MTV has released a new trailer for its upcoming documentary No Cameras Allowed, which follows young photographer and filmmaker James Marcus Haney as he documents music festivals by sneaking into them and inserting himself backstage with some of the most popular musicians working
This week’s Kickstart Sunday pick comes from The Lucas Brothers and their documentary Bucket, which looks at bucket drummers on the streets of Chicago. The film looks to be a much a love letter to Chicago as an expose
A new trailer for Jon Schnepp‘s (Metalocalypse) upcoming documentary about the ill-fated Tim Burton Superman movie, The Death of Superman Lives has been released. Through interviews and old test footage, Schnepp explores the reasons why this film, scripted by Kevin Smith and
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Although the idea of Ron Howard directing a documentary revolving around Jay-Z’s Made in America festival in Philadelphia may sound like an interesting team-up, the result is a fairly by-the-numbers concert movie that tries a bit too hard explaining the American dream through the backstories of some of the most popular working musicians today.
Oscilloscope Laboratories has released the trailer for the upcoming documentary Art and Craft, which follows the life of Mark Landis, one of the most prolific art forgers in the country. The film is directed by Sam Cullman, Jennifer Grausman, and Mark Becker, and is
Variance Films has released a new clip from the upcoming video game doc Video Games: The Movie, which takes a look at the history of video games and their impact on the cultural landscape. The film is narrated by Sean Astin and
Indiewire has premiered the new trailer for A Life in Dirty Movies, a documentary looking back at the life of “The Ingmar Bergman of 42nd Street” Joe Sarno. Now 88 years old, Sarno and his wife, Peggy, are setting out
Indiewire has posted up the first trailer for the upcoming documentary Fact or Fiction: The Life and Times of a Ping Pong Hustler, which takes a look at the life of Marty Reisman, an international table tennis champion.
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Steve James’ Life Itself is an impossible film to criticize in an objective way. It’s a poignant, funny, and heartbreaking documentary about one of the most influential film critics ever, and someone that I’ve looked up to my whole life. Thankfully, the film itself is actually quite well made, something we’ve come to expect from the director of Hoop Dreams. Life Itself chronicles the life of prolific film critic Roger Ebert. Although it’s structured like any typical talking dead doc, there’s enough variety with the interviews, photographs, and clips to keep everything fresh and interesting throughout.
Drafthouse Films has released a new trailer for its upcoming documentary The Dog, which looks at the life of John Wojtowicz, bank robber and inspiration behind the classic film Dog Day Afternoon.
Directed by Allison Berg and Frank Keraudren, the film was shot over
8.5
If you’re setting out to make a documentary about art, you’d be wise to follow Jeffrey Durkin’s lead and make sure that the caliber of your film’s visuals match that of art being depicted. Everything in Durkin’s Art as a Weapon, a short but stunningly beautiful 76-minute doc, is meticulously shot and framed to perfection. A film about art should look artful, and this film excels on all fronts.
7.5
1971 is one of the more interesting documentaries I have seen in some time. Largely told by the people involved with some recreations when necessary, the film tells the story of eight individuals’ break-in to a local FBI field office in Media, Pennsylvania, in 1971. What the uncovered would cause more embarrassment to and distrust of the Bureau though not brining it or its long-time chief J. Edgar Hoover exactly to its/his knees. The film’s opening includes a statement about Edward Snowden’s recent high-tech appropriation of numerous National Security Agency (NSA) documents as well as Daniel Ellsberg’s release of the so-called “Pentagon Papers” in 1971.
One of the more intriguing docs that premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival was Tracy Droz Tragos and Andrew Droz Palmero‘s Rich Hill. Although I missed it at the fest, this film looks right up my alley, taking place in a poverty-stricken
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Many people not steeped in the tech world may know who the prodigious Aaron Schwartz was, but Brian Knappenberger’s documentary, The Internet’s Own Boy, aims to shine a light on one of the most innovative and forward thinkers of this generation. In addition to being one of the creators of RSS and the popular information site Reddit, Schwartz was a strong believer in an Internet free from the bounds of corporate overlords. Although he tragically took his own life in 2013, his influence caused a ripple effect through policy changes and an outcry of support that the Internet should remain open to the world.
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We, as Americans, have always had a morbid fascination with the concept of gawking at “freaks.” Be it from a circus sideshow, or more recently, from whatever the latest TLC reality program is, we just love looking at those different than the norm. In Leslie Zemeckis’ documentary, Bound by Flesh, two of the most famous sideshow performers, conjoined twins Violet and Diasy Hilton, are profiled. The film explores their lives, from their early exploitation, to their later years as independent, but struggling women trying to stay relevant after the fall of vaudeville.
Netflix has released a new trailer for its upcoming sports doc The Battered Bastards of Baseball, which chronicles the story of the Mavericks, a minor-league baseball team started up by Bing Russell, father of Kurt Russell. The film originally premiered at this
