Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to HBO today, Monday 30: 112 WEDDINGS

Doug Block’s look at the reality behind happily ever after had its world premiere at Full Frame. It’s gone on to screen at the just wrapped Nantucket Film Festival, Hot Docs, and Sheffield.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to CNN tonight, Sunday, June 29: DOCUMENTED

Jose Antonio Vargas’ autobiographical take on life as an undocumented American premiered at AFI Docs last year. It went on to screen at IDFA, Hawaii, Boulder, and the San Diego Asian film fests, among others, before its theatrical release.

I previously wrote about the film here.

Coming to Showtime tonight, Thursday, June 26: HEY BARTENDER

Douglas Tirola’s look at cocktail culture debuted at SXSW last year. It also screened at Montclair, Napa Valley, and New Orleans, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc out of SXSW here.

Kicking off its theatrical release by closing out the season of NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction series today, Wednesday, June 25: THE PLEASURES OF BEING OUT OF STEP

David L Lewis’ profile of an influential music critic made its debut at Full Frame last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, where it won the Metropolis competition, New Orleans, IFF Boston, DocuWest, Palm Beach, St Louis, and Annapolis.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
A pioneer in music criticism, Nat Hentoff has spent more than six decades championing jazz in the pages of the Village Voice, The Wall Street Journal, Down Beat, and numerous other publications. Mirroring music’s free flow, he has also been an outspoken civil libertarian and free speech advocate, often taking principled, and idiosyncratic, positions that don’t always sit well with his readership. Director David L. Lewis’ profile reveals a singular figure who happily upends expectations in his pursuit of free expression.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, June 24 and already available on iTunes: ELAINE STRITCH: SHOOT ME

Chiemi Karasawa’s profile of the noted performer debuted at Tribeca last year. Its festival run has included Traverse City, Montclair, London, DMZ Docs, Chicago, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Glasgow, and Palm Springs, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc out of Tribeca here.

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, June 24: CAUCUS

AJ Schnack’s candid profile of Republic presidential hopefuls premiered at Hot Docs last year. It went on to screen at AFI Docs, Camden, AFI Fest, Denver, Philadelphia, St Louis, and Virginia, among others. FilmBuff now releases the doc across various VOD platforms.

I included the film in my Hot Docs coverage here.

Coming to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, June 24: HUNGRY

Jeff Cerulli and Barry Rothbart’s look at the world of competitive eating had its world premiere at DOC NYC last year. FilmBuff now releases the doc on iTunes and various VOD platforms.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
How many hot dogs could you eat in 10 minutes? Follow the jaw-dropping exploits of several competitive eaters, including the world famous Takeru Kobayashi, known for his six consecutive wins at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest in Coney Island. After a contract dispute with Major League Eating, the organization that holds a veritable monopoly on the sport, Kobayashi is banned from their events, but fights back to restore his tarnished reputation.