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
Category: Social Issues
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
Cinema & the African American Experience
I have never experienced what black people must go through every day in this country. I can read about it. I can listen to interviews. And, of course, I can see films about it. Here are 10 films about the African American experience worth watching. There are far, far more. I admit that several other … Continue reading Cinema & the African American Experience
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?
José: Gay, but boring
D+ Gay coming-of-age drama Written by Li Cheng and George F. Roberson Directed by Li Cheng A gay coming-of-age story should not be boring - especially if the movie is sexually explicit. But in José, the main character is, himself, exceptionally boring. José lives with his mother in a tiny apartment in Guatemala City. Mom … Continue reading José: Gay, but boring
Nuestras Madres (Our Mothers)
B+ political mystery Written and directed by César Díaz César Díaz set out to make a documentary about Guatemala's genocide, but he changed his mind and made a fictional, narrative film instead. What he lost in that decision was information; he couldn't just have a narrator explaining what had happened. (Or at least it would … Continue reading Nuestras Madres (Our Mothers)
Capital in the Twenty-First Century
B+ Financial documentary Directed by Justin Pemberton Based on the book by Thomas Piketty I can't tell you how many documentaries I've seen about economic inequality. But this one is different. It's kind of fun while it makes you angry. It also takes a wide view of the problem, looking back into the 18th century … Continue reading Capital in the Twenty-First Century
Films that increase empathy
Roger Ebert once called movies "a machine that generates empathy." I'm not sure that's always true. Triumph of the Will generated a lot of emotions, but empathy wasn't one of them. And yet, the best films can help you understand those trapped in poverty, loneliness, and sickness. Ever since the invention of the close-up, motion … Continue reading Films that increase empathy
Gerrymandering gets boring in Slay the Dragon
C+ Documentary Directed by Barak Goodman and Chris Durrance We all know that gerrymandering is a threat to our democracy. Filmmakers Barak Goodman and Chris Durrance want us to understand how we can end this problem. But their documentary is sometimes scattered, unfocused, and conventional. It's also occasionally boring. Gerrymandering has been around almost as … Continue reading Gerrymandering gets boring in Slay the Dragon
Depressing but necessary: Sorry We Missed You
A- Drama Written by Paul Laverty Directed by Ken Loach With a title like Sorry We Missed You, you'd expect a light, romantic comedy. Instead, you get something entirely different. Imagine a food that you absolutely hate, but you eat it anyway because it's good for you. That's like the experience of seeing Ken Loach's … Continue reading Depressing but necessary: Sorry We Missed You
