Category Archives: Releases

On VOD: NO CONTROL

1201x782-KEY-NC-Greg-Erase-1-Photo-credit-Jessica-Solce-NO-CONTROL-copy-1160x652Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, October 13: NO CONTROL

Jessica Solce’s topical look at gun control debuted at DOC NYC last year. It has also screened at the Denver Film Society. The doc now comes to VOD, including iTunes, via The Orchard.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
A provocative exploration of the contentious issue of gun control, Jessica Solce’s film profiles two men at opposite ends of the debate: The outspoken Cody Wilson, a radical libertarian anarchist who made headlines by designing “the Liberator,” the first open-source 3D-printable gun; and artist Greg Bokor, who develops an interactive installation consisting of an immense pencil drawing of an AR-15 assault rifle, incomplete until it’s erased by spectators with erasers handstamped with the names of shooting victims.

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On VOD: DEMON ON WHEELS

demon on wheelsComing to VOD today, Tuesday, October 13: DEMON ON WHEELS

Christina Eliopoulos’ chronicle of a man’s mission to restore his 1968 Mustang debuted this past June at the popular Carlisle Ford Nationals auto show. It now comes to iTunes.

I previously wrote about the doc while it was in production here. Eliopoulos’ end result captures Mike Ondish’s rakish charm well, while also re-positioning his obsession with recapturing his wild youth into an unexpected love triangle between his life partner, Martha; his car, the Demon; and himself. While gearheads and Mustang fanatics will have much to enjoy here, Martha serves as a welcome human balance, emerging as a sympathetic point of identification for viewers who may not share Ondish’s single-minded auto mania.

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On DVD: CAFFEINATED

caffeinated_2Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, October 13: CAFFEINATED

Hanh Nguyen and Vishal Solanki’s love letter to coffee culture made its premiere at Santa Barbara earlier this year. After a limited theatrical run and VOD release, it now comes to DVD.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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On DVD: BALLET BOYS

Ballet_BoysComing to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, October 13: BALLET BOYS

Kenneth Elvebakk’s look at three teenage dancers premiered at Thessaloniki Doc last year. Other fest screenings included Krakow, Edinburgh, Bergen, Reykjavik, Cucalorus, Palm Springs, IDFA, and Goteborg.

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

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On DVD: ABOVE AND BEYOND

1201-X-782-ABOVE-AND-BEYOND1-400x200Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, October 13: ABOVE AND BEYOND

Roberta Grossman’s unexpected history of the Israeli Air Force had its world premiere at Jerusalem last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, Palm Springs, Heartland, and Jewish fests in San Francisco, Toronto, Boston, Nashville, Hong Kong, and Vancouver.

I previously wrote about the film here.

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On DVD: CALL ME LUCKY

call me luckyComing to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, October 13: CALL ME LUCKY

Bobcat Goldthwait’s profile of comedian turned activist Barry Crimmins had its world premiere at Sundance this year. Other screenings have included IFF Boston, Boulder, Montclair, Milwaukee, and Cleveland.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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Special Screening & In Theatres & On VOD: THE RUSSIAN WOODPECKER

russian woodpeckerComing to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction series tomorrow, Tuesday, October 13 and to theatres and VOD this Friday, October 16: THE RUSSIAN WOODPECKER

Chad Gracia’s hidden history of an infamous Soviet-era disaster made its bow at Sundance this year, where it won a grand jury prize. It went to screen at Nantucket, BAMcinemaFest, AFI Docs, Milwaukee, Zurich, and Sydney, among others.

My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.

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In Theatres & On VOD: A FASTER HORSE

A-FASTER-HORSE_web_3Coming to NYC theatres and to VOD today, Friday, October 9: A FASTER HORSE

David Gelb’s tribute to the Ford Mustang debuted at Tribeca this Spring. After a special one-night-only theatrical bow last night, it now comes to NYC theatres and to VOD via Vimeo on Demand.

Financed by the automaker, Gelb’s film steers clear of any real criticism or indepth analysis of the auto industry or of American manufacturing, though it does briefly acknowledge the impact of the recession and the bankruptcy of Detroit. Instead, the focus is split between a retelling of the Mustang’s origin and how it contributed to Ford’s fortunes, and the pressures on the present-day stewards to redesign the popular car model for 2015. The worshipful tone is set from the very beginning, as the director is told that he – and, by extension, the viewer – should feel honored to be granted access to the secretive inner sanctum of the Mustang redesign process. Perhaps car fanatics might share this sentiment, but for audience members indifferent to the brand, this aspect of the film is only of occasionally mild interest, and that’s really only because the chief engineer, Dave Pericak, seems like a genuine, nice enough guy. Far more appealing is the broader history offered of the brand, detailing how Lee Iacocca developed the Ford in secret, to avoid the shadow cast by the disastrous response to the infamous Edsel.

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In Theatres: UNBRANDED

unbranded_stillComing to NYC theatres today, Friday, October 9: UNBRANDED

Phillip Baribeau’s look at a roadtrip by horseback debuted at Hot Docs this year. It has also screened at Mountainfilm at Telluride, Sedona, and Rhode Island.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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On Cable: PROPHET’S PREY

prophet's preyComing to Showtime tomorrow, Saturday, October 10: PROPHET’S PREY

Amy Berg’s exploration of the notorious Warren Jeffs and his polygamous cult premiered at Sundance this year. Other fests have included Sarasota, AFI Docs, Edinburgh, BAMcinemaFest, Martha’s Vineyard, Marland, New Zealand, and Melbourne.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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