Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, December 28: HEY BARTENDER
Douglas Tirola’s insider’s look at cocktail culture made its world premiere at SXSW in 2013. Screenings followed at Montclair, Napa Valley, and New Orleans, among other events.
I included the doc in my SXSW coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to PBS’s American Masters tonight, Tuesday, December 27: EERO SAARINEN: THE ARCHITECT WHO SAW THE FUTURE
Peter Rosen’s look at the life and work of the visionary architect debuted at NYC’s Architecture & Design Film Festival this Fall. It now comes to TV as the finale of the PBS program’s 30th season.
The viewer’s guide through Saarinen’s legendary designs is his son, Eric Saarinen, the film’s director of photography and co-producer. Still seeking closure from his father’s premature death at the age of 51, Eric visits several of his father’s projects, from the Gateway Arch and TWA Flight Center to the General Motors Technical Center and Yale’s Ingalls Rink, as he reveals more personal details of his father’s impact on his family. Already placing his wife and children secondary to his career, Eero abandoned them following a love affair with Aline Louchheim, an art critic for the New York Times who became a champion of his work. While Eric’s difficult relationship with his father parallels Eero’s own complicated, competitive relationship with his own father, accomplished architect Eliel Saarinen, the film’s slight running time unfortunately doesn’t permit an extended exploration of this intriguing theme, subordinating the personal to a too-quick, and somewhat surface-level, survey of Eero’s work, which remains, despite this, compelling in its break from modernist convention.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to HBO tonight Monday, December 26: EVERY BRILLIANT THING
Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey’s filmed version of Jonny Donahoe and Duncan Macmillan’s acclaimed and life-affirming fictional stage show made its debut at DOC NYC last month.
I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC, saying:
When he is only seven years old, a young boy’s mother attempts suicide for the first time. He responds the only way he knows how: he begins an enumerated list of “brilliant things” worth living for, from “things with stripes” to “water fights.” As he grows, so does the list, following him through subsequent suicide attempts by his mother as well as pivotal moments in his own life, and culminating in its development into a poignant and very funny one-man show featuring creative audience participation.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens this coming Monday, December 26: MEET THE PATELS
Geeta V Patel and Ravi V Patel’s comic doc about love and a South Asian-American family debuted at Hot Docs in 2014. Its fest circuit also included DOC NYC, Los Angeles, Traverse City, Hamptons, San Diego Asian, Dubai, Bentonville, Seattle, and Sydney, among other events.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, December 23: THE BAD KIDS
Keith Fulton and Lou Pepe’s look at troubled youths’ last chance for high school debuted at Sundance this year, where it won a special jury award. It went on to screen at True/False, Cleveland, Full Frame, Dallas, Visions du Réel, Hot Docs, DocAviv, and Atlantic, among other events.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
New to DVD this week: HITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT
Kent Jones’ chronicle of the meeting between the auteur and the cineaste had its world premiere at Cannes last year. Screenings followed at DOC NYC, Telluride, Deauville, Toronto, San Sebastian, London, Mill Valley, Tallgrass, Chicago, AFI Fest, Tallinn Black Nights, and Denver, among others.
I previously wrote about the doc here,
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, December 20: ROSEANNE FOR PRESIDENT!
Eric Weinrib’s chronicle of the comedian’s bid for the White House debuted at Tribeca last year. Its festival circuit also included Traverse City, and it was released in select theaters and on VOD earlier this year.
When legendary sitcom queen Roseanne Barr threw her hat in the 2012 US Presidential race, many thought it was a publicity stunt, but for those who were paying attention, she was serious. Even if she didn’t expect to win as a third party candidate, Barr wanted to use her celebrity to call attention to strongly held beliefs and to build support for alternatives to the two leading political parties. Working closely with his subject – who serves as executive producer here – Weinrib documents Roseanne’s irreverent bid for first the Green Party nomination – which ultimately goes to Jill Stein – and then the Peace and Freedom Party, where legalizing marijuana becomes her signature issue. While it’s clear the comedian’s campaign is no joke, she resists the traditional barnstorming, choosing instead to Skype into events – noting, at one point, that this is not only environmental, but protects her from potential danger from crazed fans – or leaving these appearances to her overworked campaign manager, Farheen Hakeem, a welcome secondary character that provides viewers with an opener view of third party campaigns. Along the way, the film offers a tribute to Roseanne’s pioneering work as a stand-up and especially through her beloved sitcom, which championed LGBT representation and offered a candid look at the struggles of lower-income working families, making a further argument of Roseanne’s ability to impact the national conversation and affect lasting social change. As a whole, while remaining a fairly surface-level appreciation, Weinrib’s doc is a likeable look at the outspoken comedian who deserves a regular platform.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to HBO tonight, Monday, December 19: RISKY DRINKING
Ellen Goosenberg Kent’s exploration of alcohol abuse makes its debut as part of HBO’s original documentary slate this month.
Hewing closely to an awareness-raising approach, Kent’s film, presented with the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, offers four case studies of individuals demonstrating problem drinking, with talking heads experts and stats popping up to offer analysis and further information. Profiles include a range of ages, but, sadly, a distinct lack of racial diversity, all struggling with excessive drinking that results in inappropriate behavior, negative repercussions to work and family relationships, and, in an extreme case, potentially life-threatening health concerns. While the message here is admirable, its presentation makes it feel distinctly educational.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to DVD next Tuesday, December 20: SUITED
Jason Benjamin’s profile of a bespoke tailoring company debuted at Sundance this year. It went on to screen at Hot Docs, BAMcinemaFest, Human Rights Watch, Sarasota, Frameline, and QDoc, among other events.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Now available on VOD: WILLIAM AND THE WINDMILL
Ben Nabors’ portrait of an industrious young Malawian man premiered at SXSW in 2013, where it won the documentary grand jury prize. Screenings followed at Hot Docs, CPH:DOX, Virginia, Ashland, Camden, Bahamas, Leeds, SF DocFest, Sydney, BAMcinemaFest, and Jerusalem, among other events. It is now available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and other VOD platforms.
I previously included the doc in my SXSW coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
