Now on DVD: BRONX OBAMA
Ryan Murdock’s look at a presidential lookalike made its bow at True/False last year. The film has gone on to screen at AFI Docs, Montclair, Traverse City, Hot Docs, Ambulante CA, and Bergen, among others.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction series tomorrow, Thursday, November 5: SHERPA
Jennifer Peedom’s tense look at the dangers and economics of mountain climbing made its debut at Sydney this Summer. It has gone on to screen at Telluride, Toronto, Melbourne, Aspen, and London, among others.
What began as a record of an Everest ascent from the perspective of the often-overlooked mountain guide becomes a much more complex and harrowing tale as Peedom’s filming takes place during the worst accident in the mountain’s history. On April 18, 2014, a massive block of ice fell onto an already treacherous part of the climbers’ route, killing sixteen Sherpas. This took place a year after tensions between entitled European climbers and Sherpas hit a boiling point, resulting in physical violence that became international news. As Sherpas, climbing tour heads, and anxious foreign climbers react to the tragedy, Peedom captures a fascinating, multilayered story as it unfolds. Sherpas, despite economically depending on the foreign mountain-climbing industry, begin to organize, calling first for a cancellation of the climbing season out of respect for their fallen brothers, and then draft a list of demands for better compensation and conditions, tired of assuming most of the risk in this dangerous endeavor but little of the reward. Recognizing the economic impact of a cancelled season, the foreign-owned climbing tour companies scramble to work out a solution, but largely come off poorly in the end, as do some of the climbers.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, November 3: MERU
Jimmy Chin and E Chai Vasarhelyi’s study in determination premiered at Sundance this year, where it picked up an audience award. It has gone on to screen at Nantucket, True/False, Full Frame, San Francisco, Telluride Mountainfilm, and Nashville, among others. It now comes to VOD via iTunes.
My pre-Sundance doc profile may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, November 3: CAPTIVATED: THE TRIALS OF PAMELA SMART
Jeremiah Zagar’s exploration of an infamous murder trial bowed at Sundance last year. Other festival screenings included Nantucket, Hot Docs, Sarasota, True/False, and Full Frame. The film now comes to VOD exclusively via iTunes before expanding to other digital platforms next week.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, November 3: CALL ME LUCKY
Bobcat Goldthwait’s portrait of an unlikely but passionate activist premiered at Sundance earlier this year. It has also screened at IFF Boston, Boulder, Montclair, Milwaukee, and Cleveland, among other fests. The film now comes to VOD via Netflix.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to DVD and VOD today, Tuesday, November 3: THE LAST SEASON
Sara Dosa’s look at a surrogate family formed by mushroom foragers premiered at San Francisco in 2014. It has also screened at New Orleans, Hot Docs, Mountainfilm Telluride, Rooftop Films, Big Sky, Sebastopol Doc, United Nations Association, and the Seattle Asian American fest, among others. In addition to its DVD release, the doc now comes to VOD via iTunes.
I previously wrote about the film here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Today’s DOC NYC 2015 preview closes with a look at the festival’s newly revamped industry programming series: DOC NYC PRO. DOC NYC PRO programming takes place concurrently with film screenings, offering panels, masterclasses, and special events for working documentary filmmakers. The first day of DOC NYC PRO programming, Thursday, November 12, First-Time Filmmaker Day, presents vital information and resources to documentarians just starting out. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, November 3: DO I SOUND GAY?
David Thorpe’s investigation into gender and self-expression premiered at Toronto last year. Screenings followed at DOC NYC, Santa Barbara, RiverRun, Montclair, Dallas, Sydney Mardi Gras, IFF Boston, Nashville, Seattle, New Orleans’ Filmorama, Provincetown, Frameline, and BFI Flare.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Next up is the second of DOC NYC‘s two feature competitions: Metropolis, which puts the spotlight on NYC subjects and stories. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, November 3: A LEGO BRICKUMENTARY
Daniel Junge and Kief Davidson’s exploration of the iconic construction toys debuted at Tribeca last year. It also screened at Seattle, CPH:DOX, TIFF Kids, and Comic-Con, among others.
Junge and Davidson offer an unabashed celebration of all things LEGO in this fast-paced but somewhat overstuffed survey. Tackling a decidedly lighter subject than their past work, the directors have come under fire from critics complaining that this work is no more than a glorified commercial for the product. This assessment, I think, misses the point that the film is, in many ways, for fans of the toy, by fans of the toy – the AFOL, or Adult Fans of LEGO, in the subcultural vernacular. Within that context, it makes total sense that Junge and Davidson are basically sharing stories of cool stuff that people are doing with the toy, and that’s a perfectly valid, and often entertaining, approach to take here. Viewers seeking a criticism of corporate brands or capitalism likely would best be served elsewhere – this film is not trying to expose the ills of the world or enact social change. Fans of the ubiquitous toy will find much to marvel at, from an inside look at the LEGO creative process involving both the brand’s designers and creative fans; to the expansion of the brand to elaborate fan films and conventions; to the use of the toy in therapy for kids with autism. The directors have assembled a creative, fun presentation, hosted by an animated LEGO figure voiced by Jason Bateman, and even if his jokes are often groan-inducing, they set the appropriate buoyant tone for the proceedings.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
what (not) to doc 