2022 Sundance Don’t Miss Docs: LUCY AND DESI

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

LUCY AND DESI
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz had an immense influence on the creation of TV syndication, and rose to become true entrepreneurs and multi-faceted moguls. Through interviews and archival, a tribute to trailblazing icons in comedy and entertainment.

Director:
Amy Poehler

Producers:
Michael Rosenberg, Justin Wilkes, Nigel Sinclair, Jeanne Elfant Festa, Amy Poehler, Mark Monroe

Festival Section:
Premieres

More Info:
Check out the Sundance website for more details by clicking on the film title above.

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2022 Sundance Don’t Miss Docs: LA GUERRA CIVIL

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

LA GUERRA CIVIL
The epic rivalry between iconic boxers Oscar De La Hoya and Julio César Chávez in the 1990s sparked a cultural divide between Mexican nationals and Mexican-Americans. A chronicle of a battle that was more than a boxing rivalry which examines a fascinating slice of the Latino experience in the process.

Director:
Eva Longoria Bastón

Producers:
Eva Longoria Bastón, Grant Best, Bernardo Ruiz, Ben Spector, Andrea Cordoba

Festival Section:
Premieres

More Info:
Check out the Sundance website for more details by clicking on the film title above.

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2022 Sundance Don’t Miss Docs: JEEN-YUHS: A KANYE TRILOGY

Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Netflix

JEEN-YUHS: A KANYE TRILOGY
Kanye West in three acts. The story beyond the iconic music, and an intimate and empathetic chronicle featuring never-before-seen footage from 21 years in the life of a captivating figure.

Directors:
Clarence “Coodie” Simmons, Chike Ozah

Producers:
Clarence “Coodie” Simmons, Chike Ozah, Leah Natasha Thomas

Festival Section:
Premieres

More Info:
Check out the Sundance website for more details by clicking on the film title above.

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In Theatres & On VOD: A COPS AND ROBBERS STORY

Coming to theatres and VOD tomorrow, Friday, January 14:
A COPS AND ROBBERS STORY

Director:
Ilinca Calugareanu

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2020

Select Festivals:
Cleveland, Big Sky Doc

About:
An NYPD officer’s career is threatened by revelations about his former life of crime.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
In the 1980s, Corey Pegues found himself embroiled in a life of crime as a member of New York’s City’s infamous Supreme Team gang. After an incident forces Pegues away from the streets, he unexpectedly emerges as a rising star in the NYPD, his past unknown to his fellow officers. A decorated 21-year police career is threatened when his political stances and revelations about his former life cause strife within the police community. 

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On VOD: NO STRAIGHT LINES: THE RISE OF QUEER COMICS

Coming to VOD tomorrow, Friday, January 14:
NO STRAIGHT LINES: THE RISE OF QUEER COMICS

Director:
Vivian Kleiman

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2021

Select Festivals:
Sheffield, AFI Docs, Frameline, Outfest, Heartland, BendFilm, GlobeDocs

About:
A profile of five pioneers of queer comedy, as they tackle everything from the AIDS crisis and workplace discrimination to the search for love and a good haircut. 

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2022 Sundance Don’t Miss Docs: DOWNFALL: THE CASE AGAINST BOEING

Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Netflix

DOWNFALL: THE CASE AGAINST BOEING
An investigation of the two Boeing 737 MAX crashes that killed 346 people, exploring both the root causes and the human cost. At once a chilling portrait of a crumbling corporate culture and a fierce indictment of Wall Street’s corrupting influence.

Director:
Rory Kennedy

Producers:
Rory Kennedy, Mark Bailey, Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, Keven McAlester, Amanda Rohlke

Festival Section:
Premieres

More Info:
Check out the Sundance website for more details by clicking on the film title above.

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2022 Sundance Don’t Miss Docs: BRAINWASHED: SEX-CAMERA-POWER

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

BRAINWASHED: SEX-CAMERA-POWER
Based on Nina Menkes’ acclaimed talk “Sex & Power: The Visual Language of Cinema,” a mesmerizing journey into how shot design intersects with the twin epidemics of sexual abuse/ assault and employment discrimination against women. Containing over 175 film clips, this will unalterably change the way we view and make movies.

Director/Producer:
Nina Menkes

Festival Section:
Premieres

More Info:
Check out the Sundance website for more details by clicking on the film title above.

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2022 Sundance Don’t Miss Docs: 2ND CHANCE

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

2ND CHANCE
Bankrupt pizzeria owner Richard Davis invented the modern-day bulletproof vest. To prove that it worked, he shot himself 192 times. He launched a multi-million-dollar company and became a cult figure among police. Davis’ rise and fall reveals a man of contradictions and the nature of power and impunity in America.

Director:
Ramin Bahrani

Producers:
Daniel Turcan, Johnny Galvin, Charles Dorfman, Ramin Bahrani, Jacob Grodnik

Festival Section:
Premieres

More Info:
Check out the Sundance website for more details by clicking on the film title above.

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On VOD: A.RTIFICIAL I.MMORTALITY

New to VOD this week:
A.RTIFICIAL I.MMORTALITY

Director:
Ann Shin

World Premiere:
Hot Docs 2021

Select Festivals:
Busan, Warsaw, San Diego Asian, DocEdge, Imagine Science, Calgary

About:
If computers could let you live forever, would you?

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On DVD: MLK/FBI

New to DVD this week:
MLK/FBI

Director:
Sam Pollard

World Premiere:
Toronto 2020

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, New York, Chicago, IDFA

About:
An exposé of the FBI’s adversarial relationship to the Civil Rights leader.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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