Category Archives: Film

In Theatres & On VOD: SOUL BOYS OF THE WESTERN WORLD

soul boysComing to theatres and VOD today, Wednesday, April 29: SOUL BOYS OF THE WESTERN WORLD

George Hencken’s look back at one of the seminal bands of the 1980s debuted at SXSW last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, Rome, Sheffield, CPH:DOX, BAFICI, and In-Edit, among others.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
In George Hencken’s impressively constructed portrait, Spandau Ballet, one of the bands that defined the 1980s, tell their own story, set against a backdrop of evocative period footage, including never-before-seen home movies. Bandmates reveal how a group of working-class Brits came to conquer music and influence fashion around the world, only to break up at the end of the decade. In the wake of the acrimonious legal battle that followed, all hope for reconciliation seemed lost, but nearly two decades later, fans finally got their wish.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

On VOD: ABOVE AND BEYOND

1201-X-782-ABOVE-AND-BEYOND1-400x200Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, April 28: ABOVE AND BEYOND

Roberta Grossman’s exploration of the origins of the Israeli Air Force premiered at Jerusalem last year. Other fest berths have included DOC NYC, Palm Springs, Heartland, and Jewish fests in San Francisco, Toronto, Boston, Nashville, Hong Kong, and Vancouver. The Orchard now makes the film available on iTunes and other VOD platforms.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

On VOD: IN COUNTRY

IN COUNTRYComing to VOD today, Tuesday, April 28: IN COUNTRY

Mike Attie and Meghan O’Hara’s portrait of Vietnam War re-enactors made its world premiere at Full Frame last year. Other fest screenings included DOC NYC, Hot Docs, CPH:DOX, and Camden before its theatrical release earlier this month. Bond/360 now makes the film available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Instant Video, and VUDU, as well as from the film’s website.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

On TV: PERFECT STRANGERS

perfectComing to PBS’s America Reframed series tonight, Tuesday, April 28: PERFECT STRANGERS

Jan Krawitz’s made its bow at the San Francisco DocFest in 2013. Other festival screenings have included Big Sky, Sebastopol Doc, Southern Circuit, Thin Line, Hot Springs, United Nations Association, and Heartland.

After Ellie, a free-spirited massage therapist, meets a young woman in need of a kidney transplant, she becomes motivated to learn more about the process, and writes a research paper for her community college class about the dire need for kidney donations in the country. Inspired, she joins a program called Matching Donors, and offers to donate one of her kidneys to someone in need – a rare act as a stranger, as the majority of transplants are from either deceased donors or family members. When Ellie finds herself paired with Kathy, a woman on dialysis who is desperate for a new kidney, she is certain that her donation will save her, only to face devastating news. More than a simple advocacy film alerting viewers to the need for organ donors, Krawitz explores larger issues around compassion and altruism. While the film is fairly pedestrian on a technical level, it benefits enormously from its captivating characters.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

Special Screening: PATROLMAN P

Patrolman-P-Key-ImageComing to the JCC in Manhattan’s CineMatters series tonight, Tuesday, April 28: PATROLMAN P

Ido Mizrahy’s investigation into 1970s NYPD corruption had its world premiere at DOC NYC in 2013. It went on to screen at the Jerusalem Film Festival and on DIRECTV.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations

Special Screening: AFTER THE DANCE

afterthedance-570Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction series tomorrow, Tuesday, April 28: AFTER THE DANCE

Daisy Asquith’s personal investigation into family secrets debuted last month at Dublin. It previously screened as a work-in-progress at last year’s Sheffield.

Asquith’s mother, Pat, was conceived out of wedlock after a local dance in County Clare, Ireland, and, to prevent family embarrassment, was adopted by an English couple with the help of local nuns. Pat’s biological mother kept the episode a secret for decades. Even after Pat tracked her down, and met her half-siblings, she found herself shunned because of the stigma her very existence would bring to the family. Twenty years later, with Pat’s mother now dead, she sets out to County Clare with her daughter to reconnect with the more receptive siblings and, most importantly, to track down information on her mysterious father, Tom Browne. Despite all the time that’s passed, Asquith finds that the shame and fear that forced her grandmother’s desperate actions six decades ago still maintains its grip, rooted in Irish Catholicism. Still, resolute to find answers, the mother and daughter continue their quest over the objections of family members, lay claim to their heritage, and manage to track down a link to the Browne family that leads them on a journey across the ocean. While embracing the personal, Asquith has still managed to craft an engaging story about family and guilt that rings universally true.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations

On TV/DVD: LAST DAYS IN VIETNAM

last days in vietnamComing to PBS’s American Experience and to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, April 28: LAST DAYS IN VIETNAM

Rory Kennedy’s chronicle of the US withdrawal from Saigon had its world premiere at Sundance last year. It went on to screen at Nantucket, DOC NYC, Sarasota, deadCENTER, Los Angeles, Martha’s Vineyard, and Ashland, among others, and was shortlisted for the Best Documentary Oscar.

My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

On Cable: TALES OF THE GRIM SLEEPER

tales grimComing to HBO tonight, Monday, April 27: TALES OF THE GRIM SLEEPER

Nick Broomfield’s examination of a case of serial killing in South Central Los Angeles debuted at Telluride last year. It went on to screen at Toronto, DOC NYC, NYFF, CPH:DOX, AFI Fest, and Zurich, among others, and was shortlisted for the Academy Awards.

I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

On VOD: CITIZENFOUR

citizenfour-300x160Coming to VOD today, April 24: CITIZENFOUR

Laura Poitras’ chronicle of the Edward Snowden story debuted at the New York Film Festival last Fall. It went on to screen at London, DOC NYC, DOK Leipzig, CPH:DOX, IDFA, and Goteborg, and enjoyed a successful theatrical release. The film was the winner of the Best Documentary Oscar earlier this year. It now comes to VOD platforms including iTunes, Google Play, Playstation, Vudu, XBOX, Amazon, and all digital providers.

I previously wrote about the doc upon its release

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

In Theatres: MISERY LOVES COMEDY

misery loves comedyComing to theatres tonight, Friday, April 24: MISERY LOVES COMEDY

Kevin Pollak’s exploration of the process behind stand-up comedy had its world premiere at Sundance earlier this year. The film just screened at Tribeca after being released on VOD earlier this month.

My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance