Category Archives: Film

October 18, 2011 · 12:01 PM

On Cable: MISS REPRESENTATION

Premiering on OWN as part of Oprah’s Documentary Club this Thursday, October 20: MISS REPRESENTATION

Jennifer Siebel Newsom tackles media objectification of women in her documentary debut, which premiered earlier this year at Sundance and has gone on to a healthy festival run since. After an Oscar-qualifying run this summer via DocuWeeks, the film makes its cable bow with the endorsement of the queen of media, Oprah.

I profiled the film before Sundance here.

Support the OWN Documentary Club by tuning in Thursday at 9pm!

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

October 18, 2011 · 10:30 AM

In Theatres: BEING ELMO

Coming to theatres this Friday, October 21: BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEER’S JOURNEY

Constance Marks brought her portrait of the man behind Elmo to Sundance for its world premiere, picking up a Special Jury Prize in the process. Additional awards have followed at other fests since then.

My pre-Sundance profile may be found here.

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October 17, 2011 · 5:23 PM

On Cable: SING YOUR SONG

Coming to HBO tonight, Monday, October 17: SING YOUR SONG

Susanne Rostock’s biography on performer/activist Harry Belafonte premiered at the beginning of the year at Sundance. Since then, it has screened at numerous additional festivals, and makes its cable premiere with HBO.

My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found

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October 17, 2011 · 10:30 AM

On DVD: BEATS, RHYMES & LIFE

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, October 18: BEATS, RHYMES & LIFE: THE TRAVELS OF A TRIBE CALLED QUEST

Michael Rapaport brought his documentary directorial debut to Sundance for its world premiere. It was released theatrically this summer by Sony Pictures Classics.

I profiled the film before Sundance

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October 14, 2011 · 10:30 AM

In the Works: I AM DIVINE

John Waters’ inimitable and outrageous muse gets the bio doc treatment by the filmmaker who’s already crafted the definitive portraits of porn star Jack Wrangler, activist Vito Russo, and filmmaker showman William Castle.

Jeffrey Schwarz adds another larger-than-life character to his already impressive list of film biographies with this portrait of Harris Glenn Milstead, better known as the one and only Divine. Through his outrageous collaborations with John Waters, the Baltimore native became heralded the world over as the queen of trash cinema and a symbol of proud non-conformity. The imposing Divine took drag to a new, confrontational, and almost surreal extreme, creating an unforgettable persona who was always the standout of Waters’ films until her untimely death in 1988. I AM DIVINE aims to capture Milstead’s – and Divine’s – lives through her work, rare archival footage, and interviews with those who knew the performer best.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, In the Works

October 13, 2011 · 10:30 AM

On DVD: PAGE ONE

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, October 18: PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES

Director Andrew Rossi premiered his in-depth study of the Gray Lady at Sundance. The film went on to screen at numerous other festivals and had a limited theatrical release this summer.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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

October 12, 2011 · 12:46 PM

Dear Documentary Filmmakers: Advocacy

Dear Documentary Filmmakers: Are these endless scenes of committee meetings supposed to win me over to your cause?

Social issue documentary can be an incredibly important and potentially powerful tool to instill change. Done properly, it can help strengthen the support of those already on your side, and, ideally get the word out to educate others on your issue and hopefully win new supporters. Mishandled, your doc makes no difference, reaches no one, and has cost you time and resources that could have served your cause better in another way.

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October 12, 2011 · 10:48 AM

In Theatres: BOMBAY BEACH

Coming to NYC’s IFC Center this Friday, October 14 and LA’s Laemmle’s Sunset 5 next Friday, October 21: BOMBAY BEACH

Noted music video director Alma Har’el made her doc feature directorial debut about California’s barren Salton Sea and its residents. The film premiered at Berlin, then went on to claim Best Documentary at this year’s Tribeca. It’s screened at numerous festivals since then, and claimed a Special Jury Award at Sheffield.

I wrote about the film out of Tribeca here.

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October 11, 2011 · 12:01 PM

Hamptons International Film Festival 2011: Documentary Overview

For nearly twenty years, the Hamptons has served as a perfect opportunity to escape the city for a long weekend of well-selected films and well-heeled events in New York’s legendary getaway seaside communities. Taking place post-season, the festival caters more to the year-round locals than to the summer crowd, but also draws an impressive number of industry from NYC for a more casual cinema-going experience.

It’s been a few years since my schedule has allowed me to attend, but I’m hoping to make it for a couple of evenings later this week – the festival opens this Thursday and wraps on Monday. Documentaries are regularly represented in the fest’s “Films of Conflict & Resolution” strand, some of which are also part of the documentary competition. This year, the Hamptons screens thirty new feature-length docs. Continue reading →

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October 11, 2011 · 10:30 AM

On DVD: ARMADILLO

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, October 18: ARMADILLO

Janus Metz’s riveting portrait of Danish soldiers in Afghanistan made its debut at Cannes last year, where it won Critics Week, and kicked off an extensive festival run that included Karlovy Vary, Toronto, and London, among others. Kino Lorber gave the film a theatrical release this past spring.

I wrote about the film out of Toronto here.

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