A documentary Directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon In 1989, a white woman was brutally raped and left for dead in Central Park. New York's finest arrested five black and Puerto Rican teenage boys, all of whom confessed under police interrogation. Their confessions contradicted each other, and they all contradicted the physical … Continue reading The Central Park Five
Category: Reviews
The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister
This is another of my "held" reviews. I reviewed this film before it screened at the 2010 Frameline festival. At the time, I wrote a full review, which I planned to post just before the picture's full release. More than two years later, it still hasn't been released. So I'm posting this now. B Period … Continue reading The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister
The Other Son
A- Middle East Culture Clash Drama Written by Noam Fitoussi, Lorraine Levy, and Nathalie Saugeon Directed by Lorraine Levy It's rare treat when I see a new film and have no idea how it's going to end, and this French/Israeli co-production is just such a treat. As I watched it, I could see it ending … Continue reading The Other Son
Saviors in the Night
Here's another "hold review" old review. I saw this drama at a press screening before the 2010 San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. At the time, I was told that it would receive a full release sometime after the festival. So I wrote this review and held onto it. Now, after waiting more than two years … Continue reading Saviors in the Night
Love, Friendship, Aging, and Playing by the Rules: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Clive Wynne-Candy is an officer and a gentleman. A career soldier in His Majesty's army, he believes in following the rules of combat--even against an enemy willing to commit atrocities. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp follows Wynne-Candy through four decades, from his dashing youth to a somewhat foolish old age. Along the way, … Continue reading Love, Friendship, Aging, and Playing by the Rules: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
The House I Live In
B Documentary Directed by Eugene Jarecki The United States has 5% of the world population, but 25% of the world's incarcerated prisoners. African Americans make up 13% of the country's population, and an estimated 13% of its drug users, yet 90% of those jailed for non-violent drug offenses are black. Those are just some of … Continue reading The House I Live In
Kumaré
B+ Religious documentary Directed by Vikram Gandhi Can a religious hoax improve people's lives? That wasn't the question New Jersey-born Vikram Gandhi planned to answer in his autobiographical documentary, but it soon became the central thesis of his story. And, at least if we take Gandhi's version of events at face value, the answer is … Continue reading Kumaré
Samsara
A Documentary Directed by Ron Fricke How do you describe a feature-length, non-fiction motion picture without a story or words? How do you discuss something that works entirely on a sensory, emotional level, and yet still has a lot to say? Let me start with this: I sat, enraptured, throughout Samsara's entire 102 minutes, my … Continue reading Samsara
Leonard Maltin’s 2013 Movie Guide
Is this book even necessary? That's the question I wanted to answer when I agreed to accept a review copy of Leonard Maltin's 2013 Movie Guide: The Modern Era. Once an indispensible reference for every cinephile, Maltin's annual reference seems quant today. After all, if there's anything that the Internet can do better than paper, … Continue reading Leonard Maltin’s 2013 Movie Guide
Side by Side: New Documentary Examines Cinema’s Digital Revolution
C+ Documentary Written and Directed by Christopher Kenneally How do today's leading filmmakers feel about the seemingly inevitable transition from a photochemical, film-based cinema to a digital one? Short answer: Many have enthusiastically embraced digital cinema, and the rest accept that physical film's days are numbered. But film still has some clear advantages. For most … Continue reading Side by Side: New Documentary Examines Cinema’s Digital Revolution
Bayflicks 