B+ Documentary Written & Directed by Julia Bacha I missed this documentary when it did the festival rounds last year, but I finally caught it on a review DVD (sent to me by Landmark Theatres) in time for its Friday opening. So here I am, wondering if I’m reviewing the movie or the message. Make … Continue reading Budrus
Category: Documentaries
Marwencol
A Documentary, opening Friday. Five men attacked Mark Hogancamp with such viciousness he lost his entire memory and considerable brain function. As a form of self-therapy, he has used Barbie Dolls, GI Joe-type action figures, and models to create a fantasy world of his own. That world centers on a town, Marwencol, in World War … Continue reading Marwencol
Kings of Pastry
B Documentary Directed by Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker Full Disclosure:I saw this film at a special screening Monday night at the Balboa, after which we were treated to some of the most incredible chocolate I have ever tasted. I'll try to keep that from effecting my review. You may have seen, or heard of, … Continue reading Kings of Pastry
Fresh
B+ Documentary Directed by Ana Sofia Joanes I hate reviewing didactic, political documentaries, even when I like them. I’m never sure if I’m judging them as works of art and entertainment, considering how well they make their argument, or simply reacting to whether I agree with the filmmakers’ very obvious point of view. And, of … Continue reading Fresh
Speaking in Tongues on KQED
I know this blog is supposed to be about theatrical presentations of movies, but I’m about to recommend something on TV. But hey, at least it’s PBS. The wonderful documentary Speaking In Tongues will play on KQED (channel 9) on Sunday, September 26, at 6:00. It will play five other times over the next few … Continue reading Speaking in Tongues on KQED
Dead Birds
B Documentary Directed by Robert Gardner War is inevitable. That depressing message permeates Robert Gardner’s 1964 documentary Dead Birds, which depicts daily life amongst the Neolithic tribes of remote West Papua—people who had had minimal contact with “civilization” at the time Gardner shot this film.Their lives are a constant state of ritualized, low-intensity warfare with … Continue reading Dead Birds
Oh My God?
C- I should be the perfect audience for Peter Rodger’s documentary. I’m curious and fascinated by comparative religions, and with how every faith creates both humanists and fundamentalists--including atheism. So it’s with considerable disappointment that I have to report that I didn’t care for Oh My God? It has its interesting moments--enough to keep it … Continue reading Oh My God?
Patti Smith: Dream of Life
Musical Documentary Directed by Steven Sebring Steven Sebring spent over a decade following Patti Smith around with a camera (okay, I'm not sure how much of that time he actually devoted to the project), trying to get to the core of the cutting-edge rocker, poet, and generally arty person. He succeeds--with a great deal of … Continue reading Patti Smith: Dream of Life
Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer
Music documentary Directed by Robbie Cavolina and Ian McCrudden People don't recognize the name Anita O'Day the way they do Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald, but as a jazz vocalist she's arguably in their class. She possessed a beautiful voice, a unique and expressive way of making familiar lyrics her own, and a phenomenal sense … Continue reading Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer
Forbidden Lie$
Documentary Written and directed by Anna Broinowski I have mixed feelings about documentaries that recreate scenes with actors, but Anna Broinowski's doc about author/con-artist Norma Khouri justified them beautifully. None of the events recreated in the film actually happened, and Broinowski reminds us of that by showing us the freshly murdered girl, covered in stage … Continue reading Forbidden Lie$
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