Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to PBS’s American Masters and to DVD today, Friday, February 26: THE BIG BEAT: FATS DOMINO AND THE BIRTH OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

Joe Lauro’s ode to the music legend made its bow at the New Orleans Film Festival in 2014. The doc also screened at the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Sound + Vision series last year. Its broadcast debut and simultaneous DVD release are timed to coincide with Domino’s 88th birthday.

Despite his success as a best-selling recording artist in the 1950s and ’60s, Fats Domino hasn’t been afforded the same lofty standing as fellow early rock ‘n’ roll performers like Elvis Presley or Jerry Lee Lewis, argues Lauro. Rather than wait until his death for a reappraisal, the director offers this appreciative overview of the musician’s life and career as a welcome reminder of his accomplishments. While Domino is now living in retirement in his beloved hometown of New Orleans, his interviews here are limited to archival footage, though Lauro does include somewhat recent home video footage from 2010. This breezy film recounts the path to Domino’s success in a segregated America, paying particular attention to his fruitful partnership with producer and songwriter Dave Bartholomew, and offers a variety of performance clips that showcase his prodigious talent.

Coming to theatres and VOD tomorrow, Friday, February 26: KING GEORGES

Erika Frankel’s profile of an acclaimed chef and his legacy had its premiere at Full Frame last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, IFF Boston, Seattle, AFI Docs, Traverse City, San Diego, Philadelphia, Denver, Napa Valley, Portland, and Big Sky, among several others. In addition to its limited theatrical release, the doc comes to iTunes, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Xbox, Playstation, and Cable On Demand.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

New to DVD and VOD this week: BECOMING BULLETPROOF

Michael Barnett’s chronicle of a unique film production premiered at Vancouver in 2014. Screenings followed at Heartland, Cleveland, Newport Beach, Martha’s Vineyard, Hollywood, and Vail, among others. After a limited theatrical release last Fall, it now comes to DVD, VOD, and digital download under the “Morgan Spurlock Presents” banner, which helps bring awareness to potentially overlooked nonfiction films.

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

Coming to Starz tonight, Wednesday, February 24: HUSTLERS CONVENTION

Mike Todd’s tribute to an influential precursor to hip-hop made its world premiere at Sheffield last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC and to have a theatrical release in the UK. The doc now comes to Starz for its broadcast debut.

For hip-hop historians and aficionados, Lightnin’ Rod’s 1973 spoken word album Hustlers Convention played a pivotal role in the development of the genre, offering African American audiences an authentic representation of the temptations and dangers of inner city life. Despite selling a million copies with virtually no official promotion, and being well-respected by the first generation of rappers, the album and its importance to African American music history has largely been forgotten. Mike Todd’s appreciative film helps to correct that, allowing for a re-examination of its creator, Lightnin’ Rod, better known as Jalal Mansur Nuriddin of The Last Poets, a prominent group within the Black Arts Movement. The ever-rhyming Nuriddin, bolstered by an impressive collection of interviews with legendary hip-hop artists, from KRS-One and Chuck D to Fab 5 Freddie and MC Lyte, reveals the story behind the album, which is illustrated throughout via vibrant animated sequences, culminating in a celebratory event in London which sees the now-senior citizen perform it live for the first time ever.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, February 23: CAROLE KING: NATURAL WOMAN

George Scott’s profile of the multi-award-winning singer-songwriter debuted on American Masters earlier this month.

I previously wrote about the film here.

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, February 23: SHE’S THE BEST THING IN IT

Ron Nyswaner’s portrait of a lifelong character actress had its world premiere at SXSW last year. Other fest berths included DOC NYC, New Orleans, Dallas, Outfest, Denver, and St Louis. The doc now comes to iTunes and other VOD platforms.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
Despite her Tony-winning performance in Broadway’s GREY GARDENS, 79-year-old veteran character actor Mary Louise Wilson finds few new opportunities on the stage, so she decides to try teaching acting back in her native New Orleans. As Wilson finds her footing in this new role, she reflects on her long career, the sacrifices she’s made, and the challenges faced by older actresses in the industry, as bolstered by interviews with such notables as Frances McDormand and Melissa Leo.