There is not as much of a thematic through-line with the documentary selections as the live action narratives, except a subtle one: Regular people dealing with trauma, death and depression and keeping hope alive. While that sounds like a brutal bit of programming (and at times it is), there is always light and beauty; there […]
Film
Posted inCulture
A Movie About Music
An interview with the director of The Wrecking Crew
Over the past two years, there has been a minor trend in documentary films, with a slew of films giving a glimpse behind the scenes of the music business, and especially focusing on the recording studios (Muscle Shoals, Studio City) and the backup groups (like last year’s choice by the Academy for Best Documentary, 20 […]
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No Mickey Mousing Around
A somewhat serious collection for this year’s Academy nominees for animated shorts
Taken as a whole, the five entries for this year’s Academy Awards for animated shorts and an additional three “highly recommended” films tell a story that is much different than what blockbusters like Frozen would have you believe about the state of animation. No, instead, these films—a collection that’s enchanting, yet dreamy and at times […]
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Oil and Trouble
The Great Invisible: The feel-bad movie of the year!
An unflinching, up-close look at the devastating repercussions of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, The Great Invisible travels from Alabama to Louisiana to Texas, tracking down oil rig workers, oyster shuckers, shrimpers, and crab pickers to document how life along the Gulf of Mexico changed after 200 million gallons of oil gushed into the gulf […]
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Glory
Selma is inspiring, timely and powerful
It’s hard to think of a historical figure more intimidating to portray than the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. His life meant so much to so many, and his image and words have been so well-preserved, that to get him wrong on film would be a crime. That, in addition to Hollywood’s institutional racism, might […]
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The Terrorists Have Won
Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper shoots (and misses)
Perhaps you or someone you love saw The Hurt Locker—director Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar-winning story of a bomb-defusing sergeant in the Iraq war who can’t disengage from his duties and ends up returning to the country for multiple tours. And perhaps someone or someone you love thought it wasn’t “American” enough. Well, do I have the […]
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Film Events 1/7-1/15
Our Roots: The Blessed Tree Jesse Roberts, the creative director for Rise Up International, is premiering this short film that he recently made on a trip to Palestine. The film is Our Roots: The Blessed Tree offers a unique perspective into a Palestinian olive harvest, and tells a collection of stories related to what life […]
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Knowing Where to Look
The movies to look forward to in 2015
It’s easy to see why film is no longer paramount in the cultural conversation: For those too lazy to look past the multiplex, Hollywood is little more than a franchise factory. That dive in creativity is highlighted by the original, outstanding work on television—and in what’s hardly a coincidence, TV has proven far more accepting […]
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Some of the Best Films of 2014
Nobody needs another “Best Films List” that includes the Interstellars, Birdmans, or even Boyhoods of 2014—all great films you should check out. Instead, I want to champion some must-see foreign and truly independent films of 2014. The two must-see foreign films are Force Mejeure and Ida. I had the pleasure of seeing Force Majeure at a […]
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Top 5 Moments at Tin Pan
Don’t trust me. I’m biased. I work a lot of shifts at Tin Pan Theater, and help program the movies we show. But heck, with that said, here are my top five favorite moments this year at Tin Pan Theater. 5. Spaghetti Western Wednesdays: There’s no substitute for watching people eat spaghetti while laughing. Sometimes […]
