. On the other hand, when you're comparing it to the very disappointing Gook, that's not much of a compliment. In 1991, … Continue reading LA 92 looks at Rodney King trial and riots
Bill Nye: The science guy tries to save the world
A- Biographic and environmental documentary Directed by David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg You probably already know about Bill Nye. He's the silly-looking dude with the bowtie who talks about science and often appears with Neil DeGrasse Tyson. In the 1990s, he had his own children's show: Bill Nye the Science Guy. The sympathetic documentary, Bill … Continue reading Bill Nye: The science guy tries to save the world
Rose Marie tells her story in Wait for Your Laugh
B Show business documentary Directed by Jason Wise If you recognize the singer and comedian Rose Marie, it's probably from The Dick Van Dyke Show. She played Sally, the only woman on the writing staff. (And if you haven't seen The Dick Van Dyke Show, watch a few episodes. It's worth it.) A musical prodigy … Continue reading Rose Marie tells her story in Wait for Your Laugh
Doc Stories Report: Obama’s team in The Final Year
My wife and I attended the Doc Stories festival Saturday afternoon at the Vogue. The movie in question was an inspiring but also deeply sad documentary about Obama's foreign policy team, The Final Year. Director Greg Barker introduced the film, promising us that "For the next 90 minutes, Donald Trump will not be president." If … Continue reading Doc Stories Report: Obama’s team in The Final Year
Jane: Living with the Chimps
B Documentary Directed by Brett Morgen You probably already know about chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall. In 1960, without a college degree and only in her mid-20s, she went to Africa to study our closest evolutionary cousins. What she discovered astounded the world. Brett Morgen's new documentary, simply titled Jane, allows Goodall to tell her own … Continue reading Jane: Living with the Chimps
Rat Film: War Between the Species
C+ documentary Directed by Theo Anthony Human beings and rats have lived together, seldom harmoniously, since the invention of agriculture. Theo Anthony's documentary examines the eternal battle, focusing on one particular battleground: Baltimore. But it doesn't go very deep into the antagonist relationship. A film like this needs multiple interesting and knowledgeable characters. Rat Film … Continue reading Rat Film: War Between the Species
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