Documentary Film Online

Sundance Film's Announced

2009-12-16T16:06:00.000-08:00

While most of us are focused on the end of year holidays, there are some gearing up for the early festival season and there's no bigger film festival in the early months than the Sundance Film Festival starting in January. This is one of the few times independent films get the pop culture treatment and with its rich history, it's no surprise how many film story to enter the festival.

Bur your not here for the films that almost made it, your here to find out which ones will be premiering in Park City Utah in late January. Well you don't have to wait any longer as the festival unveiled their full slate of films, including 17 U.S. documentaries and 13 international documentaries.

After looking at the list, I must say, it's quite impressive (though was their ever any doubt?). Every single film is a world premier and the subjects range from well publicized news stories (Pat Tillman to Benazir Bhutto to Jack Abramoff), to migrant workers in China to female karate kids in Iran. So don't take my word for it, head on over to the Sundance Film Festival website and check out which films will be on display. And if you're able to, buy yourself a festival pass so you can be the first to catch these wonderful documentaries.

'Waiting For Armageddon' Trailer

2009-12-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

The documentary team of Kate Davis, Franco Sacchi and David Heilbroner most recent film is of Biblical proportions. Their film Waiting for Armageddon focuses on the Evangelical Christian community's belief in the Biblical prophecies of Rapture and Armageddon.

Obviously, these are two subjects outsiders find of great concern because whether you believe such notions are insane or worth discussing, you can't help but feel the impact these beliefs have on the rest of society.

Waiting for Armageddon tries to understand these beliefs through interviews with Christians, Zionists and Jewish practitioners. The trailer carries a very somber tone, but this may very well be a film that sparks an interesting debate.

The film has already appeared in a few smaller film festivals so don't catch yourself waiting for this one. Go to the film's website, watch the trailer and learn how you can view the film for yourself.

50 Free Documentaries!

2009-12-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

The good people over at Online School.net pointed me to their recent article on the top 50 documentaries you can watch for free online. Now usually when the words "free" and "documentary" are used in the same sentence it means a list of rejected History channel films that serve as better torture instruments then enjoyable movies, but this list is surprisingly good.

Admittedly it ignores some fabulous films over at Hulu.com, but it's hard to ignore a list that includes major documentary films like Bowling for Columbine, The Fog of War, The Road to Guantanamo, 11th Hour, Maxed Out, Super Size Me and a whole slew of other notables. Frankly, this isn't just a great list of free documentaries, but a great list of must see documentaries.

If you have some time on your hands and no money to spend, what better way to waste your day then watching a few of these documentaries?

Head on over to Online School.net to see the complete list with links!

Oprah Winfrey turns to Documentaries

2009-12-10T11:58:00.000-08:00

Leave it to Oprah to really push the documentary genre to the mainstream public (face it, she has so many followers in the US she puts Barack Obama to shame). In what I would call a surprise announcement and bold move, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) will develop a monthly documentary film club when it launches in 2011.

Following a similar stratagey that has made her book club so successful, OWN's documentary film club will not only involve films airing on the channel, but will also include an online community and exclusive video content at OWN.tv. Even more impressive is a selection of the films will be featured in special theatrical screenings across the country and involve live panel discussions.

OWN CEO Christina Norman says, "OWN's commitment to Self-Discovery provides the ideal platform to elevate documentary films and the real, compelling stories they tell."

If you're worried this will mean more sappy or shallow documentaries geared towards stay at home mom's, think again. OWN is partnering with ro*co Productions to find films for the network. That means documentary powerhouses like Street Fight, No End in Sight, The Weather Underground, What Would Jesus Buy and countless others will potentially be in the mix. That's a wonderful lineup and should have documentary fans everywhere salivating.

"Partnering with ro*co Productions, OWN will deliver the very best documentaries to our audience and give them ways to connect through stories that move them," says Norman.

- http://www.rocofilms.com/
- http://www.oprah.com/own

Soderbergh Documentary Premiering at Slamdance

2009-12-09T08:57:00.000-08:00

Steven Soderbergh, ever the lover of indie films and new ways of putting films into the public's hands, will unveil his latest work at the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah (don't confuse it with Sundance... it's different). Not one to dabble in documentaries too frequently, this film actually sounds like it could be a major success considering the way it's made.

The film, titled And Everything is Going Fine, plays out almost as if it's a diary of the late writer and performer Spaulding Gray. Admittedly, not exactly a house hold name, Soderbergh's choice to only use Gray's voice (no other narration or interviews) sounds like this could be the next best documentary since Errol Morris' The Fog of War.

Personally, I'm a fan of Soderbergh and by continuing to promote independent work and film outlets he has become a huge fan of the Slamdance Film Festival (a festival that highlights and promotes the true independent artist).

If you are suddenly interested in attending Slamdance, I'd hurry and buy your tickets as the festival (and Soderbergh's premier) take place January 23rd.

Anvil! Grabs IDA Documentary Award

2009-12-07T08:45:00.000-08:00

Let this be a lesson to you all: if you protest loud enough and long enough, you will ultimately get what you want. After failing to make the Oscar shortlist for best feature length documentary, Sacha Gervasi's Anvil! The Story of Anvil has found itself on every major award show's nominee list and has now officially won the International Documentary Association's best documentary award.

In fact, Anvil! won two awards at the IDA award show this past weekend, also nabbing the best Music Documentary Award. The film about two aging Canadian heavy metal rockers trying to make it big has become somewhat of an instant cult-hit as critical and populous praise continues to grow. (If you don't know anything about the film, you can read our entire review here)

The other major award featured this past weekend by the IDA goes to Salt (directed by Michael Angus and Murray Fredericks) for best short documentary. This film focuses on the arid landscape of Lake Eyre in South Australia. The other awards were announced prior to the ceremony and were listed here last week, but in case you want to see the full recap, head on over to the IDA website.

Theatrical Releases

2009-12-04T06:07:00.000-08:00

Every Friday we update you all with the week's theatrical documentary releases. Now, this is not a perfect process as our beloved genre prefers the rolling/limited release schedule instead of a big nationwide or international-wide release. So apologies if a film isn't out in your area or if you are a filmmaker and we missed the boat on announcing your documentary's big day (if that is the case, please let us know and we'll correct the mistake).

Now, with that introduction out of the way, here's this weekend's releases with their current rating on the amazing website Rottentomatoes.com:

Big River Man- (91% rating) In February 2007 Martin Strel began an insane attempt to be the first person to swim the entire length of the world's most dangerous river, the mighty Amazon. Martin is an endurance swimmer from Slovenia, who swims rivers - the Mississippi, the Danube and the Yangtze to date - to highlight their pollution to the world. Martin is also a rather overweight, horseburger loving Slovenian in his fifties who drinks two bottles of red wine a day... even when swimming. (Rottentomatoes.com)

Loot - (60% rating) A feature-length Documentary following two WWII veterans and their guide across the globe in search of their buried wartime treasures. During WWII, Darrel was stationed in Europe, Andrew was fighting in the Philippines. In the chaos of combat, each stole valuable treasures and hid them overseas before returning to civilian life in America. Sixty years later, back in America, neither man seems remorseful about their war crimes. Both want to recover the treasures they perceive as their own. They don't know each other but they both happen to know Lance, an inventor, used-car salesman, and amateur treasure-hunter, who, against all odds and better judgment, attempts to help them find their lost looted goods. (Rottentomatoes.com)

Until the Light Takes Us - (40% rating) A feature length documentary about black metal: an ideological movement/music genre comprised of metal musicians, murderers, church-burners, and suicide victims. The film examines the birth and explosive arc of black metal through the eyes of the scene’s leaders, who tried to change the world using music and symbolic acts of violence. Three men lead the scene: one is dead, one’s in jail for killing him and inciting a wave of church arson, and one continues to release albums in the genre they created. The musicians blur the line between music, art, activism and terror, and successful visual artists (including Harmony Korine, who makes a cameo) are now recontextualizing it as contemporary art in galleries and museums around the world. Part (post)modern art movement, part terrorist movement, and part rock scene, the film tells a story unlike any other. (Rottentomatoes.com)

Sundance Documentary Competition Announced

2009-12-03T11:00:00.000-08:00

This is the week of nominees and lists of films in competition, so continuing that trend Sundance's announced their accepted submissions for their famed film festival. The documentary competition will feature 16 films (narrowed from a field of 862!) and every single one will be a world premiere.

If that's not enough to wet your appetite Leon Gast (When We Were Kings) Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, Taxi to the Darkside) and Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth, It Might Get Loud) have submissions at the festival. The documentary list is below, but head on over to Sundance's website for a full breakdown of all their lineups.

Bhutto (Directors: Jessica Hernandez and Johnny O'Hara; Screenwriter: Johnny O'Hara)—A riveting journey through the life and work of recently assassinated Benazir Bhutto, former Pakistani prime minister and a polarizing figure in the Muslim world.

CASINO JACK & The United States of Money (Director: Alex Gibney)—A probing investigation into the lies, greed and corruption surrounding D.C. super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his cronies.

Family Affair (Director: Chico Colvard)—An uncompromising documentary that examines resilience, survival and the capacity to accommodate a parent's past crimes in order to satisfy the longing for family.

Freedom Riders (Director: Stanley Nelson)—The story behind a courageous band of civil rights activists called the Freedom Riders who in 1961 creatively challenged segregation in the American South.

Gas Land (Director: Josh Fox)—A cross-country odyssey uncovers toxic streams, dying livestock, flammable sinks and weakening health among rural citizens on the front lines of the natural gas drilling craze.

I’m Pat _______ Tillman (Director: Amir Bar-Lev)—The story of professional football star and decorated U.S. soldier Pat Tillman, whose family takes on the U.S. government when their beloved son dies in a "friendly fire" incident in Afghanistan in 2004.

Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (Director: Tamra Davis)—The story of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose work defined, electrified and challenged an era, and whose untimely death at age 27 has made him a cultural icon.

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (Directors: Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg)—A rare, brutally honest glimpse into the comedic process and private dramas of legendary comedian and pop icon Joan Rivers as she fights tooth and nail to keep her American dream alive.

Lucky (Director: Jeffrey Blitz)—The story of what happens when ordinary people hit the lottery jackpot.

My Perestroika (Director: Robin Hessman)—My Perestroika follows five ordinary Russians living in extraordinary times — from their sheltered Soviet childhood, to the collapse of the Soviet Union during their teenage years, to the constantly shifting political landscape of post-Soviet Russia. Together, these childhood classmates paint a complex picture of the dreams and disillusionments of those raised behind the Iron Curtain.

The Oath (Director: Laura Poitras)— Filmed in Yemen, The Oath tells the story of two men whose fateful encounter in 1996 set them on a course of events that led them to Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden, 9/11, Guantanamo, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Restrepo (Directors: Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington)—Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington's year dug in with the Second Platoon in one of Afghanistan's most strategically crucial valleys reveals extraordinary insight into the surreal combination of back breaking labor, deadly firefights, and camaraderie as the soldiers painfully push back the Taliban.

A Small Act (Director: Jennifer Arnold)—A young Kenyan’s life changes dramatically when his education is sponsored by a Swedish stranger. Years later, he founds his own scholarship program to replicate the kindness he once received.

Smash His Camera (Director: Leon Gast)—Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis sued him, and Marlon Brando broke his jaw. The story of notorious, reviled paparazzo Ron Galella opens a Pandora's Box of issues from right to privacy, freedom of the press and the ever-growing vortex of celebrity worship.

12th & Delaware (Directors: Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing)—The abortion battle continues to rage in unexpected ways on an unassuming corner in America.

Waiting for Superman (Director: Davis Guggenheim)—Waiting for Superman examines the crisis of public education in the United States through multiple interlocking stories—from a handful of students and their families whose futures hang in the balance, to the educators and reformers trying to find real and lasting solutions within a dysfunctional system.

Spirit Awards: Documentary Nominees

2009-12-02T10:41:00.001-08:00

Sticking with the recent theme of Award Show Nominees, the Spirit Awards (Sponsored by the Independent Film Channel), announced their list of potential winners recently. The unique catch with the Spirit Awards is their focus on the smaller and more independent film world: i.e. the perfect place to judge documentaries fairly.

This year's nominee's for best documentary are:
- Which Way Home by Rebecca Cammisa
- October Country by Michael Palmieri and Donal Mosher
- More Than a Game by Kristopher Belman
- Food Inc. by Robert Kenner
- Anvil! The Story of Anvil by Sacha Gervasi

The Spirit Awards show isn't until early March, but let the speculating begin. The fan favorite is obviously Anvil! The Story of Anvil, but don't sleep on More Than a Game which does too many things right to be ignored entirely.

Who needs the Oscars? IDA Awards Announced!

2009-12-01T08:43:00.000-08:00

Like a soothing aloe on burned skin, the International Documentary Association recently released a few of the winners from their yearly award show to quell the recent rage documentary film fans have had over The Academy Award selection process. The IDA's award show isn't until this Friday, so the big winners won't be announced till then, but in the meantime here's the list of smaller category winners to wet your appetite.

In the category carrying the most popular features, Anvil! The Story of Anvil beat out fellow contenders It Might Get Loud and Soundtrack for a Revolution (as well as three other nominees) to be named best music documentary.

The Continuing Series Award went to PBS' P.O.V. series while the Sundance Channel's Architecture School (a six-part series following a group of students at Tulane's School of Architecture) won in the best Limited Series category.

If you're into health issues, Garbage Dreams (the story of three teenage boys growing up in the outskirts of Cairo) won the newly added IDA/Humanitas Award and The Final Inch (which follows health workers in some of India's poorest neighborhoods) received this year's IDA/Pare Lorentz Award

There are a few other winners announced, but the big story is who won the best documentary feature and best documentary short awards. Those winners won't be unveiled until Friday, but the list of nominees is as follows:

Feature Documentary Nominees
- Afghan Star by Havana Marking
- Anvil! The Story of Anvil by Sacha Gervasi
- Diary of a Times Square Thief by Klaas Bense
- Food, Inc. by Robert Kenner
- Mugabe and the White African by Lucy Bailey, Andrew Thompson

Short Documentary Nominees
- The Delian Mode by Kara Blake
- Salt by Michael Angus, Murray Fredericks
- Sari's Mother by James Longley
- The Solitary Life of Cranes by Eva Weber

Our site will recap the Award show winners next week, so stay tuned here to know which documentaries you should be watching.

"This is It" DVD out in January

2009-11-30T10:31:00.000-08:00

Sony Pictures recently announced This Is It will be released on DVD January 26th. The documentary, following Michael Jackson during his final rehearsals before passing away, has already grossed over $70 million.

The DVD includes two documentaries, Staging the Return: Beyond the Show and Staging the Return: The Adventure Begins, and highlight Jackson as he prepared for the concerts. I'm not quite sure if that means this is an extended cut or alternate rethinking of the theatrical film, but hopefully more details will be announced soon.

Oh My God Documentary

2009-11-27T11:27:00.000-08:00

It seems the documentary world took this Thanksgiving week off as there are no new theatrical documentary releases to tell you about. So instead, we're going to highlight the trailer for Oh My God. Directed by Peter Rodgar, this film started its (limited) theatrical run earlier this month, but is actually just gearing up now for a wider release.

Despite it's cheesy, almost mocking title, Oh My God follows Rodgar around as he asks people from all over the world one simple question: what is God? As fascinating as the answers will be though, the stunning visuals appear to be the reason everyone should see this documentary.

But don't take my word for it, head on over to the film's website to watch the trailer, learn a little bit about the film and see when/if it is playing in your hometown.

Various Music Doc news

2009-11-25T13:33:00.001-08:00

There seems to be a few bits of news on upcoming music related documentaries, so we decided to just throw them into one news article:

Lil' Wayne a lil' angry over documentary release - Last year the rapper Lil' Wayne allowed a film crew to follow him on his tour, and the result was a documentary that received some praise at Sundance Film Festival this year. Surprisingly though, as the film gears up for distribution, Lil Wayne sued to block it's release, apparently upset that he did not have the final word on edits. A judge ruled in favor of the film, but it's clear tensions still reign. Check out CNN for more on this story.

Beatles Documentary reveals studio sessions - The History Channel will air at 10 PM tonight The Beatles on Record, a film that takes audiences into the process of making the legendary Abbey Road album. Using both studio footage, pictures and even audio, audiences should get a clear and personal view of one of the greatest bands coming together to make one of the greatest albums. Sounds like the recipe for success. Head on over to Wired to read more about this potentially great little film.

Cowell produces Susan Boyle documentary - And so it begins, the singing sensation of last year's Britain's got talent finally has her first CD released and will now be featured in a documentary as well. The film, titled I Dreamed a Dream: the Susan Boyle Story, will be released sometime next month and will probably be hitting DVD shelves soon afterwards to capitalize on the woman's insanely popular vocals. Alas, If you haven't bought her CD yet, you're probably out of luck.

Tea Party Documentary's Hilarious Trailer

2009-11-24T09:10:00.000-08:00

Anyone living in the U.S. is aware of the ongoing debates between liberals and conservatives on the numerous issues facing the nation. The most recent grass roots campaign (or at least recent campaign with a large media following) has involved conservatives sparking "tea party" rallies across the country. Because of the coverage they've been getting, it was only a matter of time before a documentary followed these individuals.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your position), someone forgot to tell the filmmakers how to make a film that's both interesting and inviting. For one, the title is called "Tea Party: The Documentary Film"- even the bland Al Gore knew his film's title needed a catchy phrase to hook people in. And secondly (and definitely worse), the trailer for this film truly begs the question: "is this a joke?"

Now, I feel bad criticizing the work people put in to defend their cause, but I have to admit this trailer honestly looks like something a comedy group would make. It is, I believe, serious though. So, with that in mind, I hope there was a little more thought put into the feature then the trailer.

Think I'm exaggerating? Watch the trailer and tell us your thoughts!

Oscar Short List Creates Controversy

2009-11-23T10:19:00.001-08:00

This website has been on record multiple times complaining about past Academy Award snubs for our beloved documentaries, but it seems this is the year the 'scandal' surrounding the 'best documentary' feature has reached fever pitch in the entertainment world.

After the Academy announced this year's short list of 15 documentaries up for best feature, countless irate articles have been written. And the rage isn't limited to the blogs as the New York Times, LA Times and Entertainment Weekly have all posted articles expressing the opinions of the upset masses.

With no real star power on hand (i.e. nominated) to quell the rage, it will be interesting to see how this anger proceeds. Tyson director James Toback in particular seems to be leading the muckraking, while Michael Moore and the creators behind It Might Get Loud, Good Hair and Anvil are all making more guarded reactions to the way nominations play out.

Will this die out like past complaints about the documentary selection process, or will we see a change in the system? I personally hope for the latter, because it's hard for anyone to take the documentary genre seriously when its best works are being ignored by major award shows.

Read the articles from the NY Times, LA Times and Entertainment Weekly and then post your thoughts below!

Theatrical Releases

2009-11-20T07:30:00.000-08:00

Oscar 'Short List' Unveiled

2009-11-19T12:19:00.001-08:00

The Academy Awards recently announced their list of 15 films in the Documentary Feature category. This list will be presented to the entire Academy which will then vote and narrow the selections down to the handful receiving an official 'nomination' to the awards show in March.

The list:
“The Beaches of Agnes,” Agnès Varda, director (Cine-Tamaris)
“Burma VJ,” Anders Østergaard, director (Magic Hour Films)
“The Cove,” Louie Psihoyos, director (Oceanic Preservation Society)
“Every Little Step,” James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, directors (Endgame Entertainment)
“Facing Ali,” Pete McCormack, director (Network Films Inc.)
“Food, Inc.,” Robert Kenner, director (Robert Kenner Films)
“Garbage Dreams,” Mai Iskander, director (Iskander Films, Inc.)
“Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders,” Mark N. Hopkins, director (Red Floor Pictures LLC)
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers,” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, directors (Kovno Communications)
“Mugabe and the White African,” Andrew Thompson and Lucy Bailey, directors (Arturi Films Limited)
“Sergio,” Greg Barker, director (Passion Pictures and Silverbridge Productions)
“Soundtrack for a Revolution,” Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman, directors (Freedom Song Productions)
“Under Our Skin,” Andy Abrahams Wilson, director (Open Eye Pictures)
“Valentino The Last Emperor,” Matt Tyrnauer, director (Acolyte Films)
“Which Way Home,” Rebecca Cammisa, director (Mr. Mudd)

As stated in the past, the documentary film category is notorious for snubbing some excellent films in the process of selecting a winner and this year is no different. Four films come to mind in this year's controversy with Tyson, It Might Get Loud, Anvil: the Story of Anvil and (the biggest shocker) Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story all failing to make the list. Though few consider any of these films worthy of actually winning, it's surprising the committee would leave off some of the genre's biggest names. And with last year's winner Man on Wire generating so much positive buzz outside the normal documentary circles, one wonders if this year will be a major setback.

What are your thoughts? Post them below!

Theatrical Releases

2009-11-13T07:31:00.000-08:00

Every Friday we will update you all with the week's theatrical documentary releases. Now, this will not be a perfect process as our beloved genre prefers the limited release schedule instead of a big nationwide or international-wide release. So apologies if a film isn't out in your area, or if you are a filmmaker and we missed the boat on announcing your documentary's big day (if that is the case, please let us know as we try to refine and hone this weekly post).

Now, with that introduction out of the way, here's this weekend's releases with their current rating on the amazing website Rottentomatoes.com:

The End of Poverty? - (50% rating) Global poverty did not just happen. It began with military conquest, slavery and colonization that resulted in the seizure of land, minerals and forced labor. Today, the problem persists because of unfair debt, trade and tax policies -- in other words, wealthy countries taking advantage of poor, developing countries. Narrated by Martin Sheen and directed by Philippe Diaz, The End of Poverty? explains how today's financial crisis is a direct consequence of these unchallenged policies that have lasted centuries. Consider that 20% of the planet's population uses 80% of its resources and consumes 30% more than the planet can regenerate. At this rate, to maintain our lifestyle means more and more people will sink below the poverty line. Can we really end poverty within our current economic system? Think again. (Rottentomatoes.com)

Four Seasons Lodge - (70% rating) New York Times journalist Andrew Jacobs directs this documentary about a summer colony of Holocaust survivors. Partially shot by legendary documentarian Albert Maysles, Four Seasons Lodge looks at the last time these people gather together to discuss their past and present, revealing moments of both sadness and humor. The decision to close the community evokes a variety of emotions from its longtime seasonal residents, but their shared history unites them even as they disagree about the lodge’s future. (Rottentomatoes.com)

The Good Soldier- (78% rating) The Good Soldier follows the journeys of five combat veterans from different generations of American wars as they sign up, go into battle, and eventually change their minds about what it means to be a good soldier. The Good Soldier reveals how soldiers simultaneously grapple with their duty and their own humanity. The veterans tell of their alien surroundings, their connection to their comrades, and the ghastliness of their reality. (Rottentomatoes.com)

The Hand of Fatima - (no rating available) A double portrait of a rock critic and his favorite band. Robert Palmer was America’s pre-eminent music writer, best known for his book Deep Blues and his work for the NY Times. The Master Musicians of Jajouka are a hereditary Moroccan brotherhood who play music older than history, but have also jammed with Ornette Coleman and Sonic Youth. Using Robert Palmer’s writing about the band as her guide, Palmer’s daughter Augusta set out for Morocco in 2005 hoping to find out what happened when her father first met the Master Musicians of Jajouka on assignment for Rolling Stone in 1971. (Rottentomatoes.com)

Oh My God - (0 % rating) Hugh Jackman, Ringo Starr, Seal, and a number of other celebrities and regular people offer their views on God in this documentary. Oh My God features opinions from people of a variety of religious persuasions, including atheists, Muslims, Hindus, and Christians. Director Peter Rodger traveled to almost two dozen countries in his quest to discover what people around the world think about God in all his or her forms. (Rottentomatoes.com)

Ten9Eight Shoot for the Moon - (33% rating) This is the compelling question behind award-winning filmmaker Mary Mazzio’s newest project Ten9Eight, a thought provoking film which tells the inspirational stories of several inner city teens (of differing race, religion and ethnicity) from Harlem to Compton and all points in between, as they compete in an annual business plan competition run by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). (Rottentomatoes.com)

William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe - (75% rating) The late civil rights attorney William Kunstler was one of the most famous and controversial lawyers of the 20th century. He represented civil rights and anti-war activists, as well as accused terrorists and murders. In William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe, filmmakers Emily and Sarah Kunstler explore their father's life, from middle-class family man, to movement lawyer, to the most hated lawyer in America. (Rottentomatoes.com)

Trailer- As Seen Through These Eyes

2009-11-12T09:01:00.000-08:00

The Holocaust and the lives lost during World War 2 is not an event most societies are ready to forgot and it seems every year a new documentary is released covering some topic from that era. For those looking for a WW2 film that has something more to offer audiences, As Seen Through These Eyes takes a unique more artistic approach to the Holocaust.

Directed by Hilary Helstein and narrated by Maya Angelou, As Seen Through These Eyes reveals the stories of artists armed with the tools and talents at their disposal to make a stand against Fascism. The film seems to be following this new wave of artistic and non-traditional documentary styles, and by featuring the poetic talents of the great Maya Angelou, I doubt it will disappoint.

But why are you taking my word for it? Head on over to the film's website to read more about the film, watch a trailer and see when it will be playing at a theater near you.

Doc to Air on PBS in Honor of Veterans Day

2009-11-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

With all the talk of potentially sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, the recent attack at Fort Hood and the ongoing conflicts in both Iraq and Afghanistan, it's safe to say military members need a little encouragement. For that they have Veterans Day and PBS is specifically celebrating troops tonight with the release of their latest documentary, The Way We Get By.

Directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, the film follows a volunteer group that has greeted each and every troop flight at Maine's Bangor International Airport since 2003. Though it's not on the current troops exactly, these elderly veterans know what returning troops need most: a friendly smile and a look of understanding.

At the very least, this should be a film not focused on politics or the pain of war, but the beginnings of healing; and that alone should make this a documentary worth watching.

Head to PBS for more details and showtimes.

American Casino Trailer

2009-11-10T06:53:00.000-08:00

I discovered the documentary American Casino because I thought it was a cross between American Gangster and Casino (both good fictional films in their own rights). Directed by Leslie Cockburn, this is not about gangsters or the Vegas lights, instead, it deals with the mortgage system: specifically the sub-prime loans that nearly destroyed most of our economic system. I know that sounds dry and boring, but it's not!

After watching the trailer, I'm actually fascinated with American Casino. It seems to hold a lot of the same virtues No End in Sight and Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room posses. By that I mean it takes a relatively dry, complex subject material and turns it into an easily accessible and fascinating experience.

The feature length film is already opening in some theaters around the country so head on over to the film's website to watch the trailer and learn a little bit more about this potentially great documentary.

15th Anniversary of Hoop Dreams

2009-11-09T09:14:00.001-08:00

Steve James' groundbreaking work Hoop Dreams first hit theaters 15 years ago. And, though its anniversary was last week, as I tell my girlfriend, it's never too late to acknowledge a good thing.

As many of you know, Hoop Dreams is one of the quintessential films of the documentary genre and deserves to be watched by any and everyone. The story follows two inner city Chicago kids (Arthur Agee and William Gates) as they enter high school with the dream of making it into the NBA. But, this is not a basketball story, it's the story of growing up, facing challenges and heartaches and finding peace and satisfaction in life.

Though I would love to go on and on about Hoop Dreams, I will trust my review is enough of a summary of personal conclusions. And if you want some outside insight into the documentary, look know further than the Chicago Tribune, which presented an interesting look at the film in an article released last week by Roger Ebert.

Theatrical Releases

2009-11-06T10:15:00.000-08:00

'Visual Acoustics' trailer

2009-11-05T14:04:00.000-08:00

Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, John Lautner and Frank Gehry, they are just some of the many great modernist architects of the 1930s. And while their works are stunning, you can make a strong case that it was the photographs of Julius Shulman that immortalized them.

And if you don't believe me, you should check out the new film Visual Acoustics. Narrated by Dustin Hoffmon, this documentary honors the life and career of Shulman. Visual Acoustics appears to be both a testament to modern architecture and a celebration of the gregarious man who chronicled it with his unforgettable images

Check out the trailer over at the film's main website.

Obama... The Movie!

2009-11-02T11:47:00.000-08:00

So by now, if you're not of a more liberal mindset, you're probably more than sick of the U.S.' current president. You don't like his jerk-off name, you don't like his jerk-off face, you don't like his jerk-off behavior, and you don't like him (to quote from a great scene in the Big Lebowski). Unfortunately for those who feel that way, the man will still be in office for another 3+ years and, probably even worse, he now has a feature length documentary on him airing on HBO Tuesday night.

Filmmakers Alicia Sams and Amy Rice' documentary By the People: The Election of Barack Obama follows the then-presidential hopeful as he campaigns for office. The two were inspired by Obama's speech to the Democratic National Convention in 2004, and with the help of actor Edward Norton (and no, the randomness of his involvement doe snot go unnoticed) were able to get unprecedented access for the entire campaign.

Now obviously, I doubt few anti-Obamaites will be watching the film on Tuesday, but before you go blasting this as another example of the media love fest for the president, it's important to note that the both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush also had feature length films about their campaigns (and both were ultimately positive in their representation!).

Check out the Associated Press' website for a pretty in depth article on the film or check out the HBO site for more info (like what time it will be airing in your area).