A Showbiz documentary Directed by Samuel D. Pollard Sammy Davis, Jr. held the spotlight as an ever-present part of the entertainment world when I was a kid. But until I saw Samuel D. Pollard's documentary, Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me, I had never really thought about him and didn't recognize his incredible talent. … Continue reading Sammy Davis Jr. had to be himself
Category: Documentaries
Monrovia Indiana: Not much to see here
C documentary Directed by Frederick Wiseman Frederick Wiseman's latest documentary studies life in a small, agricultural town in what we might call Trump country. We see people at work. We see people exercising. We see people joking around and telling funny stories. We see people in church and in town meetings. And when we don't … Continue reading Monrovia Indiana: Not much to see here
A celebration of The Great Buster
B+ Showbiz documentary Directed by Peter Bogdanovich There's no question in my mind that film historian and filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show) considers Buster Keaton to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, physical comedian since the invention of the movies. I agree completely. I'm such a big fan of the … Continue reading A celebration of The Great Buster
Good film/bad film: The Other Side of the Wind & They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead
We waited more than 40 years to see Orson Welles' final film, The Other Side of the Wind. What a disappointment! This just may be the worst film ever by a major auteur. On the other hand, we now have They'll Love Me When I'm Dead, Morgan Neville's excellent documentary on the making of Wind. … Continue reading Good film/bad film: The Other Side of the Wind & They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead
The War at Home seems so far away now
B Restored documentary Directed by Glenn Silber and Barry Alexander Brown I usually review new films. But this time, I'm reviewing a new restoration of a nearly 40-year-old documentary. Some people may find it nostalgic; I didn't. From the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, America was in a hopeless, unwinnable, far-away war in Vietnam. College students, … Continue reading The War at Home seems so far away now
United Nations Festival starts tonight
I can't possibly cover all the Bay Area film festivals. It's hard enough just listing them. However, just this morning, I realized that I should write something about the United Nations Association Film Festival, which opens tonight. After all, its screening three movies that I've already seen. None of these films are likely to get … Continue reading United Nations Festival starts tonight
Bias & Hate: Sunday at the Mill Valley Film Festival
I went to Mill Valley yesterday for the Mill Valley Film Festival (I usually go to the Rafael). I saw two films, one documentary and one narrative, and both about prejudice. B+ Bias Everyone, even the least racist and sexist among us, have implicit biases - the prejudices you don't even know you have. Even computer … Continue reading Bias & Hate: Sunday at the Mill Valley Film Festival
Music, slapstick, art, & fascism: Saturday at the Mill Valley Film Festival
I saw four films Saturday at the Mill Valley Film Festival, and I never stepped a foot in Mill Valley. I saw all four in the small, upstairs auditoriums at the Rafael. The first was a narrative; the rest were documentaries. B- The Independents The music is pretty good, but not exceptional. The same could … Continue reading Music, slapstick, art, & fascism: Saturday at the Mill Valley Film Festival
Bisbee ’17: Small town with a cruel past
B+ Documentary Directed by Robert Greene Special screening at New Mission, Monday, 7:00 Opens Friday Written text on a red background tells us the story before the movie really starts. In 1917, Bisbee, Arizona was a prosperous mining town. But many of the miners wanted a part of that prosperity and joined the International Workers of … Continue reading Bisbee ’17: Small town with a cruel past
A Love Letter to Gilda Radner
A Documentary Directed by Lisa D'Apolito You'll laugh a lot in Lisa D'Apolito's documentary on comedian Gilda Radner. The clips, from the early seasons of Saturday Night Live, Second City, her Broadway show, and elsewhere, are abundant and hilarious. It might feel strange to laugh so much over the life of a great and troubled … Continue reading A Love Letter to Gilda Radner
Bayflicks 