Festival:
The 19th SF DocFest
Dates:
September 3-20
About:
Emerging after the postponement of its typical late May/early June dates, this Northern Californian event goes online with just under 30 nonfiction features. Continue reading
Category Archives: Documentary
SF DocFest 2020 Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
In Virtual Release: HEALING FROM HATE: BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF A NATION
Coming to virtual cinemas tomorrow, Friday, September 4:
HEALING FROM HATE: BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF A NATION
Director:
Peter Hutchison
World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2019
Select Festivals:
Martha’s Vineyard, Big Sky Doc
About:
Former hate group members help others attempting to leave behind radicalism.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On VOD: FEELS GOOD MAN
Coming to VOD tomorrow, Friday, September 4:
FEELS GOOD MAN
Director:
Arthur Jones
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
Select Festivals:
True/False, SXSW, Big Sky Doc, Taipei, Fantasia, Sidewalk, Kyiv
About:
An exploration of the unpredictable development of an influential Internet meme.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Docaviv 2020 Overview
Festival:
The 22nd Docaviv: Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival
Dates:
September 3-12
About:
Rescheduled from its usual May dates, this well-curated Israeli event will present nearly 90 new documentary features in an online format, though some drive-in events are also being planned. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
In Virtual Release: CHUCK BERRY: THE ORIGINAL KING OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
Coming to virtual cinemas tomorrow, Wednesday, September 2:
CHUCK BERRY: THE ORIGINAL KING OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
Director:
Jon Brewer
World Premiere:
Nashville 2019
About:
A tribute to the musical pioneer.
Billed as the first feature-length documentary about the rock ‘n’ roll legend, Jon Brewer’s film is ultimately a fairly conventional musical biography, if not outright hagiography, that feels more appropriate for VH1’s BEHIND THE MUSIC series than on film screens. Gathering family, friends, and admirers, Brewer provides a talking heads-heavy recounting of the musician’s life and career. Attempts to liven up the proceedings through unnecessary (and weirdly colorized) re-enactments add nothing but extra padding when the film instead would have benefitted much more from additional performance sequences, which are strangely limited.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
On DVD/VOD: THE MOLE AGENT
Coming to DVD and VOD today, Tuesday, September 1:
THE MOLE AGENT
Director:
Maite Alberdi
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Hot Docs, Full Frame, True/False, San Sebastian, New Directors/NewFilms, Miami, Karlovy Vary, Cleveland
About:
An 83-year-old man becomes an undercover spy in a Chilean retirement home.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Venice 2020: Documentary Overview
Festival:
The 77th Venice International Film Festival
Dates:
September 2-12
About:
The world’s oldest festival is also the first major Fall event to take place in theatres in the COVID-19 era, albeit with a somewhat truncated lineup of approximately 60 new features – 15 of those nonfiction. In addition, the autonomous parallel sidebars offer eight documentaries among their approximately 30 selections. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On VOD: BLOODY NOSE, EMPTY POCKETS
Coming to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, September 1:
BLOODY NOSE, EMPTY POCKETS
Directors:
Bill Ross, Turner Ross
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
Select Festivals:
Berlin, CPH:DOX, True/False, Big Sky Doc, Calgary Underground
About:
A chronicle of the patrons and staff of a dive bar on what is meant to be its final day.
I profiled the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On TV: LOVE FRAUD
Coming to Showtime this Sunday, August 30:
LOVE FRAUD
Directors:
Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
About:
An investigation of a notorious serial fraudster through the women he’s seduced, robbed, and abandoned.
I profiled the docuseries before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On VOD: YOU CANNOT KILL DAVID ARQUETTE
Coming to VOD today, Friday, August 28:
YOU CANNOT KILL DAVID ARQUETTE
Directors:
David Darg and Price James
World Premiere:
SXSW 2020
Select Festivals:
Fantasia
About:
Actor David Arquette seeks redemption in the wrestling ring.
Twenty years ago, to promote his wrestling comedy READY TO RUMBLE, Arquette worked with World Championship Wrestling to develop a storyline in which he enters the wrestling world, playing an exaggerated, entitled version of himself, only to quickly win the heavyweight title. For die-hard wrestling fans, this was a step too far – a disrespectful, “unfair” blemish on their beloved “sport.” In the intervening years, Arquette’s once-promising acting career has faltered. As David Darg and Price James’ film opens, Arquette has recently had a heart attack and is out of shape, yet this is the time that he chooses to re-enter the world of wrestling, which he genuinely loves, to seek redemption and prove all the haters wrong. As the directors follow him in his quest – which involve several scenes that feel as staged as professional wrestling itself, but also a few which show the legitimate damage he puts his body through – the viewer is left wondering if the entire thing is a promotional stunt.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
what (not) to doc 