what (not) to doc

Coming to theatres this Friday, June 23:
GOOD FORTUNE

Directors:
Joshua Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell

Premiere:
Zurich 2016

Select Festivals:
Austin, Sedona

About:
A biography of John Paul DeJoria, a self-made billionaire and pioneer of conscious capitalism.

DeJoria, better known as simply John Paul, tells the rags-to-riches story of his life in this puffy but harmless hagiographical project. Born to Italian and Greek immigrants in East LA, and seemingly fated to never amount to anything given his humble beginnings, John Paul hustled to make a living, eventually hitting his stride as a salesman. He made his initial fortune in the world of hair care, developing John Paul Mitchell Systems, and later co-founded the tequila brand Patron, among multiple other ventures. The workmanlike doc, bombastically narrated by John Paul friend Dan Aykroyd, sketches out his various life and career milestones, while also emphasizing his philanthropy. Given the project’s authorized nature, it offers no critical voices, making this a one-note, diverting profile best geared to the admittedly likeable mogul’s existing admirers.

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens today, Monday, June 19:
REAL BOY

Director:
Shaleece Haas

Premiere:
BFI Flare 2016

Select Festivals:
IFF Boston, Woodstock, United Nations Association, Inside Out, Frameline, Outfest, NewFest, LGBT fests in Sydney, Rio, Philadelphia, Dublin, Oslo, Austin, Portland, Lisbon, and Vancouver

About:
A mother navigates the personal impact of her transgender teen’s transition to male.

Haas tells the story of Bennett, born Rachel, whose struggle over his gender identity led to drug and alcohol addiction at an early age. Over several years, the film follows Bennett as he makes his transition to fully embrace his male identity, and, importantly, simultaneously tracks his mother’s initial confusion and resistance to losing her daughter as this gives way to acceptance and an embrace of her son. This aspect of the project helps to offset the overly familiar Trans 101 conventions of the transitioning doc – scenes of starting hormones, coming out to friends and family, beginning to demonstrate secondary sex characteristics, etc. Haas also tries to distinguish her film by focusing on Bennett’s music career, but its used to such an extent that it stops feeling organic and starts feeling overtly promotional. Still, the filmmaker has found compelling subjects in the son and mother, and crafted a solid coming of age and coming to terms portrait.

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, June 16 and to VOD this coming Tuesday, June 20:
HEARING IS BELIEVING

Director:
Lorenzo DeStefano

Premiere:
Hawaii 2016

About:
A portrait of Rachel Flowers, a blind musical prodigy.

Flowers was born more than three months premature, which soon cost her her vision. Her parents recognized and nurtured an affinity for music, providing formal training and encouraging her exploration of different instrument instruments, singing, and composing. After the young musician began posting videos to YouTube, she developed a fanbase and began performing around the country. While Flowers is likeable, DeStafano’s clunky film is a largely structureless project that spends the bulk of its running time following its protagonist to a series of unremarkable performances and school visits before eventually culminating in a guest performance during a Dweezil Zappa Las Vegas show.

Coming to theatres today, Friday, June 16:
F(L)AG FOOTBALL

Director:
Seth Greenleaf

Premiere:
Ft Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2014

Select Festivals:
Phoenix, BendFilm

About:
Profiles of three gay flag football teams as they prepare for the championships.

In Greenleaf’s film, teams from New York City, Los Angeles, and to a much lesser degree, Phoenix, train to claim the championship title of the National Gay Flag Football League. The focus is primarily on New York, whose team lost their captain – and a three-year winning streak – to the Los Angeles team. As their new coach, a former NFL pro, sets out to prove himself and reclaim the title, players reveal their backgrounds and speak to the importance of the game in providing a space for gay men to embrace sports and masculinity. While fairly conventional in approach, and saddled with an ill-thought out title and an excess of subjects, the doc does counter stereotypes about gay men and sports.