Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, July 19: SKY LINE

Miguel Drake-McLaughlin and Jonny Leahan’s exploration of the practical implementation of a sci-fi concept had its world premiere at DOC NYC last year. It has also screened at the Princeton and Washington DC Environmental fests and was released on VOD by FilmBuff last year.

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

Coming to VOD today, Friday, July 15: HUSTLERS CONVENTION

Mike Todd’s exploration of hip-hop’s roots debuted at Sheffield last year. The film came stateside to screen at DOC NYC, Harlem, and the San Francisco Black fests before its broadcast debut this past February. It now comes to VOD via iTunes.

I previously wrote about the film here.

Coming to theatres and to VOD this Friday, July 15: LUCHA MEXICO

Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz’s look at wrestling across the border debuted at Guanajuato last year. It came stateside at DOC NYC, and has also screened at DOXA and Hola Mexico.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
In Mexico, the war between good and evil has been waged each week for decades, thrilling generations of fans with the spectacle of Lucha Libre. Real-life superheroes and villains, these masked wrestlers work tirelessly to entertain their legions of fans. Gaining unprecedented access to the largest Lucha federations, Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz offer an entertaining, no-holds-barred look at some of the sport’s top performers, from the “1000% Guapo” Shocker, the little person mascot KeMonito, the Luchador heir Blue Demon Jr, hardcore wrestler El Hijo Del Perro Aguayo, and American bodybuilder Jon “Strongman” Andersen.

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, July 12: LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS

Laurie Kahn’s look at the lure of romance writing debuted at Hot Docs last year. In addition to book events, its festival circuit included DOC NYC, Los Angeles, Provincetown, Woods Hole, Sidewalk, Hot Springs Doc, Mill Valley, and St Louis, among others.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
For a publishing genre that easily outstrips all others in annual sales, romance fiction remains readily dismissed by the mainstream. Dominated by women, the billion-dollar industry has offered a space for female creators, their heroines, and consumers to thrive like no other. Laurie Kahn’s revealing film explores the vast community that has formed around romance, sharing the stories of voracious fans and prolific authors like Nora Roberts and Beverly Jenkins and demonstrating why love stories are no trivial matter.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, July 12: ABOVE AND BELOW

Nicolas Steiner’s look at lives lived on the fringes of society had its world premiere at Rotterdam last year. Festival berths followed at DOC NYC, Hot Docs, BAFICI, Docs Against Gravity, Edinburgh, Karlovy Vary, Vancouver, CPH:DOX, DocPoint, Big Sky, and Camden, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to VOD today, Friday, July 8: HARLEM STREET SINGER

Trevor Laurence and Simeon Hutner’s look back at an unheralded musician had its world premiere at DOC NYC in 2013. Screenings followed at St Louis, Leeds, Revelation, and Tallgrass, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, July 8: INDIAN POINT

Ivy Meeropol’s consideration of nuclear power plant safety bowed at Tribeca last year. The doc went on to screen at Hot Docs, DC Environmental, Traverse City, Rio, Hamptons, St Louis, Big Sky, Thessaloniki Doc, Salem, and Cleveland.

Long the subject of controversy, New York state’s Indian Point nuclear power plant has come under increased scrutiny in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. Meeropol presents an extended look at the plant – located in Buchanan, NY, just 35 miles from densely populated New York City – and arguments for and against its continued existence. The film offers a strong mix of subjects, including environmental journalist Roger Witherspoon and his wife, Marilyn Elie, an activist; ousted US Nuclear Regulatory Commission chair Gregory Jaczko, and Brian Vangor, a 35-year veteran employee of the plant. Meeropol’s film is strongest when it’s focused on the Buchanan plant and those subjects who are most closely tied to specific questions of its safety. With the shadow of Fukushima looming over the project, however, the director seems compelled to spend an inordinate amount of time referencing that disaster without adequately delineating how similar or dissimilar Indian Point is from the Japanese plant, ultimately coming off as alarmist in contrast to a more thoughtful, evenhanded approach earlier in the film.