Film Reviews
Reviews are based on a scale of 1-5, where 5 is an excellent film and 1 is a documentary that’s worth more as a frisbee than a DVD.
There are three main sections that are considered in the overall process: Technical, Informative and Entertainment. While not all documentaries are meant to merely inform you of a specific topic, the hope for this category is that you take something away from the film (and hopefully it’s not a surly disposition). The other two categories are fairly self-explanatory, so without further ado, click on the film review you’d like to learn more about.
Want to read some reviews from the Film Festivals we visit? Click here »
The Lottery
In this penetrating look at public education in America, filmmaker Madeleine Sackler follows four children through the highs and lows of a life-changing lottery, where the prize is a spot in one of New York City's best charter schools. When presented with a chance to pull their youngsters out of a f… Read review »
Reviewed on January 30, 2012
Tabloid
Tabloid (2010) chronicles the 1970s British tabloid pandemonium that erupted after former Ms. Wyoming Joyce McKinney was arrested for accusations she kidnapped and raped a young Mormon missionary. Read review »
Reviewed on January 30, 2012
Project Nim
Oscar-winning filmmaker James Marsh (Man on Wire) peers inside the landmark 1970s experiment for an unflinching look at Nim, the chimp whom scientists raised as human and taught sign language to prove that apes can communicate like humans. Firsthand accounts, previously unseen archival footage and p… Read review »
Reviewed on January 23, 2012
Page One: Inside the New York Times
Documentarian Andrew Rossi goes inside the New York Times to examine how the venerable paper and its reporters are responding to the massive changes in how news is gathered, analyzed and dispersed. (NetFlix) Read review »
Reviewed on January 23, 2012
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey
One of the most recognized and beloved Muppets, Elmo has delighted children for years. In this look behind the puppet, we meet charming puppeteer Kevin Clash, who secured a job at Jim Henson's Children's Television Workshop and imbued Elmo with his winning spirit. A rare glimpse of the magic behind … Read review »
Reviewed on January 23, 2012
Conan O’Brien Cant Stop
Following his unplanned and highly publicized departure from NBC, exiled talk show host Conan O'Brien decides to take his show on the road. This documentary captures that uproarious tour as well as O'Brien's dramatic break with his ex-employers. (NetFlix) Read review »
Reviewed on January 17, 2012
Bill Cunningham New York
Living simply and using a bicycle to get around New York, 80-year-old photographer Bill Cunningham tirelessly records what people are wearing in the city -- both out on the sidewalk and in the salons of the wealthy. (NetFlix) Read review »
Reviewed on January 12, 2012
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
In this spellbinding documentary, filmmaker Werner Herzog offers an unprecedented examination of Chauvet Cave, a cavern in southern France that contains the oldest human-painted images yet to be found on Earth. (NetFlix) Read review »
Reviewed on January 12, 2012
Louder Than a Bomb
Louder Than A Bomb chronicles the stereotype-confounding stories of four teams as they prepare for and compete in the 2008 Louder Than a Bomb event. The film captures the tempestuous lives of these unforgettable kids, exploring the ways writing shapes their world, and vice versa. This is not "high s… Read review »
Reviewed on January 06, 2012
The Big Uneasy
“The first documentary from long-time “mockumentarian” Harry Shearer, “The Big Uneasy” follows three remarkable people—the leaders of two scientific investigation teams, and one whistleblower—as they reveal the true story of why New Orleans flooded, and why it could happen in your town, too.” (Filmm… Read review »
Reviewed on August 22, 2011
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