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
New to VOD this week: DO NOT RESIST
Craig Atkinson’s look at the nationwide militarization of the police force had its world premiere at Tribeca this year, where it picked up the Best Documentary award. Screenings also included Hot Docs, Traverse City, AFI Docs, DOXA, Human Rights Watch, Telluride Mountainfilm, Bergen, Zurich, Dokufest, and Camden. The film now comes to iTunes.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
New to DVD this week: LANDFILL HARMONIC
Brad Allgood and Graham Townsley’s portrait of an impoverished children’s orchestra debuted at SXSW last year, where it picked up an audience award. It went on to screen at Sheffield, New Zealand, Vancouver, Cleveland, DocAviv, and AFI Fest, among several others.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to theatres today, Wednesday, December 14: GHOSTLAND
Simon Stadler’s chronicle of Kalahari bushmen’s experience of the West debuted at Thessaloniki Doc earlier this year. Its festival circuit also included SXSW, Ambulante, Atlantic, Bergen, Flahertiana, Durban, Rio, and Vancouver, among other events.
For more than 25 years, the Ju/’hoansi Bushmen of Namibia have been barred from hunting the wildlife that has sustained them for millennia. In response they have had to adapt to a capitalist system and depend on the tourism industry, entertaining Europeans with staged dances and demonstrations, and selling them handmade crafts. Stadler, a German filmmaker, seeks to privilege the perspectives of the Ju/’hoansi in their interactions with these outsiders, representing them as knowing participants in an awkward but necessary exchange rather than the stereotyped “savages” that visitors likely assume they are observing. When the setting changes from Namibia to Frankfurt, however, owing to an invitation to four of the Bushmen to travel as part of a cultural exchange, the film struggles, opting instead for a less complex fish out of water approach. While Stadler transforms the Bushmen from the object of the gaze to the gazers themselves, these new tourists’ observations of Western culture are presented in consistently unsurprising and simplistic terms, noting that Germans and their city are too large, anonymous, and noisy. The result is a mildly amusing role reversal from the initial scenes of the film, but one handled with too broad a stroke to be particularly complex or revealing.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, December 13: THE HOLLYWOOD SHORTIES
Ryan Steven Green’s history of a little person sports team had its premiere at SXSW earlier this year. The doc went on to screenat Sidewalk, Chagrin Doc, Carmel, BendFilm, Hell’s Half Mile, and San Francisco DocFest, among other events.
I previously wrote about the doc
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, December 13: FAKE IT SO REAL
Robert Greene’s look at the lives of aspiring pro wrestlers debuted at True/False in 2011. Screenings followed at Sarasota, Camden, Rooftop Films, Maryland, and CPH:DOX.
I wrote about the doc out of True/False
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
what (not) to doc 