Documentary Film Online

Robert Redford talks documentaries

2012-01-17T11:23:00.000-08:00

The Sundance Film Festival is just days away from kicking off and while I hope you don't forget to keep an eye out for our in depth preview of the documentaries of the festival, I'm sure most of you are already pining for any possible nugget coming out of Park City, Utah.

Luckily for you, The festival's founder, Robert Redford, took time last week to talk to NPR about Sundance and why he's committed to featuring documentaries. I've got to hand it to the man, while his festival has become quite mainstream (in terms of popularity), it still remains true to independent filmmakers (particularly documentaries) and has really become a great launching pad for films that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Head on over to NPR's website to catch the interview and see why Sundance has become the greatest thing for documentaries since... well... affordable cameras.

Oscars to tighten rules for documentaries

2012-01-09T06:21:00.000-08:00

In case you missed today's major news, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences says it will start requiring a review from The New York Times or The Los Angeles Times for a film to qualify for its documentary feature category. The new rule will be officially announced later this week and will take effect for the 2013 awards.

This is a major blow to documentary fans hoping to see the Oscars move in a more populist direction. Count this site as one of those bemoaning this change as it also will only serve to allow the rich to get richer. Most documentaries don't get a review unless there's a big name or big budget behind it- or if it gains just the right type of buzz to lure a critic into a screening.

Admittedly, the rule change was probably necessary for the Academy's small (in comparison to other Oscar groups) documentary award staff. With cheaper equipment, a growing cult fan base and groups willing to help push films through the current rule process, the number of submissions for the category have been rising quickly. A staff already stretched thin had to find a way to curtail their ever growing work load.

The rule will also eliminate the complex and stifling rating system used to select the Oscar documentary nominees. The main change is allowing the committee to see screeners of films instead of forcing them to see films only in theaters - a major bonus for small budget films that can only afford to play in theaters for a week or two. Still, these small budget films need to get reviewed before this change even matters.

Ultimately, the rule changes will hurt many filmmakers looking for validation from the Oscars. The documentary industry is not a lucrative place to work unless you manage to make a name for yourself and even a nomination to the Oscars is a big deal (see Morgan Spurlock). So, for the time being, it seems small, independent filmmakers won't have much of a shot at cracking the tighter rules unless these two papers designate a critic specifically to documentaries - which is highly unlikely as they are struggling to keep pace with the changing climate of media news.

Louder Than a Bomb premiers Thursday, 9pm

2012-01-04T13:27:00.000-08:00

Yes, it’s a new year, but I’m assuming the new work week has already left you stuck in the same old rut. Well, luckily for you there’s always a new movie to help lift your spirits and inspire change. If you need a good pick me up story that’s not your standard sappy Hollywood affair, look no further than Louder Than A Bomb.

Directed by Greg Jacobs & Jon Siskel, this documentary follows four schools preparing for the annual Louder Than A Bomb poetry slam competition. After watching an advanced screening, I couldn’t agree more with the film’s summary: “This is not ‘high school poetry’ as we often think of it. This is language as a joyful release, irrepressibly talented teenagers obsessed with making words dance.”

If you need more details, head to the film's official site. Otherwise, make sure to set your schedules now so you don’t miss out on a documentary that will help you kick the year off right.

Louder Than a Bomb premiers Thursday, January 5 at 9pm (Eastern Time) on the Oprah Winfrey Network- and don’t hate on OWN, they have got an excellent line up of documentaries this year.

Trailer: Born and Bred

2011-08-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

Whether it's Rocky, The Fighter, Million Dollar Baby or any number of other similar films, it's hard to deny the power of a good boxing flick. Sure the actual boxing industry has taken a turn for the worse in recent years, but that doesn't stop American audiences from enjoying the story of a fighter (both in and out of the ring).

Justin Frimmer makes his directorial debut with his own boxing film: Born and Bred. His documentary takes a unique twist on the old fighters tale by following children as they learn the ropes. And if you think it's going to be all light and fluffy, think again, I doubt I've seen more broken noses in a film trailer since... well... you don't see many broken noses, except in Frimmer's film.

So if you are looking to glimpse at the future of boxing or you just want another great boxing film to enjoy, head over to Born and Bred's official site: http://www.bornandbredmovie.com. Catch the trailer and see when it will be available at a theater near you.

SIlverdocs... award winners!

2011-06-28T20:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I mentioned my favorites from Silverdocs, but of course, my word is not the official word, and frankly, it doesn't really count. Yesterday though, the festival announced its winners and DocFilmOnline would be remiss not to share those with you, so without further adieu:

Sterling Award for Best US Feature - Our School, directed by Mona Nicoara and Miruna Coco-Cozma.

- Special Jury Mention - The Bully Project, directed by Lee Hirsch.

- Special Jury Mention - When The Drum Is Beating ,directed by Whitney Dow.

Sterling Award for Best World Feature - Family Instinct, directed by Andris Gauja.

- Special Jury Mention - Position Among The Stars, directed by Leonard Retel Helmrich.

Sterling Award for Best Short Film - Guanape Sur, directed by János Richter

- Special Jury Mention - Still Here, directed by Alex Camilleri.

Cinematic Vision Award - Life In A Day, directed by Kevin MacDonald.

WGA Documentary Screenplay Award - The Loving Story, written by Nancy Buirski and Susie Ruth Powell.

Audience Award for Best Feature - Donor Unknown, directed by Jerry Rothwell.

Audience Award for Best Short Film - Mr. Happy Man, directed by Matt Morris.

The festival juries consisted of:

Sterling US Feature Jury: Claire Aguilar, Programming VP, Independent Television Service; Chico Colvard, Filmmaker (Family Affair); Shannon Kelley, Head of Public Programs for the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
Sterling World Feature Jury: Sean Farnel, former Programming Director, Hot Docs; Eugene Hernandez, Director of Digital Strategy, Film Society of Lincoln Center; Karina Longworth, Editor, LA Weekly.
Sterling Short Film Jury: Sadie Tillery, Programming Director, Full Frame; Eva Weber, Filmmaker (Steel Homes); José Rodriquez, Program Associate, Tribeca Film Institute.

SIlverdocs... wrap up

2011-06-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

So a few personal issues cut the week long festivities short, but I can't help but be pleased with the part of Silverdocs I was able to experience. Now admittedly, there were too many good documentaries and too little time to see everything I hoped to see, but of the ones I watched I was quite impressed.

But enough gushing from me, you want to know which films are worth seeing, right? Well, of course we'll have reviews of each and every film as soon as they can be posted, but in the meantime, here is the list of films I saw in order of favorite to least favorite. Now, as I mentioned, the documentaries were so good, even the ones toward the bottom of this list are worth seeing. So while they are ranked, know that I really wouldn't hesitate to recommend any of them.

Miss Representation - I never would have expected feminism to be so enthralling... and educational.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi - Beautifully shot with mouthwatering images of delicious sushi.
Fire on Babylon - A last minute whim turned out to be a gem of the festival. Cricket fans rejoice!
Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest - Fans will love it and newbie's will wish they were cool enough to already be fans.
At the Edge of Russia - A coming of age tale where everything is meaningless.
The Loving Story - It's more romance than political history, but this is still worth seeing.
The Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975 - A compelling premise uses some odd stylistic choices, that limit it potential.
Sound it Out - A simple film of obsession music lovers can truly support.
The First Movie - A bit too artsy for some, yet this will still make you smile.
The Price of Sex - A tough pill to swallow, but worth reflecting on.
When the Drum is Beating - A unique idea that failed to meet high expectations.
The Night Watchman - A great idea with some good sequences, but never comes together in any meaningful way.

SIlverdocs... Day 3

2011-06-24T05:57:00.000-07:00

Just when Silverdocs couldn't top itself with great film selections, Day 3 rolls around and we're left blown away. The films were so good we really couldn't pick a clear favorite for the day so we just decided to highlight the five films in a brief and enjoyable way.

Sound It Out - Ever want to know what a real life High Fidelity character looks/sounds/acts like? Well definitely check out this low budget but high quality documentary to get your local record shop fix.

At The Edge of Russia - It's like a coming of age story... but only if the coming of age story feels completely meaningless. Siberia may be the backdrop for this film, but the characters carry the beauty and humor audiences will love.

The Loving Story - Stories of love and political strife are blended beautifully together in this documentary. You'll leave feeling inspired about the change they caused, but it's the love story that will leave you all warm and fuzzy inside.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi - Some of the most beautiful footage seen all festival. Yes, you'll leave wanting Sushi, but you'll also love the characters- especially Jiro, who is both unrelenting and hard, but also warm and surprisingly hilarious.

The Black Power Mixtape - A well pieced montage of the African American struggle in the U.S. between 1967 and 1975. It's less about the facts and more about the viewpoint (specifically the Swedes who filmed the events) and it's a great piece of historical narrative most will enjoy.

SIlverdocs... Day 2

2011-06-23T06:42:00.000-07:00

Another day and still more great films at the Silverdocs Festival here in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The favorite from the day two screenings was definitely Jennifer Siebel Newson's Missrepresentation. This look at women's portrayal in media wasn't just full of great research and interviews, it was highly stylized and (dare I say?) entertaining. There are plenty of comparison's to an Alex Gibney documentary here and that is certainly not a bad thing. So unless you truly hate women, I suggest checking out Missrepresentation as soon as possible, it's engaging, informative and totally worth the price to screen.

SIlverdocs... Day 1

2011-06-22T09:03:00.001-07:00

The first day we were able to catch three pretty good films, but the night cap was Michael Rapaport's Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels Of A Tribe Called Quest, a documentary about A Tribe Called Quest. This is Rapaport's first directorial debut, but his love for the band and the hip hop genre comes through quite clearly. If you are a hip hop fan or just looking for a good film to get you grooving, definitely check this documentary out. It's certainly not perfect and it's not a mere love fest for the band, but it is everything you'd hope for in covering early 90s hip hop.

Silverdocs begins!

2011-06-21T09:47:00.001-07:00

DFO is in Washington D.C. this week for the Silverdocs Film Festival (ok, technically, the festival is in Silver Springs, Maryland, but than you non East-Coasters would be all confused and I'd have to explain that it's near D.C. and then we'd be wasting time explaining directions to the festival instead of just talking about it).

This week will be full of numerous documentaries (many we are quite excited about) so if you are in the D.C. area, definitely take some time to enjoy this wonderful festival. If you aren't able to make it, well that's why we're here. We'll provide you with daily updates of our favorite films and (of course) reviews of all the films we were able to see.

So get ready for a documentary overload!

Princess Diana documentary shocks Cannes Festival

2011-05-11T07:46:00.000-07:00

The Cannes Film Festival is one of the largest and most renown festivals in the world, and with so many movies fighting for attention, it's a bit of a surprise that a documentary by a little known actor/director is getting as much focus as Unlawful Killing seems to be creating.

Then again, not many films feature a 'conspiracy theory' and shocking photos of the death of the once beloved Princess Diana.

For those repulsed by the notion of showing such a documentary (and there are plenty who feel this way), it's important to note the film is not on the festival's official program. According to TIME's Richard Corliss, a Cannes veteran of 40 years, "Any producer can rent a screening room and show movies in the Cannes marketplace; that's how pornographic movies 'played Cannes' in the 1970s."

But even with this fact, it's impressive that a little known film would garner such media attention amidst the usual blockbuster heavyweights. The question now is, will anyone see it, and if so, will it receive any distribution to worldwide audiences?

Head on over to TIME's website to read more about Unlawful Killing and the stir it's causing.

Theatrical Releases

2011-05-06T11:22:00.000-07:00

Tribecca Film Fest Winners

2011-05-03T17:38:00.000-07:00

Though it ended a few days ago, we're just now getting to the big winners from the recent Tribeca Film Festival. For documentaries, Tribeca is the Sundance of the East- the genre isn't featured, but it still draws audience attention anyway. Below is the list of the award winners, but head to Tribeca's website to learn more about (and even watch) these wonderful films:

Best Documentary Feature: Bombay Beach
Jury Comments: “Our unanimous award for the film’s beauty, lyricism, empathy and invention.”

Best Editing in a Documentary Feature: Semper Fi: Always Faithful
Jury Comments: “The film skillfully weaves journalistic investigation with emotional personal narrative.

Best New Documentary Director: Like Water
Jury Comments: “The film opens up a violent world in an unexpected way through its sensitive and seamless portrayal of its complex hero, ultimate fighter Anderson Silva.”

Special Jury Mention: Give Up Tomorrow
Jury Comments: “A powerful work of investigative journalism. We honor the filmmakers' six years of hard work in illustrating how a society can clash with justice, and the impact on an individual life. Everyone should see this film.”

Best Documentary Short: Incident in New Baghdad
Jury Comments: “The winner is a film that bravely explores the residual effects of experiencing trauma in war in a truthful and fearless manner. Using a mixture of archival and current material, this timely film is the story of one man’s struggle to reconcile war, his place in it, and the legacy he will pass on to his children.”

Special Jury Mention: Guru
Jury Comments: “Congratulations to a film that started in one direction and ended up going in another. This unexpected journey was well crafted and followed a unique character for whom we were rooting.”

Discovery Channel to air documentary on Bin Laden's death

2011-05-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

Quickly jumping at the chance to show its documentary prowess, the Discovery Channel announced earlier today that it will premier a one hour documentary on the operation that killed Osama bin Laden.

Currently titled Killing Bin Laden, the special will provide a detailed account (at times, second-by-second!) of the operation- from the time the intelligence was gathered in 2010 through the burial of bin Laden at sea.

How are they able to create a special in just a matter of days you might ask? Well Discovery is utilizing a global team of local reporters, fixers and cameras on the ground in Abbottabad, Pakistan to quickly gather all the necessary information and interviews. And don't worry, the company promises a thorough investigation into many of the questions we are all wondering: How many special ops forces were involved? From where did they deploy? How was facial recognition used to identify bin Laden? Why was one of the helicopters abandoned and destroyed?

The special will air Sunday, May 15 at 10PM on the Discovery Channel, so go ahead and set your DVRs accordingly.

Trailer: How to Live Forever

2011-04-27T15:30:00.001-07:00

Who hasn't dreamed of living forever- and feel physically, emotionally and spiritually strong in the process? Well, even if you don't, director Mark Wexler does and he's brought a camera along to record his quest for truth. The truth to strive for: how do we live forever? Is there a set way and is it worth it?

Of course, the story would be quite dry unless some unusual and engaging characters were involved and Wexler seems to have found a good chunk of them just waiting to share their opinions. Don't believe me? Head on over to the film's official site to see a trailer and learn more about How to Live Forever.

The documentary is set to release in mid May.

Hot Docs Fest begins April 28th

2011-04-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

Canada, you're documentary festivals have begun!

Though this site features the US festivals prominently, it's hard to deny that the Canadians have a good thing going. Hot Docs is one of the more respected festivals in the world and its focus on international and independent features is quite impressive. But fear not 'Hollywood movie fan', just because it is 'independent' doesn't mean it's bad. In fact, there are plenty of features that have received praise from other festivals.

So if you live in Canada or have plenty of frequent flier miles and free time, head on over to www.hotdocs.ca to see what most of us doc lovers already know: Hot Docs has a great thing going.

Trailer: The Arbor

2011-04-25T14:22:00.000-07:00

In what will go down as the most bizarre documentary trailer of the year, Clio Barnard's The Arbor will certainly pique your interest... especially if you love unconventional films.

The plot for The Arbor sounds simple enough, a story following a woman as she retraces the life of her long deceased mother and renown British playwright, Andrea Dunbar. But the execution is anything but normal- mixing real life footage with reenactments. I won't spoil the trailer, but it's quite clear this is a film wanting to make you think and feel exactly everything faced by the characters on screen.

Will it work? Head on over to Apple.com/trailers to judge the first glimpse yourself. Though it is currently only scheduled for a release at Tribeca and other film festivals, there's a chance it'll be brought to theaters in the near future.

Theatrical Releases

2011-04-22T06:02:00.000-07:00

Every Friday we update you all with the week's theatrical documentary releases. Now, this is not a perfect process as our beloved genre prefers the rolling/limited release schedule instead of a big nationwide or international-wide release. So apologies if a film isn't out in your area or if you are a filmmaker and we missed the boat on announcing your documentary's big day (if that is the case, please let us know and we'll correct the mistake).Now, with that introduction out of the way, here's this weekend's releases with their current rating on the amazing website Rottentomatoes.com:

African Cats - (rating - 68%) An epic true story set against the backdrop of one of the wildest places on Earth, African Cats captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna. The story features Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother's strength, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a once banished lion. An awe-inspiring adventure blending family bonds with the power and cunning of the wild. (Rottentomatoes.com)

POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold - (rating - 74%) Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock examines the world of product placement, marketing and advertising by making a film entirely financed by product placement and advertising. These days, it seems like you can't even walk down the street without someone trying to sell you something. It's gotten to the point where practically the entire American experience is brought to us by some corporation. In this comical exploration and thorough exploitation of Morgan Spurlock, using his integrity as currency to sell out to the highest bidder. Spurlock will shine the definitive light on our branded future as he tries to create the Iron Man of documentaries, the first ever docbuster! (Rottentomatoes.com)

Dumbstruck - (rating - 59%) The film focuses on five 'vents': Dylan, a shy 13-year-old who dreams of being a professional but whose dad prefers football; Kim, a former Miss Ohio beauty queen, who yearns to 'make it' on the cruise ship circuit; Dan, a successful cruise ship performer whose wife may divorce him when he comes ashore; Terry, who, after 22 years of struggle in Corsicana, Texas, finds himself on NBC's America's Got Talent with a chance to win $1 million; and Wilma -- all six-foot-five of her -- who brings her dummies to Walmart and 'entertains' in senior homes. With its heart firmly planted on its polyester sleeve, Dumbstruck takes the American dream sideways and never loses its way. (Rottentomatoes.com)

What on Earth? - (no rating provided) What on Earth? chronicles Suzanne Taylor's interactions with a lively community of visionary artists, scientists, philosophers, geometers, educators and farmers who have been profoundly touched by the crop circle phenomenon, one of the greatest mysteries of our time, and who gather every summer in southern England to engage with it. Filled with stunning circle imagery, it presents evidence that the circles come from elsewhere and speculations about how accepting that -- which is hampered by our scientific materialistic worldview -- could help us think as a planet to solve the pressing problems that challenge us now. (Rottentomatoes.com)

Tribeca Film Fest Kicks Off

2011-04-21T17:22:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival kicks off it's 11 day run this week and while there are films from all genres, there is quite a lengthy list of documentaries at the event. In fact, including shorts, there are nearly 60 films playing within our beloved genre!

If you are in the New York area or you're just curious to see what's screening, head on over to tribecafilm.com to check out the list. Of course, if you are not able to attend the festival, you can always go through your cable provider to see some of the films on demand. Seriously, how cool is that!

Photojournalist/filmmaker Tim Hetherington killed in Libya

2011-04-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

It is with a heavy heart that I pass the word along of Tim Hetherington's death. The photojournalist was killed while covering the civil war in Misrata, Libya today (details are still being sorted out).

Hetherington found acclaim for his Oscar nominated documentary Restrepo, but he was much more than this to so many people. I only know him largely because of this work so I encourage everyone to search the news articles and read the posts so many colleagues, friends and perhaps family members have written. While death happens everyday, Hetherington's strikes a bit closer to home for journalists out in the field.

As I said, there are countless stories already posted with much more depth and eloquence then I could ever muster, but I will always remember him as the man who covered war by looking at the people- both soldiers and civilians- from beginning to end. I met Hetherington when he premiered Restrepo last year. The conversation was quite brief and I'm sure he forgot me two seconds after I walked away, but I will remember him for his film and his earnest desire to make a war documentary that was apolitical. Restrepo had something for everyone, but it was always for the soldiers he covered. Their strengths and weaknesses, passions and flaws- nearly all of their humanity was on display. Because of this it has become and will be the quintessential war film in my eyes.

Hetherington recently released a short that premiered at Full Frame titled 'Diary' about how physically, mentally and emotionally difficulty it is jumping in and out of war zones. It is with great regret that I wasn't able to catch this film and see one last look at a man who captured the big picture of events one photo at a time.

Full Frame: DocFilm's top picks

2011-04-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we detailed the winners of this year's Full Frame awards, and while those were some excellent films, we feel they left out some great documentaries. So below are our top five (and why!):

1) Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles - Jon Foy makes me sick. The first time director not only manages to create a fascinating documentary with a great story, he also taught himself how to compose music so he could create arguably the best score I've heard in a documentary in years.
2) Buck - Cindy Meehl will be hard pressed to find a more interesting and engaging character than the one she's found for her first film. Buck Brannaman is not only the most likable documentary figure since Steve Wiebe in King of Kong, but he also had to overcame a dark past to get to the caring man we see on film today.
3) Project Nim - James Marsh takes his storytelling to a different realm with this monkey related tale. Though it is much more serious than a Curious George story, Marsh finds time to highlight the absurd characters Nim encounters and keeps audiences engaged.
4) Page One: Inside the New York Times - Andrew Rossi's film isn't about fawning over the newspaper (though it does give a favorable opinion), instead immersing itself to highlight new and growing issues within print media. It won't provide any answers, but will certainly spur discussion.
5) Square Grouper: Godfathers of Ganja - Billy Corben covers all things Miami, and his most recent drug film continues to demonstrate his talent for fleshing out unique characters. Effortlessly packing three stories into one documentary is enough proof of his talent, but having you enthralled with each tale places him on a whole different level.

DocFilm returns from Full Frame

2011-04-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

We apologize for the lack of news updates last week, but we have a good excuse- the dog ate our homework? No. There was no news? No. Oh! We were at the over wonderful Full Frame Film Festival in Durham, NC.

The documentary only festival brings plenty of firepower to their four day event and we will recap our favorites from the 15 films we were able to see. In the meantime, while you may have missed it this year, check out the website to learn about the award winners listed below:

· The Anne Dellinger Grand Jury Award was presented to Scenes of a Crime, directed by Grover Babcock and Blue Hadaegh.

· The Full Frame Jury Award for Best Short was given to One Night in Kernersville, directed by Rodrigo Dorfman.

· Buck, directed by Cindy Meehl, received the Full Frame Audience Award.

· The Center For Documentary Studies Filmmaker Award was given to How to Die in Oregon, directed by Peter D. Richardson.

· The Center for Documentary Studies Filmmaker Award Jury also presented a Special Jury Award to The Interrupters, directed by Steve James.

· Pit No. 8 (Auk nr 8), directed by Marianna Kaat, was awarded the Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award.

· We Still Live Here, directed by Anne Makepeace, received the Full Frame Inspiration Award.

· The Full Frame President’s Awards was presented to the Caretaker for the Lord, directed by Jane McAllister.

· How to Die in Oregon, directed by Peter D. Richardson, received The Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights.

· The Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights Jury also presented an Honorable Mention to The Last Mountain, directed by Bill Haney.

· The Nicholas School Environmental Award was presented to Pit No. 8 (Auk nr 8), directed by Marianna Kaat.

Trailer: Square Grouper

2011-04-12T08:05:00.000-07:00

Billy Corben has made some fine documentaries about the drug trade and he's clearly decided to keep to this specific genre of films with his latest release Square Grouper: The Godfathers of Ganja. The story centers on Everglades City, a small Florida town that turned from fishing to drug smuggling in the 70s and 80s. Corben manages to find unbelievable characters for his films and Square Grouper looks to have those in bunches. But if you need any more reasons to see this documentary, definitely check out the film's website. Square Grouper will release nationwide on DVD next week (including Netflix and other Video On Demand services).

Trailer: Armadillo

2011-04-11T18:34:00.001-07:00

By now I'm sure most of you are sick or Afghanistan war related documentaries (seen clearly in Restrepo losing out on an Oscar award it rightfully deserved). However, I hope you keep an open mind about Janus Metz Pedersen's Armadillo.

The Danish filmmaker followed a platoon of soldiers from his country for a year, and used the footage to create a (what seems to be) impressive visual display of the soldiers' lives. If you need more convincing, think Restrepo meets Gasland with a hint of Errol Morris.

And if you need even more convincing, head to the Apple.com/trailers to see catch the trailer for the film. It might be a bit 'art house' for some audiences, but this still looks too good to pass up. A limited release is set for later this month so keep an eye out for it at your local theaters.

Theatrical Releases

2011-04-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

Trailer: Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon

2011-04-04T20:19:00.000-07:00

I know absolutely nothing about the Kings of Leon other than they make darn good music. Normally I don't post stories about band documentaries but when a story tries to transcend a mere 'public relations' release for die hard fans I try to at least take note.

Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon appears to be a documentary to pursue. Covering the band's struggles between their past religious upbringing and current rock and roll lifestyle, the film gives every impression of being an introspective and reflective work any audience can appreciate.

But if you don't believe me, head on over to Vimeo's website where a trailer has been posted. And if that doesn't convince you, check out the documentary when it releases at the Tribeca film festival later this month.

Theatrical Releases

2011-04-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

Every Friday we update you all with the week's theatrical documentary releases. Now, this is not a perfect process as our beloved genre prefers the rolling/limited release schedule instead of a big nationwide or international-wide release. So apologies if a film isn't out in your area or if you are a filmmaker and we missed the boat on announcing your documentary's big day (if that is the case, please let us know and we'll correct the mistake).Now, with that introduction out of the way, here's this weekend's releases with their current rating on the amazing website Rottentomatoes.com: The Elephant in the Living Room - (rating - 100%) Winner of four Best Documentary Awards, The Elephant in the Living Room explores the controversial American subculture of raising the deadliest and most exotic animals on earth as common household pets. The story follows the journey of two men at the heart of the issue. One, Tim Harrison, an Ohio police officer whose friend was killed by an exotic pet, and the other, Terry Brumfield, a big-hearted man who struggles to keep two pet African lions that he loves like his own family. (Rottentomatoes.com) Circo - (rating 100%) Set in the cinematically rich milieu of a century-old traveling circus in rural Mexico, Circo follows the family-run "Circo Mexico" as they struggle to stay together despite mounting debt, dwindling audiences, and a simmering family conflict. The hardscrabble founders, the Ponce family, have lived and performed on the back roads of Mexico since the 19th century. Tino, the ringmaster, is driven by his dream to lead his parents' circus to greater success. He corrals the energy of his whole family, including his parents, his brother and his four young children, towards this singular goal. But his wife Ivonne is determined to make a change. Feeling exploited by her in-laws, she longs to return her kids to a childhood lost to laboring in the circus. Through an intricately woven story of a marriage in trouble and of a century-old family tradition that hangs in the balance, Circo asks: To whom and to what should we ultimately owe our allegiances? (Rottentomatoes.com) Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead - (rating 50%) The film follows the reboot mission of its filmmaker, Joe Cross. One hundred pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease, Cross is at the end of his rope. With doctors and conventional medicines unable to provide a solution, Joe turns to the only option left: the body's ability to heal itself. He trades in the junk food and hits the road with juicer and generator in tow, vowing only to drink fresh fruit and vegetable juice for the next 60 days. Across 3,000 miles Joe has one goal in mind: To get off his pills and get healthy. Part road trip, part self-help manifesto, Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead defies the traditional documentary format to present an unconventional and uplifting story of two men from different worlds who each realize that the only person who can save them is themselves. (Rottentomatoes.com) Wretches and Jabbers - (rating 60%) Directed by Academy Award winner Gerardine Wurzburg (Educating Peter), Wretches & Jabberers follows two men with autism, Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette, who embark on a global quest to change attitudes about disability and intelligence. Determined to put a new face on autism, the men travel to Sri Lanka, Japan and Finland, where at each stop they challenge public attitudes about autism and issue a hopeful message to reconsider competency. (Rottentomatoes.com) To Catch a Dollar: Muhammad Yunus Banks on America - (no rating provided) Professor Muhammad Yunus never wanted to be a banker and he certainly never imagined winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Yet his quest to help the working poor invest in themselves led to both. Known as the father of microcredit, Yunus spent years developing the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, and in 1983 it became a fully licensed bank with a twist-it was owned by its borrowers-mainly poor women, and its mission was to eradicate poverty, not make a profit. Grameen is now in 38 countries and has made over 100 million microcredit loans. As the U.S. credit market crumbled and the giant banks of Wall Street faltered one by one, Grameen put 500 potential female borrowers into groups of five, with loans of up to $3,000 dispersed for small business ideas that each group had developed. To Catch a Dollar follows the journey of two borrowers and their Grameen group manager and the enormous life changes they each undergo. (Rottentomatoes.com)

Ken Burns Civil War documentary to re-air

2011-03-31T14:03:00.000-07:00

If you know documentaries, then you probably know Ken Burns... and if you know Ken Burns, then you definitely know his iconic documentary on the American Civil War. Originally released back in 1990, this slow moving, but thorough film is considered the quintessential work on time period.

Now, Ken Burns: Civil War is well over twenty years old and many younger documentary lovers haven't seen this yet (you'll notice a current lack of a review on this site), and PBS knows this. So to remedy the issue, they are re-releasing the film starting this Sunday. Stretching through Thursday in two hour chunks, it might seem like quite the effort to sit through, but if you can find the time, I suggest tuning in.

Head on over to the PBS website to learn more.

Charges could be filed against documentary subjects

2011-03-30T08:58:00.000-07:00

In a somewhat tragic turn of events, Police officials from Shelby, Ohio indicated they were considering pressing charges against the subjects of the documentary Heroin in the Heartland. The film aired on the Oprah Winfry Network last week and provided an in-depth look at drug use in the small Ohio community. The charges are a result of the film showing participants actually buying and using illegal drugs. Because of this, Shelby's police chief said he is recommending the county prosecutor press charges against those seen in the show. My personal opinion is it would be a shame to charge these people, not because what they did wasn't wrong (illegal is illegal) but because they clearly risked a great deal just getting on camera to tell their story. Documentary filmmakers need honesty from their subjects, and this would definitely cause people to think twice about letting filmmakers get close.

Festival Scope = amazing idea

2011-03-29T13:51:00.000-07:00

You ever hear of an awesome film festival in another country and wish you could be there to see the films? Are you a director and wish your feature could be viewed by more than just the handful of audience members catching the one festival screening you have?

Well now there is hope! Festival Scope is an awesome site that works in conjunction with film festivals around the world to stream films to site members. Currently you have to receive approval from the site to get access, but this is a great idea that hopefully is opened to the public in the near future.

We've already seen how Netflix and Hulu have helped usher documentaries to audiences worldwide and the next logical jump would be to bring the film festivals to the fans.

Head on over to festivalscope.com to learn more and try and gain access.

Theatrical Releases

2011-03-25T05:53:00.000-07:00

Documentary filmmaker Richard Leacock passes away

2011-03-24T07:14:00.000-07:00

Richard Leacock, one of the forefathers of cinema verite, passed away Wednesday at the age of 89.

Leacock was known for his cinematography work on Primary, a documentary following John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign. But probably more importantly, he figured out a way to sync recorded audio and video - a key limitation to capturing quality audio outside studios. As a result, filmmakers were able to capture real life with all the wondrous sounds we are now so accustomed to in the documentary world.

Leacock may not be a household name, but he certainly influenced all the household names that came after him. Documentary film fans owe him a great deal of respect and this site in particular mourns the loss.

Trailer: Greatest Movie Ever Sold

2011-03-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love me some Morgan Spurlock, so the trailer for his most recent film has made me quite giddy. Already featured at Sundance and SXSW, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold is primed to keep the Spurlock firmly in the spotlight as the documentary genre's most entertaining directors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3aslwHzBBo

After you watch the trailer, head on over to the film's official website to learn more about the documentary. The Greatest Movie Ever Sold follows Spurlock as he investigates product placement in American culture by making a film funded solely by product placement and advertisements. It's set for a limited release April 22nd.

Theatrical Releases

2011-03-18T08:19:00.000-07:00

South by Southwest spotlights great documentaries

2011-03-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we shed light on a few of the many documentaries airing at the South By Southwest film festival the past several days. Well today, Austin360.com is taking a more general look at the awesome documentaries unveiled at this year's event. And while we hate to tell you to head to another site, we must say, the article is a good one (especially if you love documentaries).

Head on over to austin360.com to read why the SXSW film festival is proving our beloved documentary genre is hitting its stride.

South by Southwest Films

2011-03-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

So most people know 'South by Southwest' as one of the great American music festivals in the country (especially if you are a fan of more independent artists). But you may not know SXSW also has a pretty expansive film festival as well.

Now again, the number of films (especially documentaries) screening are almost too numerous to discuss here, however, to wet your appetite we'll list the 8 selections chosen for the Documentary Feature Competition. Each of the following films are a world premier (they were also chosen out of a field of over 800 submissions!).

Definitely head to the SWSW website to learn more about these films and countless others.

Better This World
Directors: Katie Galloway & Kelly Duane de la Vega
Two boyhood friends from Midland, Texas cross a line that radically changes their lives. The result: eight homemade bombs, multiple domestic terrorism charges and a high stakes entrapment defense hinging on a controversial FBI informant. (World Premiere)

The City Dark
Director: Ian Cheney
The film chronicles the disappearance of darkness, following astronomers, cancer researchers, ecologists and philosophers in a quest to understand what is lost in the glare of city lights. (World Premiere)

DRAGONSLAYER
Director: Tristan Patterson
Killer Films presents the transmissions of a lost kid, falling in love, in the suburbs of Fullerton, California. Featuring skateboarding, the usual drugs, and stray glimpses of unusual beauty. (World Premiere)

FIGHTVILLE
Directors: Michael Tucker & Petra Epperlein
A documentary about the art and sport of fighting: a microcosm of life, a physical manifestation of that other brutal contest called the American Dream. (World Premiere)

Kumaré (U.S.A/India)
Director: Vikram Gandhi
A documentary about a man who impersonates a wise Indian Guru and builds a following in Arizona. (World Premiere)

LAST DAYS HERE
Directors: Don Argott & Demian Fenton
The film follows middle-aged rocker Bobby Liebling, lead singer of the cult hard rock/heavy metal band Pentagram, as he leaves his parents' basement in search of the life he never lived. (World Premiere)

A Matter of Taste
Director: Sally Rowe
Considered a rising star of haute cuisine, Paul Liebrandt found his career stalled in New York’s austere environment post 9/11. Paul struggles over the next decade as he tries to make his way back to the top. (World Premiere)

Where Soldiers Come From
Director: Heather Courtney
From a snowy small town in Northern Michigan to the mountains of Afghanistan and back, the film follows the four-year journey of childhood friends and their town, forever changed by a faraway war. (World Premiere)

Tony Blair's Faith Shorts Film Festival

2011-03-09T05:54:00.000-08:00

According to CNN, Tony Blair is continuing last year's "Faith Shorts" film contest, after the former UK Prime Minister was impressed with the response from youth all over the world.

Though it's not entirely a documentary related story, it's great to see how his foundation (http://www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/) is encouraging people to get into film even if they don't have the 'proper equipment' most competitions demand.

Again, according to CNN, "The foundation will accept not only movies made with professional equipment, but even ones shot with cell phones, judging each film based on the equipment available to the filmmaker. And young people who have an idea but no equipment at all can apply to the foundation to win a portable video camera to make their film."

Only 14-to-18-year olds can submit films, but there are three categories to choose from: family, action, or musical movie. The deadline is July 1st, so head on over to the foundations website to learn more, because it could mean winning a trip to London to see your film premiered at BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) and the chance to make a film with a professional crew!

Best of True/False Film Fest?

2011-03-07T17:29:00.000-08:00

The year has barely begun and I already have a major regret: not going to the True/False Film Festival in Columbia, Missouri. The non-competitive festival has quickly become one of the more prominent documentary festivals in the United States- serving as a nice relaxing arena for viewing excellent/quirky documentaries.

With over 40 films (some of which premiered at Sundance, IDFA, or other prominent festivals), it's impossible to go into any depth about all these films (head to truefalse.org if you feel the need to explore though), but Indiewire has opted to write a list of their favorites.

The South by Southwest film/music festival begins this Friday, but in the meantime, you might want to see what Indiewire is saying about the films from True/False, as they will inevitably make their way to a festival (or theater) near you.

Theatrical Releases

2011-03-04T06:23:00.000-08:00

Inside Job gets DVD release

2011-03-04T03:13:00.000-08:00

Did you miss out on Charles Ferguson's Oscar winning documentary? Well fear not! Sony Pictures Classics recently announced Inside Job will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on March 8th!

If you missed out on the other Oscar nominees, here's a breakdown of when you can buy them:

- Exit Through the Gift Shop: Available now for DVD and digital download, March 8th for Blu-Ray
- Gasland: Available now on DVD
- Restrepo: Available now on DVD and Blu-Ray
- Waste Land: Set for March 15th release

So there you go. By the middle of this month you could own all five Academy Award nominated documentaries, and if there ever was a year to do that, now's the time.

Inside Job wins best Doc feature!

2011-02-28T16:41:00.000-08:00

Charles Ferguson's 2nd feature length documentary, Inside Job, earned him an Oscar Sunday night. His win helps push him onto the level of one of the best current documentary directors of the past few years- joining Alex Gibney as Oscar stalwarts for their ability to take complex (and otherwise boring) concepts and making them appealing to audiences worldwide.

Now, my previous posts ranked Inside Job as the worst of the Oscar nominees, and I stand by that, but I'm not surprised by the victory (and think it is a film worth seeing). This was a year of excellent documentaries and Ferguson separated himself from the pack (in the eyes of the Academy) by quickly creating a film on a complex subject while it was still relevant (a lesson he must have learned from 2007's No End in Sight).

For those upset Exit Through the Gift Shop didn't win despite large popular support, fear not, Banksy was a new director and he shouldn't be upset with a mere nomination in a year when 10 other films could have easily made the cut. If you haven't seen Inside Job, I recommend checking out our review, then renting it for yourself. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to Ferguson's next project.

Documentary Oscar Predictions!

2011-02-26T08:44:00.000-08:00

There are two ways to predict the Oscars: what you think should win, and what you think needs to win. The Academy Awards are by nature a bit political and sometimes that results in the best films not always winning. This is not to knock the awards, it's a simple fact that must be understood in making Oscar predictions. So with that in mind, we are making two lists: one ranking the documentaries that will most likely win, and one ranking our favorites of the nominees. So read the lists and tell us your thoughts below!

Documentaries (in order of most likely to win):
1) Exit Through the Gift Shop - This is the odds on favorite to win for numerous reasons. Not only is it a solid film, it fits the Academy's desire to go with unique subjects that appeal to the suddenly new and outspoken movement of nontraditional documentary lovers. Man on Wire and the Cove both received an extra push into victory because of this group (possibly created after King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters was snubbed in 2007). Bansky's film isn't on their level, but it still could pull out a win as the Academy tries to keep this category fresh and interesting in the public eye.
2) Gasland - Josh Fox' film probably wouldn't have this great a chance of winning if it wasn't for recent press coverage as natural gas companies have tried to stifle the film's nomination. It's number two because Fox's relentless attitude to get his film out there, plus it's timely subject on alternative fuels may be enough to pull off an upset.
3) Inside Job - Charles Ferguson is two for two in documentaries with Oscar nominations. That counts for something, and with timely subject matter it would be no surprise to see this win.
4) Restrepo - Though brilliantly directed and receiving rave reviews from everyone who has seen it, Restrepo will suffer from "just another Afghan/Iraq war documentary" syndrome. It's the best film on the list, but won't win because of this public mindset.
5) Waste Land - A well crafted and beautiful film, but few have seen it and those who only read the summary may not be able to grasp its beauty. In the eyes of the Academy, the nomination is more then enough recognition.

Documentaries (in order of our favorites):
1) Restrepo - No other film touches this duel directed documentary: either in scope or execution. Stripping all politics away, they manage to present a group of men just fighting for... well various reasons. It is intense, emotional and extremely powerful. It's a shame people try to twist this into a political film, because it's not. It's about war, and about the men sent to fight.
2) Gasland - Fox takes a simple idea and turns it into something both activist oriented and personal. He doesn't necessarily have an answer (his film is almost a lament), but he's also not Michael Moore-esque- condemning anyone who stands in his way. Though it is certainly biased, it's unique style helps separate it from the pack.
3) Waste Land - As beautiful and touching a film as you can hope for. If you haven't seen this, you may be wondering what all the hype is about, but if you have, you are definitely wondering why this isn't the odds on favorite. Sometimes a director finds a great story with great characters; Waste Land fits that bill.
4) Exit Through the Gift Shop - There's a bit too much hype surrounding Banksy's film. It's very good, but not nearly as amazing as some people make it out to be. It is original and certainly brings out Banksy's talent for holding an audience's attention, but in a year stacked with great documentaries, it shouldn't be winning an Oscar.
5) Inside Job - Ferguson has cemented himself as a talented director able to flesh out details in an engaging way. Unfortunately, his 2007 film is much better then this 2010 effort (which comes off a bit too angry). It's only a matter of time before he receives an Oscar though (see Alex Gibney).

Helvetica/Objectified director wants your money

2011-02-24T05:26:00.000-08:00

Gary Hustwit has already directed two well known design films in Helvetica and Objectified, and now he's looking to finish his third documentary, Urbanized. There's just one problem, he needs money- specifically yours. Unlike most documentaries that seek production companies or various grants to fund their projects, Hustwit is trying to keep his project self-funded. This means individuals can pitch in and donate directly to the cause.

Hustwit isn't the first filmmaker to use the wonderful fundraising site Kickstarter, but he's certainly one of the more famous ones. In our current economy, this innovation is probably the best thing going for filmmakers as grants are few and far between and are quite time consuming anyway.

If you are a design fan, head on over to Kickstarter to donate to his cause. There's an added bonus of little gifts for each level of donation (a mere $35 gets you a DVD copy of the film). Or just head over there to learn more about his upcoming film.

According to Hustwit, "Urbanized looks at the issues and strategies behind urban design, featuring some of the world's foremost architects, planners, policymakers, builders, and thinkers."

Trailer: Circo

2011-02-22T06:12:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love the circus? For kids it's full of wonder and excitement, for adults it's witnessing nostalgia and creativity. Sure, it's slightly creepy, but the truth is even the negative aspects of a circus draw us to it. So it's no surprise I was instantly hooked when Aaron Schock announced he was directing a documentary about a century old traveling circus in Mexico.

The trailer for Circo is even more impressive then I'd expect and this appears to have a chance to win over the hearts of audiences worldwide. The story of a family torn between carrying on the father's dream of continuing in his parent's footsteps or protecting their kids from working long hours in a failing business is captivating enough. Combine this with the stunning visuals and you have a documentary worth praising.

Circo will begin hitting U.S. theaters this spring, so head on over to their website to learn more about the film and to catch the trailer for this excellent looking film.

Banksy hits the streets before Oscars

2011-02-21T10:12:00.001-08:00

The ever reclusive but world famous street artist Banksy took to the Los Angeles streets Saturday in what would appear to be a marketing campaign for a best documentary award at the Academy Awards (our round up to come sometime this week!). Ok, it's not a marketing campaign, but it's still cool to see he lets a city know when he has arrived.

Spreading numerous graffiti art around the city, Banksy let the city know he has graced their city for the award show. For those not lucky enough to see the art in person before it was taken down, head over to his official site to see some photos (http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/outusa/horizontal_1.htm).

The real question for Banksy fans is if he will make an appearance or not. Few have seen his face and the Academy recently announced they will not let him accept the award in costume. Needless to say, for one of the few times in the award show's history, the documentary genre is the talk of the festival thanks to this always intriguing artist.

Check out our reviews section to read our reviews of each Oscar nominated film.

Theatrical Releases

2011-02-18T06:58:00.000-08:00

Documentarian discovers 3D Nazi films

2011-02-16T06:24:00.000-08:00

Were the Nazi's the first people to experiment in 3D film making way back in 1936? It sounds too far fetched to be true, but Australian director Philippe Mora actually found two half hour black and white propaganda films while developing his latest documentary.

According to Mora, the movies were called 'raum films' (or 'space films' for us English speakers) so they probably went ignored by film historians until now (because, let's face it, the History Channel and their love for Nazi related stories would have aired something on this if they had known). Mora is convinced there are even more vintage 3D movies out there and he plans to use the material for a 3D section of his documentary (currently the working title is How the Third Reich Was Recorded).

Head to variety.com to read more on this story.

Battle brews over Gasland

2011-02-15T10:41:00.000-08:00

In a rather odd move, the Energy for Depth group (which represents oil and gas producers) recently submitted a letter to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences arguing Gasland shouldn't be eligible for an Oscar for best documentary. Their reasoning: it's not accurate.

Regardless of the fact the Academy could care less what non-members think about their nominees and have no desire to play the role of fact checker (fiction and nonfiction films alike get blasted every year for alleged inaccuracies), it seems Gasland has ruffled quite a few feathers to cause controversy to linger well after its initial release.

This is not unusual with 'whistleblower' documentaries. Michael Moore is notorious for inciting backlash from the industries he attacks and An Inconvenient Truth had its fair share of rebuttals. But unlike those more successful films, John Fox's Gasland is but a mere blip- earning less theatrical sales then a one night screening of a Saw film.

What's more impressive is that this ongoing campaign to discredit Fox's film has only helped it gain steam. The director released a 39 page document last summer to challenge any discrediting reports and has since gone on a mission to screen his film for Congressional members and citizens in countless cities.

I don't know if Gasland is wholly accurate (I tend to side with it though) but I do know this: it's an excellent film, and from a purely filmmaker standpoint, it deserves to be considered for best documentary of the year. I also know this: trying to discredit a documentary filmmaker who just spent countless hours researching and investigating a subject is like poking a sleeping lion - you just don't do it.

Doc winners at the Grammy's

2011-02-14T06:29:00.001-08:00

I bet you thought there was no place for a documentary at the Grammy Award shows. Well you're wrong! In its bizarre way of honoring music related documentaries, the Grammy's host a specific category called "Best Long Form Music Video". Yes, I know everyone knows a documentary is not a music video, but I guess it helps trick people into paying attention, and as long as they are honoring great films, I don't care what they call it.

This year's winner? When You're Strange by Tom Dicillo. The documentary highlighting the career of the Doors beat out some other celebrated music docs like Rush: Beyond the Lighted Streets and Under Great White Northern Lights. Other nominees included The Greatest Ears in Town: The Arif Mardin Story and No Distance Left to Run.

Theatrical Releases

2011-02-11T06:30:00.000-08:00

Every Friday we update you all with the week's theatrical documentary releases. Now, this is not a perfect process as our beloved genre prefers the rolling/limited release schedule instead of a big nationwide or international-wide release. So apologies if a film isn't out in your area or if you are a filmmaker and we missed the boat on announcing your documentary's big day (if that is the case, please let us know and we'll correct the mistake).Now, with that introduction out of the way, here's this weekend's releases with their current rating on the amazing website Rottentomatoes.com:

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never- (rating - 65%) - Justin Bieber: Never Say Never is the inspiring true story and rare inside look at the rise of Justin from street performer in the small town of Stratford, Ontario to internet phenomenon to global super star culminating with a dream sold out show at the famed Madison Square Garden in 3-D. (Rottentomatoes)

Carbon Nation - (rating - 63%) - Carbon Nation is a feature length documentary about climate change SOLUTIONS. Even if you doubt the severity of the impact of climate change or just don't buy it at all, this is a compelling and relevant film that illustrates how SOLUTIONS to climate change also address other social, economic and national security issues. (Rottentomatoes)

Vidal Sassoon: The Movie - (no rating provided) - This first-time, deeply intimate look into the life of Vidal Sassoon, from his early days in an orphanage, to his time as a soldier, his beginnings on Bond Street, and ultimately, the revolution he caused, which continues to this day. Vidal Sassoon The Movie features unprecedented access to Vidal, candid interviews with former staff, family members, reporters and historians. Together they explore the life and legacy of the most influential hairdresser in the world, whose influence far outreaches the industry he changed forever. (Rottentomatoes)

Orgasm, Inc. - (rating - 89%) - Liz Canner's shocking yet entertaining documentary Orgasm, Inc. explores the strange science of female pleasure, and in the process reveals the often warped mentality of our pharmaceutical and medical industries. Upbeat, engaging, enlightening, and provocative, Orgasm, Inc. will change the way you think about sex. (Rottentomatoes)

Certifiably Jonathan - (rating - 17%) - Jonathan Winters, 85-year-old comic genius, is a gifted painter. A famous critic believes Jonathan is "the missing link between Miro and Dali" and convinces the Museum of Modern Art to give Jonathan a show-but only if he paints three new paintings. Jonathan launches into a painting frenzy but disaster strikes when his favorite painting is stolen, causing him to lose his sense of humor (He claims that a witch doctor trapped him in a bathroom and sucked the humor from his body.) Without his sense of humor Jonathan cannot paint. About to lose his big show, Jonathan tries everything to get back his humor. With the help of a shrink, a new age healer, a séance with the Arquettes, Robin Williams, Sarah Silverman, Howie Mandel, Nora Dunn, Ryan Stiles, Gary Owens and others, Jonathan sets out on a quest to get his mojo back. (Rottentomatoes)

The Sky Turns - (rating - 100%) - Mercedes Alvarez was three years old when, in the late 1960s, her parents left La Aldea, a village in the barren Northern Spanish Soria region. She was the last child born in La Aldea. Now, only fourteen people live there, a last dying generation. Soon this village, like so many other rural communities all over the world, will be deserted and will probably disappear from the map. Alvarez returns for the first time to her ancestral home and makes a stunning film about memory and the terrifying passing of time. (Rottentomatoes)

Acadamy Awards to Banksy: No Shenanigans

2011-02-10T08:22:00.000-08:00

Since when did the Academy Awards fall under the jurisdiction of uptight puritans?

It seems Academy president Tom Sherak and executive director Bruce Davis are so worried about any potential Banksy stunt or disguise that they've asked only producer Jamie D'Cruz to appear on stage- don't worry, Banksy still gets his statue.

Frankly, I can understand a show producers fear of suddenly having mass confusion over some clever artistic appearance. But here's two reasons why it's a bad decision: 1) if Banksy's Exit Through the Gift Shop wins best documentary, it means people are fond of his shenanigans, so why not include them in the presentation? 2) Our best moments of the Academy Awards are of people doing things against the Oscars' rigid system (Adrien Brody, Roberto Benigni), so why prevent that? It's a rating boon during a stretch of the award show most people ignore (sorry fellow doc fans, it's true).

But there, I've spoken my peace. What do you think? Post your thoughts below!

A documentary about super computers during World War 2?

2011-02-09T18:49:00.001-08:00

Seriously, this isn't some sort of weird science fiction story. Before there were hi tech computers calculating our every needs (ok, in my case whims), people had to solve elaborate equations themselves. Back during World War 2, that meant using insane math skills to develop ballistics tables for weapons. And while the men may have fired the weapons, women stepped in to fill the crucial mathematician roles needed to design the tables. But these brainiac women didn't stop there, they put their mathematical knowledge to good use, helping design the first electric computer!

Shocked that you are just discovering this information out now? I know I am. So head on over to www.topsecretrosies.com to learn more about this recently finished film that will shed light on this part of American history. Or just go to Netflix and watch it instantly now!

Michael Moore Sues Weinsteins

2011-02-08T14:54:00.000-08:00

That's right. Michael Moore is suing the dude's that brought you the Matrix and and a whole slew of other less impressive films.

The Hollywood Reporter broke the story of Moore's lawsuit which claims Harvey and Bob Weinstein (along with their Fellowship Adventure Group) cheated him out of at least $2.7 million dollars. According to the suit, the two sides agreed to split the profits of Moore's 2004 Fahrenheit 9/11 50-50.

This is quite a story considering the Weinsteins have been behind most of his major theatrical films.

The whole story in all its complexity is over at The Hollywood Reporter, but my question is, will Moore make a film about this? Come on, you know you'd be curious to get a first person perspective of how lawsuits play out.

Home documentary rivals beauty of Planet Earth series

2011-02-07T05:24:00.000-08:00

I love, absolutely love, the Planet Earth series. So when I say Yann Arthus-Bertrand's aerial perspective of our planet is as breathtaking as the BBC/Discovery Channel series, I hope you take me seriously.

Don't take my word for it though, head on over to the official website, where you can catch a trailer, buy an accompanying book, see what theaters it's playing at (lucky New York) or even watch the entire film for free (how awesome is that!).

With a more activist minded approach, Home weaves together gorgeous visuals of nature and industry to remind audiences of the changes society needs to make. This is Arthus-Bertrand's second climate change film, but this one has the support of Luc Besson (of Leon and Le Femme Nikita fame) and Glenn Close- two more reasons to see this visually stunning film.

Sundance Film: An African Election

2011-02-04T09:40:00.000-08:00

Director: Jarreth Merz
Website: http://www.anafricanelection.com/

Summary: In a world plagued by stolen elections, secret government agendas, and a renewed interest in the exploitation of African natural resources, what value does democracy offer, particularly in the tumultuous region of West Africa? For Ghana, a nation that has been Africa’s barometer of political stability, democracy may mean the difference between peace and prosperity—and murderous chaos under military coup.
An African Election is a remarkable documentary that grants viewers unprecedented access to the anatomy of Ghana’s 2008 presidential elections. Capturing the intrigue of electioneering, the intensity of the vote-counting process, and the mood of the countrymen whose fate lies precariously in the balance, director Jarreth Merz’s coverage unfolds with all the tension of a political thriller, revealing the emotions, passions, and ethical decisions that both threaten—and maintain—the integrity of the democratic process. An African Election illuminates a beacon of hope for Africa and for the value and vitality of democracy today.

Excitement scale (1-10): 10 – The summary for Jarreth Merz’ film will hook many, but it’s the trailer that will really get people excited. This appears to be an excellent film that captures both the history and the tension of the 2008 presidential election in Ghana.

Sundance Film: The Bengali Detective

2011-02-04T09:39:00.002-08:00

Director: Philip Cox
Website: http://thebengalidetective.com/

Summary: In response to police corruption, the private detective business has become increasingly common in India. The Bengali Detective follows the life of detective Rajesh Ji, who, along with his ragtag team of assistants, investigates cases ranging from counterfeit hair products to a brutal triple murder. When Rajesh is not sleuthing, he has big dreams of competing on a televised national talent show, so he and his detective gang form a dance troupe—which must be seen to be believed—and rehearse for their big audition.
Set in chaotic Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, the film is shot with atmosphere and immediacy, complementing the mystery and suspense of the investigations. Director Philip Cox finds a riveting subject in Rajesh. He’s all at once a showman, a dedicated husband, and a humanitarian. The Bengali Detective is a layered, wildly entertaining film: a poignant profile of a delightful character, a gripping detective narrative, and a detailed look at the middle class in contemporary India.

Excitement Scale (1-10): 6 – Though I’m always a fan of quirky characters, a poor trailer a lack of recognition from the Sundance awards and relatively new documentary director limit the overall excitement.

Sundance Film: The Black Power Mixtape1967–1975

2011-02-04T09:39:00.001-08:00

Director: Göran Hugo Olsson 2011
Website: http://www.story.se/films/the-mixtape96/?category=&page=

Summary: From 1967 to 1975, fueled by curiosity and naïveté, Swedish journalists traversed the Atlantic Ocean to film the black power movement in America. The Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975 mobilizes a treasure trove of 16mm material, which languished in a basement for 30 years, into an irresistible mosaic of images, music, and narration to chronicle the movement’s evolution. Mesmerizing footage of Stokely Carmichael, Bobby Seale, Huey P. Newton, Angela Davis, and Eldridge Cleaver, as well as Black Panther activities, are peppered with B-roll footage of black America. These scenes take on a fresh, global angle through the outsider perspective of the Swedish lens.
Meanwhile, penetrating commentaries from artists and activists influenced by the struggle—like Harry Belafonte, Sonia Sanchez, Talib Kweli, Erykah Badu, and Professor Robin D. G. Kelley—riff on the range of radical ideas and strategies for liberation. Their insights and the vibrancy of the unearthed footage render the black power movement startlingly immediate and profoundly relevant.

Excitement Scale (1-10): 8 – Though I’m not always big on Swedish filmmakers (and Olsson hasn’t had too much success with audiences in the past), this documentary certainly sounds intriguing. Its scope is large, but winning an editing award at Sundance should hint at Olsson’s ability to keep his film focused.

Sundance Film: Family Portrait in Black and White

2011-02-04T09:38:00.001-08:00

Director: Julia Ivanova 2011
Website: http://www.familyportraitthefilm.com/

Summary: In a Ukrainian village, big-hearted, formidable Olga Nenya single-handedly raises 23 foster children. Sixteen are the biracial offspring of visiting African students and Ukrainian women, who, living in a country of blue-eyed blondes that’s racked with endemic racism, often see no choice but to abandon their babies. And that’s where Olga comes in.
Family Portrait in Black and White charts the rhythms of Olga’s hectic household, rife with rambunctious kids and goats. As diverse dramas unfold among the brood—a high-schooler struggling to transcend his plight through education, a boy longing to reunite with his Ugandan father, and a child courted for Italian adoption—Olga reveals herself to be loving and protective, but also narrow-minded and controlling. A product of communist ideology, she favors collective duty over individual freedom. It’s this philosophy that gives the orphans the rich sense of belonging they ache for, as well as cause for rebellion and distrust, in this lyrical, sometimes gut-wrenching tale about the meaning of “Mama,” “family,” and “nation.”

Excitement Scale (1-10): 4 – I actually think the subjects of the film could be fascinating, but Julia Ivanova has uncovered intriguing stories before without yielding strong audience support.

Sundance Film: The Flaw

2011-02-04T09:37:00.000-08:00

Director: David Sington
Website: http://www.theflawmovie.com/

Summary: The Flaw makes one thing clear from the outset—there was nothing simple about the U.S. financial collapse of 2007. Within minutes, experts had identified plenty of culprits: market failure, a credit culture, a wage crisis, a debt crisis, and upward redistribution of income. That’s economic shorthand for fasten your seatbelt.
David Sington’s rigorously constructed analysis of the meltdown, told entirely by economists, brokers, bankers, and borrowers, plays like a financial whodunit. Moving past the usual suspects, it creates a vivid historical context through which to view twentieth-century American capitalism.
Bolstered by graphics and animation (ironically plucked from postwar cartoons extolling free markets) the film renders complex ideas digestible and argues that capitalism has changed in the last 30 years—and not for the better. Once sold on consumer power through borrowing and a higher standard of living, we realize we bought into a lie. The Flaw has burst the bubble.

Excitement Scale (1-10): 8 – Following on the heels of ‘Inside Job’, Sington’s film may get overlooked by most, but it appears to be every bit as good (and perhaps more focused) than last year’s Oscar nominated film. Sington has an established resume of success and I’m sure it will continue here.

Sundance Film: The Green Wave

2011-02-04T09:36:00.002-08:00

Director: Ali Samadi Ahadi
Website: http://www.thegreenwave-film.com/

Summary: In early 2009, a new generation of Iranians hoped for change through the upcoming presidential elections. Fueled by youthful exuberance and media technology, a groundswell—the so-called Green Wave—emerged to challenge the status quo, and caused a seismic shift in the political climate. A new brand of revolution seemed to be at hand. All polls predicted challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi would be the country’s next president; however, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the victor, prompting a backlash of unparalleled violence and oppression and a massive surge of human-rights violations that continues today.
In this powerful and urgent documentary, filmmaker Ali Samadi Ahadi integrates animation with live-action footage, testimonials, and posts from courageous Iranian bloggers, who dared to tell the world about the anatomy of the movement and its devastating consequences. The Green Wave is a remarkable portrait of modern political rebellion, an exposé of government-sanctioned violence, and a vision of peace and hope that continued resistance may galvanize a new Iran.

Excitement Scale (1-10): 5 – Ahadi’s documentary promises a lot but it’s hard to tell if it can deliver. I’m currently torn between loving this idea and being underwhelmed by previous films of similar scope. Let’s hope Ahadi takes a cue from Ari Folman’s brilliant Waltz with Bashir.

Sundance Film: Hell and Back Again

2011-02-04T09:36:00.001-08:00

Director: Danfung Dennis
Website: http://www.hellandbackagain.com/

Summary: In 2009, U.S. Marines launched a major helicopter assault on a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan. Immediately upon landing, the marines were surrounded by insurgents and attacked from all sides. Embedded in Echo Company, filmmaker Danfung Dennis captures the action with visceral immediacy. As he reveals the devastating impact a Taliban machine-gun bullet has on the life of 25-year-old Sergeant Nathan Harris, Dennis’s film evolves from being a war exposé to becoming a story of one man’s personal apocalypse. From the bloody battlefields of Afghanistan, to his home in North Carolina, Harris struggles to conquer the physical and mental fallout of war. A shell of the man he once was, will Harris ever return to the happy life he shared with his loving wife, Ashley?
Contrasting the horrors of the battlefield with the battle back home, Hell and Back Again is a transcendent film that comes full circle as it lays bare the true cost of war.

Excitement Scale (1-10): 7 – At this point, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have been covered Ad nauseam. Dennis film sounds like a combination of Restrepo and War Tapes, but will it succeed as those did or continue to beat the drum most audience are tired of hearing? A Grand Jury Prize is a good sign.

Sundance Film: Knuckle

2011-02-04T09:34:00.000-08:00

Director: Ian Palmer
Website: http://knucklethemovie.com/

Summary: Residing in Ireland and parts of the United Kingdom, the Travellers are a traditionally nomadic ethnic group with their own customs and a deep sense of clan pride, despite being interrelated by marriage within their small population. When conflicts arise, arguments are often settled through ritualized, bare-knuckle fighting.
Director Ian Palmer followed members of the Traveller community for 12 years and became privy to a decades-long family feud of Hatfield-McCoy proportions. At the center of the conflict is James, the confident, yet reluctant, defender of the Quinn McDonaghs, who is frequently challenged to fight his cousins, the Joyces. An outsider in a secretive world, Palmer waited years before he began to learn the reasons for the animosity between the rival clans.
Disturbingly raw, yet compulsively engaging, KNUCKLE offers candid access to a rarely seen, brutal world where a cycle of bloody violence seems destined to continue unabated.

Excitement Scale (1-10): 6 – Uncovering a seemingly more serious version of Mickey O’Neil’s character in Snatch, Knuckle has all the makings of a great film: unique subject, harsh conflict and a director dedicated to immersing himself in the story (12 years time!). There are several unknowns still tempering my excitement though (mainly a lack of footage/trailers for non-Sundance audiences to enjoy).

Sundance Film: Position Among the Stars

2011-02-04T09:32:00.002-08:00

Director: Leonard Retel Helmrich
Website: http://www.standvandesterren.nl/en/home.php?lang=EN

Summary: This final installment of the trilogy follows the award-winning documentaries The Eye of the Day and Shape of the Moon (winner of the World Cinema Documentary Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival) as filmmaker Leonard Retel Helmrich concludes his in-depth portrait of Indonesia seen through the eyes of one family living in the slums of Jakarta. Grandmother Rumidjah, a poor old Christian woman, weathers a changing society and the influence of globalization reflected in the lives of her juvenile granddaughter, Tari, and her sons, Bakti and Dwi, who are Muslims. Modern-day Indonesia is entrenched in a tug-of-war between Christianity and Islam, young and old, rich and poor, and beset by encroaching globalization that threatens the simple life that Rumidjah knows so well.
Forgoing interviews and voice-over narration, Position Among the Stars allows each exquisite detail to come together and construct a rich mosaic of Indonesia today. The result is poignant, breathtaking, and a singularly stellar vérité triumph.

Excitement Scale (1-10): 7 - Helmrich’s Shape of the Moon won numerous festival awards, so his conclusion to the trilogy has been highly anticipated. Winning a Special Jury prize out of the gate is a good sign and while the trailer is a bit over the top, the visuals and story should be enough to pique audience interest.

Sundance Film: Project Nim

2011-02-04T09:32:00.001-08:00

Director: James Marsh
Website: N/A

Summary: From the Oscar-winning team behind Man on Wire comes the story of Nim, the chimpanzee who, in the 1970s, became the focus of a landmark experiment that aimed to prove an ape—if raised and nurtured like a human child—could learn to communicate using sign language. If successful, the consequences of the project would be profound, breaking down the barrier between man and his closest animal relative and fundamentally redefining what it is to be human. Combining the testimony of all the key participants, newly discovered archival film, and dramatic imagery, Project Nim tells the picturesque story of one chimpanzee's extraordinary journey through human society and the enduring impact he makes on the people he meets along the way.
Filmmaker James Marsh returns to the Sundance Film Festival with an unflinching, unsentimental biography of an animal we tried to make human. What we learn about Nim’s true nature—and indeed our own—is comic, revealing, and profoundly unsettling.

Excitement Scale (1-10): 10 – Marsh’s Man on Wire is a gem of the documentary genre and this director returns with another fascinating subject for audiences to enjoy. Audience can only hope this hits theaters soon.

Sundance Film: Senna

2011-02-04T09:30:00.002-08:00

Director: Asif Kapadia
Website: http://www.workingtitlefilms.com/films/view/film/103/senna

Summary: The story of Ayrton Senna, perhaps the greatest race car driver who ever lived, is an epic tale that literally twists at every turn. In the mid 1980s, Senna, a young, gifted driver, exploded onto the world of Formula One racing. As a Brazilian in a predominantly European sport, a purist in a world polluted with backroom deals, and a man of faith in an arena filled with cynicism, Senna had to fight hard—both on and off the track. Facing titanic struggles, he conquered Formula One and became a global icon who was idolized in his home country.
Told solely through the use of archival footage, Asif Kapadia’s documentary is a thrill ride worthy of its daring subject. Adrenaline will be pumping as cameras from inside Senna’s car put you smack-dab in the driver’s seat. Buckle your seat belt; Senna will take you on a trip you do not want to miss.

Excitement Scale (1-10): 10 – I know, I’m a sucker for sports films, but a great story is a great story no matter what genre. Kapadia brings his cinematic background to documentaries and it appears he has made an excellent film.

Sundance Film: Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure

2011-02-04T09:30:00.001-08:00

Director: Matthew Bate
Website: http://www.shutuplittlemanfilm.com/

Summary: In 1987, Eddie and Mitch, two young punks from the Midwest, moved into a low-rent shithole of an apartment in the Lower Haight district of San Francisco. Through paper-thin walls, they were informally introduced to their middle-aged alcoholic neighbors, Raymond Huffman, a raging homophobe, and Peter Haskett, a flamboyant gay man. Night after night, the boys were treated to and terrorized by a seemingly endless stream of vodka-fueled altercations between the two unlikely roommates. Oftentimes nonsensical and always vitriolic, the diatribes of Peter and Ray were an audio goldmine just begging to be recorded and passed around on the underground tape market. For 18 months, Eddie and Mitch hung a microphone from their kitchen window to chronicle the bizarre and violent relationship between their borderline-insane neighbors.
Not satisfied with simply documenting these outlandish events, director Matthew Bate has concocted a darkly comedic exploration into the blurred boundaries among privacy, art, and exploitation.

Excitement Scale (1-10): 8 – As absurd and enjoyable as this film looks, I have one major fear: Bate normally handles documentary shorts and I’m not entirely sure this subject is worth his first feature length attempt.

Sundance Film: We Were Here

2011-02-01T17:15:00.000-08:00

Director: David Weissman
Website: http://wewereherefilm.com/

Summary: In the early 1970s, in the shadow of the Stonewall riots and the free-love movement, gay men and lesbians flocked to San Francisco to find acceptance. They formed a thriving, tight-knit community until the arrival of AIDS in the early 1980s drove them under siege.
Director David Weissman (The Cockettes screened at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival) chronicles this transformative era through the stories of five individuals who lived through the best and the worst of it. In the face of unheralded tragedy, these men and women relate how they were affected and the way their community united to help those suffering and prevent further deaths.
Elegiac but inspirational, We Were Here bears witness to the experiences of those who died—and, equally importantly, those who lived—in the earliest years of the AIDS epidemic. Its story is universal, showing the capacity for compassion and strength in all of us, even against unimaginable adversity.

Excitement scale (1-10): 7 – It’s been 9 years since David Weissman has made a documentary so you know his most recent film had to be compelling enough for him to jump back in. The idea itself seems to take a unique perspective in covering the history of the aids epidemic in our country and while I’m sure it’ll be insanely depressing, I think it’ll still be worth watching.

Sundance Film: Troubadours

2011-02-01T17:13:00.000-08:00

Director: Morgan Neville
Website: N/A

Summary: Framed by the illustrious careers of James Taylor and Carole King, Troubadours delves into the quietly explosive singer-songwriter movement in Los Angeles during the early 1970s. From their home at impresario Doug Weston’s Troubadour club in West Hollywood, artists like Taylor, King, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, and Kris Kristofferson (the list goes on) wrote and performed songs with intimately personal lyrics, marking a transition from the politically focused songs of the ’60s. While some rock critics denigrated the music, the spirit among the musicians was one of collaboration and inspiration, and these singer songwriters flourished.
Morgan Neville creates a riveting chronicle of the time, weaving together archival footage, rare performances, and interviews from a veritable who’s who, including Elton John, Steve Martin, and Bonnie Raitt. Troubadours takes us deeply into the scene (and its inevitable demise) and celebrates the pure, timeless music and the undeniable legacy of these groundbreaking singer songwriters.

Excitement scale (1-10): 4 – Much like Sing Your Song, there is no specific reason to not be excited about this documentary, but alas, I just don’t see a reason to be excited. Though it covers great artists and features fascinating interviews, director Morgan Neville has been up this road before with little recognition for his work. Perhaps he tries something unique here though.

Sundance Film: Sing Your Song

2011-02-01T17:10:00.000-08:00

Director: Susanne Rostock
Website: N/A

Summary: Wonderfully archived, and told with a remarkable sense of intimacy, visual style, and musical panache, Susanne Rostock’s inspiring biographical documentary, Sing Your Song, surveys the life and times of singer/actor/activist Harry Belafonte. From his rise to fame as a singer, inspired by Paul Robeson, and his experiences touring a segregated country, to his provocative crossover into Hollywood, Belafonte’s groundbreaking career personifies the American civil rights movement and impacted many other social-justice movements. Rostock reveals Belafonte as a tenacious hands-on activist, who worked intimately with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., mobilized celebrities for social justice, participated in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, and took action to counter gang violence, prisons, and the incarceration of youth.
Because of his beliefs, Belafonte drew unwarranted invasions by the FBI into both his personal life and career, which led to years of struggle. But an indomitable sense of optimism motivates his path even today as he continues to ask, at 82, "What do we do now?" His example may very well inspire you to action.

Excitement scale (1-10): 4 – I’m going to admit, I’m not excited by this. I’m not entirely sure why either. Belafonte is certainly not a boring figure and he has a story worth exploring. Plus, Susanne Rostock has a background in editing so it’s safe to assume it is a well pieced film, but there is nothing outstanding or original from this film. Perhaps if it had a trailer or website it would garner more attention, but for now I’m placing it on the backburner.

Sundance Film: Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles

2011-02-01T17:07:00.000-08:00

Director: Jon Foy
Website: http://www.resurrectdead.com/

Summary: Toynbee Idea in Movie 2001. Resurrect Dead on Planet Jupiter.
Beginning in the early 1980s, hundreds of tiles carrying this cryptic message were found embedded in the asphalt of city streets as far apart as New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Santiago, and Buenos Aires. Street art? A prank? A message from space?
Filmmaker Jon Foy recounts how young artist Justin Duerr became fascinated with the strange plaques and, with two other "Toynbee tile" enthusiasts, Steve Weinik and Colin Smith, spent years trying to discover what they meant and who made them. The unlikely investigators uncovered increasingly bizarre clues: a newspaper article, a David Mamet play, a Jupiter colonization organization, and a Toynbee message that "hijacked" local news broadcasts.
That the origins of a street tile can be so captivating is testament to both Duerr’s passion and Foy’s filmmaking. Artfully constructed, Resurrect Dead thrusts us into the black hole of this fantastic mystery but also reflects on Duerr himself, and the personal connection he develops with finding an answer.

Excitement scale (1-10): 9 - I know nothing about Jon Foy but this first timer just won a best directing award at Sundance, so he’s clearly starting off on the right foot. The story sounds bizarre, but it reminds me of Exit Through the Gift Shop (not sure why, perhaps the crazy graffiti art comparison) and that’s definitely a good thing.

Sundance Film: The Redemption of General Butt Naked

2011-02-01T17:05:00.000-08:00

Director: Eric Strauss, Daniele Anastasion
Website: http://www.generalbuttnakedmovie.com/

Summary: Joshua Milton Blahyi, aka General Butt Naked, murdered thousands during Liberia’s horrific 14-year civil war. Today this once-brutal warlord has renounced his sadistic past and reinvented himself as evangelist Joshua Milton Blahyi. In a riveting cinema vérité journey that unfolds over the course of five years, filmmakers Eric Strauss and Daniele Anastasion follow Blahyi’s unrelenting crusade to redeem his life. Facing those he once terrorized, preaching where he once murdered, Blahyi is on a quest to save his soul.
Can a man really change? Should we be judged by what we have done, or by who we are now? Whatever you make of him—liar or madman, charlatan or genuine repentant— General Butt Naked is certainly a mesmerizing character. Challenging our preconceived notions of evil, justice, and faith, this shocking story of one man’s remarkable journey will resonate with anyone who has ever questioned his or her capacity to forgive.

Excitement scale (1-10): 8 – With no trailer to watch, this film by two National Geographic veterans is knocked down a few pegs- only because I'm not sure what to expect. Cinema vérité style is never easy and today’s audiences are certainly less interested in it, but when it works, it works beautifully.

Sundance Film: Page One: A Year Inside the New York Times

2011-02-01T17:02:00.000-08:00

Director: Andrew Rossi
Website: N/A

Summary: With the Internet surpassing print as our main news source, newspapers going bankrupt, and outlets focusing on content they claim audiences (or is it advertisers?) want, Page One chronicles the media industry’s transformation and assesses the high stakes for democracy if in-depth investigative reporting becomes extinct.
The film deftly makes a beeline for the eye of the storm or, depending on how you look at it, the inner sanctum of the media, gaining unprecedented access to the New York Times newsroom for a year. At the media desk, a dialectical play-within-a-play transpires as writers like salty David Carr track print journalism’s metamorphosis even as their own paper struggles to stay vital and solvent. Meanwhile, rigorous journalism—including vibrant cross-cubicle debate and collaboration, tenacious jockeying for on-record quotes, and skillful page-one pitching—is alive and well. The resources, intellectual capital, stamina, and self-awareness mobilized when it counts attest there are no shortcuts when analyzing and reporting complex truths.

Excitement scale (1-10): 7 – If Page One reminds you of 2004’s Control Room (Inside the Al Jazeera network) don’t be surprised. Andrew Rossi was an associate producer in that film. Since then, he’s made two restaurant related documentaries before returning to cover the news world. I’m curious to see how this plays out and am hoping this turns out nearly as well as the film that ushered him to the documentary world.

Sundance Film: Miss Representation

2011-02-01T17:00:00.000-08:00

Director: Jennifer Siebel Newsom
Website: http://www.missrepresentation.org/

Summary: Like drawing back a curtain to let bright light stream in, Miss Representation uncovers a glaring reality we live with every day but fail to see. It’s clear the mainstream media objectifies women, but what most people don’t realize is the magnitude of that phenomenon and the way objectification gets internalized—a symbolic annihilation of self-worth—and impedes girls and women from realizing their full potential. While women have made strides in leadership over the past few decades, trivializing and damaging images continue to proliferate. In a society where media is the most persuasive force shaping cultural norms, the collective message that a woman’s value and power lie only in her youth, beauty, and sexuality is pervasive.
Stories from teenage girls and provocative interviews with politicians, journalists, academics, and activists like Condoleeza Rice, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, and Gloria Steinem build momentum as the film accumulates startling facts and statistics that leave the audience shaken and armed with a new perspective.

Excitement scale (1-10): 8 – I’m a man, so maybe my excitement is just me trying to make up for all my objectifying, but I actually think this is going to be a great film. As an actress, Jennifer Newsom has a unique perspective on the subject matter and her wide array of interviews should present something everyone can understand. Just like the controversial book Blink, perhaps it’s time to look at how our images in the media affect the mentality of millions.

Sundance Film: The Last Mountain

2011-02-01T16:58:00.000-08:00

Director: Bill Haney
Website: http://thelastmountainmovie.com/

Summary: It’s easy to forget that each time we turn on a light, we are contributing to the ecological damage caused by the coal that generates electricity in this country. The Last Mountain gives us plenty of reasons to remember. Contaminated air, soil, and water; coal dust, cancer clusters, and toxic sludge are all by-products of this widespread energy source.
Focusing on the devastating effects of mountaintop coal removal in West Virginia’s Coal River Valley, filmmaker Bill Haney illustrates the way residents and activists are standing up to the industry and major employer that is so deeply embedded in the region. With strong support from Bobby Kennedy Jr. and grassroots organizations, awareness is rising in the battle over Appalachian mountaintop mining. Forces are aligning to prevent coal removal on Coal River Mountain and preserve the region’s precious natural resources. Superb storytelling and exquisite photography combine to remind us that this environmental calamity impacts us all.

Excitement scale (1-10): 5 – No one can doubt Bell Haney’s activist mentality. His films generally attempt to confront the mainstream public with major issues caused by our everyday actions. His films are honest, providing messages usually necessary for the public to discuss, but they are a bit too ‘in your face’ for general audiences. Depending on his approach, this could be really good or just another run of the mill activist minded film.

Sundance Film: If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front

2011-02-01T16:55:00.000-08:00

Director: Marshall Curry
Website: http://www.ifatreefallsfilm.com/

Summary: Marshall Curry’s documentary tells a timely story of political action and environmental beliefs at loggerheads. His reconstruction of the recent history and unraveling of the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) is a fascinating exploration of a modern revolutionary movement and its efficacy. Fusing fervent concerns about ecological imbalance and capitalism run amok, ELF members and sleeper cells employed economic sabotage by destroying facilities involved in deforestation to remove the profit potential from companies wreaking environmental destruction.
Focusing on Oregon-based activist Daniel McGowan, Curry relates the tale of a mild-mannered, middle-class citizen driven to extremes and brought to trial on charges of terrorism for his participation in ELF-related arson plots. Detailing activists’ past disillusionment with public protest—and the police brutality and inertia that often followed—the film poses difficult questions about the possibility of effecting change from either within or without the system and examines the changed stakes for revolutionaries today in a world fixated on branding all dissenters as terrorists.

Excitement scale (1-10): 10 – If there is one thing I’ve learned in recent years, it’s never doubt Marshall Curry as a director. He makes great films and brings his characters and their issues to life in engaging ways. The subject appears fascinating on its own, and having Curry helm the project only makes it all the more appealing.

Sundance Film: How to Die in Oregon

2011-02-01T16:53:00.000-08:00

Director: Peter D. Richardson
Website: N/A

Summary: From its opening scene, where a terminally ill cancer patient takes a lethal dose of Seconal and literally dies on camera, it becomes shockingly clear that How to Die in Oregon is a special film. In 1994, Oregon became the first state to legalize physician-assisted suicide. As a result, any individual whom two physicians diagnose as having less than six months to live can lawfully request a fatal dose of barbiturate to end his or her life. Since 1994, more than 500 Oregonians have taken their mortality into their own hands.
In How to Die in Oregon, filmmaker Peter Richardson (Clear Cut: The Story of Philomath, Oregon screened at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival) gently enters the lives of the terminally ill as they consider whether—and when—to end their lives by lethal overdose. Richardson examines both sides of this complex, emotionally charged issue. What emerges is a life-affirming, staggeringly powerful portrait of what it means to die with dignity.

Excitement scale (1-10): 9 – How to Die in Oregon could very well be the next iteration of The Bridge, which also examined suicide in a meaningful way. Richardson’s film takes this investigation further by including assisted suicide into the equation. Winning the Grand Jury Prize is a big boost for this film’s credibility, but one has to wonder how the general public will feel about such a taboo subject.

Sundance Film: Hot Coffee

2011-02-01T16:50:00.000-08:00

Director: Susan Saladoff
Website: http://hotcoffeethemovie.com/

Summary: For many Americans, the famous McDonald’s coffee case has become emblematic of the frivolous lawsuits that clog our courts and stall our justice system. Or is that exactly what McDonald’s wants us to think? Enter intrepid filmmaker Susan Saladoff. Using the now-infamous legal battle over a spilled cup of coffee as a springboard into investigating our civil-justice system, Saladoff exposes the way corporations have spent millions distorting this case to promote tort reform. Big business has brewed an insidious concoction of manipulation and lies to protect its interests, and media lapdogs have stirred the cup.
Following four people whose lives have been devastated by their inability to access the courts, this searing documentary unearths the sad truth that most of our beliefs about the civil-justice system have been shaped or bought by corporate America. Informative, entertaining, and a stirring call to action, Hot Coffee will make your blood boil.

Excitement scale (1-10): 6 – I’m actually curious to see Susan Saladoff’s documentary. It has a premise most audiences won’t know too much about (or have misrepresentations of) and it comes at it from a unique and honest perspective. The question remains how well she presents her argument. Admittedly, I loathe the ‘media lapdogs’ mentality because it portrays the filmmaker as this lone knight in shining armor (and we know they aren’t the only ones suddenly presenting the issue), but I’ll let it slide for now.

Sundance Film: Crime After Crime

2011-02-01T16:48:00.000-08:00

Director: Yoav Potash
Website: http://crimeaftercrime.com/

Summary: In 1983, Deborah Peagler, a woman brutally abused by her boyfriend, was sentenced to 25 years-to-life for her connection to his murder. Twenty years later, as she languished in prison, a California law allowing incarcerated domestic-violence survivors to reopen their cases was passed. Enter a pair of rookie land-use attorneys convinced that with the incontrovertible evidence that existed, they could free Deborah in a matter of months. What they didn’t know was the depth of corruption and politically driven resistance they’d encounter, sending them down a nightmarish, bureaucratic rabbit hole of injustice.
The outrageous twists and turns in this consummately crafted saga are enough to keep us on the edge of our seats. Meanwhile, the spirit, fortitude, and love all three characters marshal in the face of this wrenching marathon is nothing short of miraculous. We fall in love with the remarkable triumvirate as they battle a warped criminal-justice system and test whether it’s beyond repair.

Excitement scale (1-10): 4 – Oprah already snatched up the rights to this film so take that as you will. This could be potentially over-dramatic/hyper-emotional documentary, but it’s also a fascinating story. I really want to be excited about this documentary, but so far I’m just not feeling it.

Sundance Film: Connected: An Autoblogography about Love, Death and Technology

2011-02-01T16:46:00.000-08:00

Director: Tiffany Shlain
Website: http://connectedthefilm.com/

Summary: With wonderful heart and an impressive sense of scale, Tiffany Shlain’s vibrant and insightful documentary, Connected, explores the visible and invisible connections linking major issues of our time—the environment, consumption, population growth, technology, human rights, the global economy—while searching for her place in the world during a transformative time in her life. Employing a splendidly imaginative combination of animation and archival footage, plus several surprises, Shlain constructs a chronological tour of Western modernization through the work of her late father, Leonard Shlain, a brain surgeon and best-selling author of Art and Physics and The Alphabet Versus the Goddess.
With humor and irony, the Shlain family life merges with philosophy to create both a personal portrait and a proposal for ways we can move forward as a civilization. Connected illuminates the beauty and tragedy of human endeavor while boldly championing the importance of personal connectedness for understanding and coping with today’s global conditions.

Excitement scale (1-10): 3 – This is one of those ideas that ends up either really cool or extremely pretentious. There is no middle ground and unfortunately, these documentaries tend to fall in the latter category. Shlain is relatively new to the documentary world and her desire to experiment and try something unique could be refreshing, but so far I’m not too hopeful.

Sundance Film: Buck

2011-02-01T16:43:00.000-08:00

Director: Cindy Meehl
Website: http://www.buckthefilm.com/

Summary: A living legend in the horse world, Buck Brannaman was the inspiration for The Horse Whisperer. For this true cowboy, horses are a mirror of the human soul. Reared by an abusive father, Buck eschews violence. By teaching people to communicate with horses through instinct, not punishment, he frees the spirit of the horse and its human comrade. Crisscrossing the world with Zenlike wisdom, Buck promulgates grace in the bond between man and horse. The animal-human relationship becomes a perfect metaphor for meeting the challenges of daily life, whether they consist of raising kids, running a business, or finding your flow with a dance partner.
What is extraordinary about Buck Brannaman, the man, leaps off the screen in this strikingly cinematic film by first-time director Cindy Meehl. Part guru, part psychologist, the adult Buck, who was once a beaten kid, has now beaten the odds. Buck Brannaman could transform your troubled horse. Buck the movie may transform your soul.

Excitement scale (1-10): 10 – Admittedly, the first time I heard about this documentary, I wasn’t impressed. Then again, audiences have been swooning over this film and after reading a few interviews with Buck Brannaman, I have to admit, I’m hooked.

Sundance Film: BEING ELMO: A Puppeteer's Journey

2011-02-01T16:42:00.000-08:00

Director: Constance Marks
Website: http://beingelmo.com/

Summary: Each and every day, millions of kids tune in to Sesame Street to see one of the world’s most adored and recognizable children’s characters, a furry red monster named Elmo. Yet, with all of Elmo’s fame, the man behind the Muppet is able to walk down the street without being recognized.
Meet Kevin Clash. As an average teenager growing up in Baltimore in the 1970s, Kevin had very different aspirations from his classmates—he wanted to be a puppeteer. More specifically, he wanted to be part of Jim Henson’s team of Muppeteers, the creative force responsible for delivering the magic of Sesame Street on a daily basis. With a supportive family behind him every step of the way, Kevin made those dreams come true. Combining amazing archival footage with material from the present day, filmmaker Constance Marks explores his story in vivid detail, chronicling the meteoric rise of Jim Henson’s Muppets in the process.

Excitement scale (1-10): 9 – Documentaries covering subjects our inner child craves tend to do well (especially in terms of audience entertainment) and if you add Kevin Clash’s personality with the overall praise this film has been receiving and it’s hard not to be excited.

Sundance Film: Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

2011-02-01T16:37:00.000-08:00

Director: Michael Rapaport
Website: http://www.atribecalledquestmovie.com/

Summary: Having forged a 20-year run as one of the most innovative and influential hip-hop bands of all time, A Tribe Called Quest has kept a generation hungry for more of its groundbreaking music since the group’s much-publicized breakup in 1998. The band shaped a unique sound by wedding jazz-infused musicscapes to Afrocentric rhymes espousing unity and community. Its music became the anthem for cool and broke down barriers for people who had never before connected with hip-hop. In spite of unparalleled artistic success, however, the group encountered pitfalls that eventually caused its tumultuous breakup.
Beats, Rhymes & Life, the feature directorial debut of acclaimed actor Michael Rapaport, documents the inner workings and behind-the-scenes drama that follow the band even today and explores what's next for a group many claim are the pioneers of alternative rap. Rapaport’s passion for his subjects allows them to open up to the camera, resulting in a remarkably honest, emotional portrait that does justice to this seminal band.

Excitement scale (1-10): 5 - Michael Rapaport is an enjoyable actor, but can he translate as a documentary director? The relative lack of buzz (no trailer?) does not bode well for this film. The only thing currently saving it is the subject matter (A Tribe Called Quest is awesome). This could definitely gain steam, but for now, I'm remaining neutral.

Sundance Film Festival Award Winners

2011-01-31T04:52:00.000-08:00

Alas, Sundance has come and gone (we will have a summary of the films that premiered in the next few days), but while we mourn the passing of another great festival, we praise the winners who came out on top. The list is below (note, we're only listing documentary awards... we don't cover fictional nonsense here), head on over to the Sundance website to learn more about each film.

Grand Jury Prize (U.S.)- How to Die in Oregan by Peter Richardson
World Cinema Grand Jury Prize - Hell and Back Again by Danfung Dennis
Audience Award (U.S.) - Buck by Cindy Meehl
World Cinema Audience Award - Senna by Asif Kapadia
Directing (U.S.) - Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles by John Foy
World Cinema Directing - Project Nim by James Marsh
Editing (U.S.) - If a Tree Falls: A story of the Earth Liberation Front by Marshall Curry
World Cinema Editing - The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 by Goran Hugo Olsson
Cinematography (U.S.) - The Redemption of General Butt Naked by Eric Strauss and Daniele Anastasion
World Cinema Cinematography - Hell and Back Again by Danfung Dennis
Special Jury Prize (U.S.) - Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey by Constance Marks
World Cinema Special Jury Prize - Position Among the Stars by Leonard Retel Helmrich

Theatrical Releases

2011-01-28T08:50:00.000-08:00

Get your hair done right in this new trailer

2011-01-27T08:22:00.000-08:00

Did you know Vidal Sassoon was an actual person? I honestly didn't. I thought it was just a clever/sophisticated brand name, but I'm also fashion illiterate.

But I digress. For those who know (or don't know) the hair man to revolutionize hair, there's a documentary out highlighting this quirky individual. Appropriately titled Vidal Sassoon The Movie, it is set for release in mid February (currently: Chicago, LA and New York only).

It looks to be highly entertaining... if not a little over the top in its praise. So head on over to the film's website to check out the trailer and learn more about the man who brought style back to hair.

From Ace Ventura to The Nutty Professor to... a documentary?

2011-01-26T10:30:00.000-08:00

You might not consider Tom Shadyac to be an intellectual filmmaker. The director has found fame making films like Bruce/Evan Almighty, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Patch Adams, the Nutty Professor and other similarly humorous but otherwise intellectually void movies.

So it comes as a bit of a shock that Shadyac is jumping into the documentary world with a subject that seems completely out of his realm. His film, I Am, follows the director as he "speaks with intellectual and spiritual leaders about what's wrong with our world and how we can improve both it and the way we live in it."

Sounds a bit generic and cheesy, but I must say the trailer looks pretty good and boasts a strong cast of interviews. I Am does not have an official website, but you can head on over to IMDB.com to learn more about the film and watch it's trailer. Shadyac plans on releasing his documentary in February (I assume it will be of the limited variety).

Oscar Nominees Announced!

2011-01-26T04:55:00.000-08:00

Ok, so unless you have been living under a rock the past 24 hours, you are well aware that the Academy Awards announced their entire list of nominees for their February 27th award show. But while everyone else is focusing on the fictional films, we care more about the little guys, the documentaries. So without any more babble:

Documentary (Feature)
· “Exit through the Gift Shop” Banksy and Jaimie D'Cruz
· “Gasland” Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic
· “Inside Job” Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
· “Restrepo” Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger
· “Waste Land” Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley

Documentary (Short Subject)
· “Killing in the Name” Nominees to be determined
· “Poster Girl” Nominees to be determined
· “Strangers No More” Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon
· “Sun Come Up” Jennifer Redfearn and Tim Metzger
· “The Warriors of Qiugang” Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon

Frankly, I'm not surprised by the feature film selections. 'Restrepo' and 'Waste Land' are legitimately excellent films and Charles Ferguson has already proven he can make wonderfully informative documentaries. 'Gasland', though not a major player in most film festivals, won a Special Jury Prize at Sundance last year so it was clearly in the Academy's mind. And 'Exit Through the Gift Shop', for all it's early issues of audiences doubting it's legitimacy, has remained a crowd pleaser and with the out cry caused by ignoring fan favorites in recent years, it's clear the Academy is trying to play into public opinion (which I'm fine with- better to be in tune then disconnected).

The only mild surprise is the exclusion of Davis Guggenheim's 'Waiting For Superman', which seemed built for the Academy Awards (politically and socially relevant, respected director with moderate public celebrity). Then again, after a year of amazing documentaries this was bound to happen.

So what are your thoughts? Agree with the nominations? Is there another movie that should have made the cut instead? Post below!

Oprah eyes documentaries

2011-01-24T03:07:00.000-08:00

With all the news coming out of Sundance (distribution deals, James Franco wearing a wig, etc) I wanted to make sure everyone caught what Oprah Winfrey said at her OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) party Saturday night:

“It is my intention to do for documentaries what we have done for books.”

It seems her new network has been acquiring documentaries for a few months now and plans to release these as part of a regular series. Titled, the 'Own Documentary Film Club,' it will be run by none other than Rosie O'Donnell.

While I'm not a hundred percent sure if this is an amazing thing or just the documentary version of the Lifetime Channel, some big names have already signed on to the collaboration, including Forrest Whitaker and Barbara Kopple.

So what do you think? Oprah and documentaries, a match made in heaven for our fair genre? Or will there just be an influx of stories for middle aged women with no benefit to other doc lovers? Post your thoughts below!

Sundance News

2011-01-21T03:39:00.000-08:00

Sundance 2011 kicked off Thursday night and there's already plenty of news to discuss. So let's dive into it:

- Sony Pictures Worldwide acquired the U.S. and Canadian rights to Morgan Spurlock’s latest documentary The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. The documentary becomes the first success story of films seeking distributors and it hasn't even premiered yet (screening this Saturday)! The Greatest Movie Ever Sold focuses on product placement in entertainment and . Currently, Sony plans on releasing the film in early April.

- Sundance first major film? That's right, a documentary. Ok, technically three other films also kicked off the festival last night, but still, it's nice to see the documentary love coming from the great champion of independent cinema. What was the film? Why none other then Sing Your Song, a documentary following 83-year-old singer Harry Belafonte. Are you intrigued? I know I certainly am.

- Earlier this week, The Ford Foundation announced a five-year plan to pour $50 million into documentaries. The program, called JustFilms, plans to distribute money in several ways, including donations to festival workshops and funding individual films. If your a filmmaker (or just curious) head on over to their website for more details: www.fordfoundation.org/justfilms

Sundance Jurors Selected

2011-01-20T04:33:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, Sundance Film Festival announced its Jury members for their upcoming festival. Now Sundance covers every genre but we only really care about the documentaries, so if you want to read about the other Jury members, head on over to www.sundance.org/festival.

From Sundance:

U.S. DOCUMENTARY JURY
- Jeffrey Blitz directed the documentary Spellbound, Lucky and multiple episodes of NBC's "The Office."
- Matt Groening created the longest-running comedy in television history…The Simpsons.
- Laura Poitras is working on a trilogy of films about America post 9/11. The first two films, My Country, My Country and The Oath, have already received numerous awards.
- Jess Search is the Chief Executive of the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation which has given funding and support to over 60 British documentaries.
- Editor Sloane Klevin won an Emmy for her work on the feature documentary Taxi to the Dark Side. Her latest project is Freakonomics, for which she edited segments for Alex Gibney, Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady.

WORLD DOCUMENTARY JURY
- José Padilha, is a Brazilian producer, writer and director. He directed and produced the documentaries BUS 174, Garapa and Secrets of the Tribe, as well as the feature film Elite Squad.
- Mette Hoffmann Meyer is head of documentaries and co-productions for Danish DR TV.
- Lucy Walker has directed four award-winning feature documentaries: Devil's Playground, Blindsight, Countdown to Zero, and Wasteland.

So what do you think of the Jury line up? Personally, I'm a fan of most of the choices, though I'm curious to see how Groening fits in with the rest of the members. What are your thoughts?

Big Winners at Cinema Eye Honors Awards

2011-01-19T05:17:00.000-08:00

Not exactly as high profile as some other award shows, the Cinema Eye Honors is one award show our website can truly support. In it's fourth year, this award show is all about nonfiction cinema. To quote their mission statement, "Cinema Eye’s mission is to advocate for, recognize and promote the highest commitment to rigor and artistry in the nonfiction field."

Their awards show was hosted last night, but will air on the Documentary Channel on January 30, 2011 (so get your TiVo ready!). But really, let's be honest, all you care about is who won:

Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking: "Exit Through the Gift Shop"
Outstanding Achievement in Direction: Laura Poitras, "The Oath"
Outstanding Achievement in Production: Mila Aung-Thwin and Daniel Cross, "Last Train Home"
Outstanding Achievement in Editing: Chris King and Tom Fulford, "Exit Through the Gift Shop"
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Lixin Fan, "Last Train Home"
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Score: Norbert Möslang, "The Sound of Insects: Record of a Mummy"
Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Animation: Juan Cardarelli and Alex Tyson, "Gasland"
Outstanding Achievement in an International Feature: "Last Train Home"
Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film: "Marwencol"
Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking: "The Poodle Trainer"
Audience Choice Prize: "Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work"
Legacy Award: "Grey Gardens"
Spotlight Award: "The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceaucascu"Heterodox Award: "Putty Hill"

So what do you think? Is Exit Through the Gift Shop the best documentary of the year? Is Last Train Home worthy of three awards? I tend to agree with the previous years' winners, but this year, I see some debate.

'Crude' Filmmaker loses Court Appeal

2011-01-17T05:21:00.000-08:00

Joe Berlinger is not a journalist. At least that's what a Federal Appeals court says.

The filmmaker for 2009's Crude is unable to invoke journalistic privilege and is no longer legally able to refuse to turn over more than 500 hours of raw footage from his documentary.

According to the judges, “Given all the circumstances of the making of the film... as reasonably found by the district court, particularly the fact that Berlinger’s making of the film was solicited by the plaintiffs in the Lago Agrio litigation for the purpose of telling their story, and that changes to the film were made at their instance, Berlinger failed to carry his burden of showing that he collected information for the purpose of independent reporting and commentary.”

Lawyers for Chevron have sought Berlinger's footage for months because they believe it demonstrates collusion between the plaintiffs in the Lago Agrio lawsuit and a court appointed independent expert.

For those who don't know, Crude chronicles the lawsuit brought by a group of Ecuadoreans who say Texaco's (now owned by Chevron) Lago Agrio oil field polluted their water supply. It remains locked in legal battle.

Berlinger (and most other documentary filmmakers) are understandably upset by the ruling which continues to wedge a distinction between documentaries and journalism.

What do you think? Should Berlinger be considered a journalist? Or do filmmakers operate in an unprotected gray area?

Theatrical Releases

2011-01-15T07:13:00.000-08:00

Plastic Planet - (rating - 43%) - We live in the age of plastic. It's cheap and practical, and it's everywhere - even in our blood. But is it a danger to us? The amount of plastic we have produced since it was invented would be enough to cover the entire globe six times over. But this inexpensive and convenient substance comes with a hefty price. Plastic stays in the ground and water system for up to 500 years. Numerous studies have proven that the chemicals it releases migrate into the human body and may contribute to or cause grave health problems. For Austrian German director Werner Boote, plastic is personal. His grandfather was one of the early manufacturers of plastic and he introduced Boote at a young age to the magic substance that would change the world. Many years later, after reading about the global threat posed by plastic, he decides to embark on a quest to discover the truth about this pervasive substance.(Rottentomatoes)

Petition - (rating - 100%) - Since 1996, Zhao has documented the 'petitioners' who come from all over China to make complaints in Beijing about abuses committed by their local authorities. Gathered near the complaint offices, living in most cases in makeshift shelters, the complainants wait for months or years to obtain justice. Peasants thrown off their land, workers from factories which have gone into liquidation, small homeowners who have seen their houses demolished but received no compensation, they pursue justice with unceasing stubbornness, facing the most brutal intimidation and most often finding that their hopes are in vain. Unfolding like a novel by Zola or Dickens, but with the existential absurdity of Beckett, “Petition” reveals the persistent contradictions of China in the midst of powerful economic expansion. (Rottentomatoes)

I'm Dangerous with Love - (rating - 40%) African shamans have used Ibogaine in their rituals for centuries, but in the US it is classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance and illegal, so Dimitri must work in underground networks to guide addicts through the same detox that he says saved his life. “I'm Dangerous with Love” traces Dimitri's risky journey as he treats desperate drug users. It follows this man of edgy energy as he goes from one addict to the next without stopping to catch his breath. It also follows him on his own search for recovery when one session goes bad in a remote snowed-in Canadian home, and a quiet young man almost dies. Dimitri must decide whether or not to continue his mission. Is he serving the addicts or simply releasing his own demons? To find answers, Dimitri travels to Gabon, West Africa, to consult with Bwiti shamans, and puts himself through a punishing Iboga initiation. (Rottentomatoes)

Autism film gets all-star soundtrack

2011-01-12T06:21:00.000-08:00

Going from (in my mind) obscurity to limelight, Gerardine Wurzburg's latest documentary has become a pleasant surprise. Titled, Wretches and Jabbers, the film follows two autistic men travelling the world to change our perceptions of disabilities and intelligence.

Providing a direct outlet for those with autism, the film is certainly worth consideration, especially considering Wurzburg's Oscar winning pedigree and extensive work covering the disability. However, if you needed further reason to support Wretches and Jabbers, perhaps it's impressive collection of musical talent will sway you.

The soundtrack (released yesterday) features 20 original songs written and produced by (Grammy award winner) J. Ralph and features artists like Antony, Vincent Gallo, Ben Harper, Norah Jones, Scarlett Johannson, Carly Simon, Steven Stills, Bob Weir and more.

Already playing in a limited screening capacity, Wretches and Jabbers will only get a boost from the media attention on this soundtrack, so I expect a limited theatrical run or DVD release in the near future. In the meantime, head on over to the film's website to learn more about the documentary and its soundtrack, watch a trailer, or just learn about the two main characters.

12th Annual Golden Tomato Awards Announced

2011-01-11T06:30:00.001-08:00

For all of you not familiar with the great website Rottentomatoes.com, you're missing out on a film site that compiles numerous reviews to create a love/hate percentage for released movies. The site's success allows it to compile the best and worst of the year and announce those to the world.

This year's top documentaries (according to their system):

1) Marwencol
2) Waste Land
3) Restrepo
4) Exit through the Gift Shop
5) Inside Job

Not a bad list and it's probably a strong indication of who the front runners are for the Academy Awards. But, it is important (and odd) to note that Rottentomatoes listed 'Last Train Home' ahead of the aforementioned documentaries in it's list of top 'limited release' films. So there could be a battle brewing with the award season getting into full swing.

Head on over to Rottentomatoes.com for the full details then tell us your thoughts. Do you think Marwencol was the best documentary of 2010?

Theatrical Releases

2011-01-08T09:31:00.000-08:00

CNBC's “THE FACEBOOK OBSESSION”

2011-01-06T06:14:00.000-08:00

You love Facebook. We love Facebook. Heck, millions of people love, nay obsess over, Facebook. The question is 'why'? With the hit fictional film 'The Social Network' and numerous public lawsuits against its founder, its no surprise a few documentary filmmakers want to explore every detail surrounding the massive Mark Zuckerberg creation.

CNBC's The Facebook Obsession may be the most broad reaching of documentaries on the subject to date. Correspondent Lester Holt anchors the film as it covers both the history of the website and its impact (good and bad) on individuals.

The documentary premiers tonight, so stop 'poking' your friends and head on over to CNBC's website to get more info, watch a trailer and see other Facebook related clips.

WGA Nominees for Best Documentary Screenplay

2011-01-05T05:55:00.000-08:00

A new year, a new award season and to start things off, the Writers Guild of America announced their nominees for 2010 film season. Surprisingly, the WGA has a category titled "Documentary Screen Play" so naturally we jumped at the chance to cover the announcement.

Now, because it is the Writers Guild, there are certain regulations that prevent non-union documentaries from being considered, so don't fret if your favorite documentary didn't get the nod. Alright, enough babbling here are the nominees:

1) Enemies of the People, Written, Directed, Filmed and Produced by Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath; International Film Circuit

2) Freedom Riders, Written, Produced and Directed by Stanley Nelson; International Film Circuit

3) Gasland, Written and Directed by Josh Fox; HBO Documentary Films and International WOW Company

4) Inside Job, Produced, Written and Directed by Charles Ferguson; Co-written by Chad Beck, Adam Bolt; Sony Pictures Classics

5) The Two Escobars, Written by Michael Zimbalist, Jeff Zimbalist; ESPN Films

6) Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)?, Written and Directed by John Scheinfeld; Lorber Films

So there's the list? What are your thoughts? Are you as surprised as we are about Enemies of the People receiving such praise (check are review out to understand our thoughts).

Documentaries rock!... but nobody cares?

2011-01-04T06:50:00.000-08:00

The New York Times wrote an interesting, but semi-depressing article over the weekend discussing the current state of documentaries. Indeed, it's clear that after several years of 'blockbuster' hits and rising ticket sales, the documentary genre took a hit this year, receiving little to no attention from theater audiences.

If you've been able to see the Oscar Nominee's shortlist, you'll know there are some excellent films out this year, so clearly the product isn't suffering. So why the low attendance? Well, I'm no New York Times writer so you'll have to check it out for yourself but my personal thoughts- despite growing interest from distribution companies in picking up the rights to films, there isn't the same marketing push previous successful doc's enjoyed, nor are there major theatrical runs outside of the usual art house options.

But tell us your thoughts?

Michael Jackson Special Postponed

2011-01-02T08:34:00.000-08:00

New Years is about starting over and getting a fresh start and The Discovery Channel is trying to do just that. Last week, the network decided to "postpone indefinitely" their re-enactment of the 2009 Michael Jackson autopsy. Apparently friends and family of the late pop-music star didn't appreciate a network displaying the (fake) dead body of Jackson and mustered up enough complaints to force the network to reconsider.

“Michael Jackson’s Autopsy: What Really Killed Michael Jackson” was scheduled to air on on Jan. 13 in several countries around Europe (sorry Americans, the U.S. was not in the original release plans).