Into the Abyss
Into the Abyss, the second and better of two 2011 documentaries (after Cave of Forgotten Dreams) directed by Werner Herzog, is a modern-day version of In Cold Blood. It’s a very thoroughly researched true-crime story, but it’s a little dry and tends to drift off point. Is this a detailed retelling of a horrific triple […]
The War Room
Presented in a shockingly hands-off fashion, The War Room is the most insightful look at politics ever put to film. Documentarians Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker don’t judge their subjects, nor do they weigh in on the politics of the moment. Both would be mistakes, robbing The War Room of its most interesting quality—its unabashed […]
Semper Fi: Always Faithful
Told through the eyes of a still-grieving father, Semper Fi: Always Faithful is more than just an Erin Brockovich-style story of the little guy fighting big bad polluters. It’s a personal examination on what “closure” really means. Yes, the film’s main focus is Jerry Ensminger’s quest for tangible and emotional justice, but what resonates more […]
Hell and Back Again
Though structurally interesting, Danfung Dennis’ Oscar-nominated documentary Hell and Back Again suffers from a number of small, frustrating problems that collectively hinder it beyond the point of recommendation. Most of these problems are personal ones to me, so this, more than anything I’ve written in a while, should be taken with a grain of salt. […]
Project Nim
On the surface, James Marsh’s Project Nim, is about a group of people’s quest to teach a chimp sign language. And if it was just about that, it probably would have been a great documentary. But it touches on so many other, very meaningful themes—most notably, abandonment and selfishness—that one can’t help but admire the […]
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975
If nothing else, The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 proves there is such a thing as truth in advertising. Billed as the greatest hits of some found footage filmed during the titular time period, the film really is a mixtape. But not every track on a mixtape is created equal. As such, I really dug some […]
The Interrupters
If you haven’t yet heard of The Interrupters, you haven’t been paying close enough attention to 2011’s slate of great movies. Steve James’ latest documentary tackles the intractable problem of gang violence in Chicago with a very hands-off approach that helps him achieve moments of gut-wrenching honesty. The film’s thesis will dismay you, though you’ll […]
How to Die in Oregon
How to Die in Oregon is a painful movie to watch. It opens with a celebration of sorts: A sick man is about to die with dignity. He, like many in the state of Oregon, is willfully choosing to take his life quietly and painlessly, rather than the long and excruciating death his terminal disease […]
Battle for Brooklyn
The first two things you’re immediately struck by in Battle for Brooklyn are the senses of paranoia and grandeur. This literally is a battle, and the film prepares you in appropriately epic fashion. But seeing man after man take the podium in his crisp suit during the film’s opening minutes gives you the sense that […]
The People vs. George Lucas
The People vs. George Lucas attempts to give a voice to the silenced Star Wars fans out there in desperate need of a platform to air 15 years worth of grievances, pent-up anger, and … wait, aren’t these people everywhere? Seriously, does anyone think “beleaguered” fanboys haven’t been heard? This documentary, while quite funny, supposes […]
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
In Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Werner Herzog—a master documentarian by all accounts—chronicles the discovery and study of the paintings inside the Chauvet Caves of Southern France. They are the oldest known paintings in human history, and seeing them illuminated is simply astonishing. This films pleasures end there, unfortunately, and once the novelty of these images […]
Buck
It’s easy to see why a lot of people love Buck, but I found it a pretty tepid and shallow film. It’s very “red state”—what with all the tough-talking cowboys—and I’m guessing the films fans are responding to the way the film contrasts this with the emotional confessions interspersed throughout the film. Unfortunately, the filmmakers […]
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
It’s hard not to be fascinated by If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front. Imagine coming to work on a seemingly normal day and then seeing the quiet guy down the hall get arrested by the feds on terrorism charges. That’s what happened to the wife of filmmaker Marshall Curry, who […]
Under Fire: Journalists in Combat
Films as hard-hitting as Under Fire: Journalists in Combat don’t come along very often. Here’s a documentary that turns its lens toward those with their camera lenses on war and destruction. It’s a talking heads piece that couldn’t be more well-served by this format. The stories told by these broken individuals are horrifying, and photographs […]
Bill Cunningham New York
Few 2011 films—or documentaries in general—are quite as charming as Bill Cunningham New York. Most non-fiction films tackle complicated, hard-hitting issues or complex characters with unforgettable stories. This film, however, is about a man, his bike, and his camera. Yet, there’s something joyful about the film’s simplicity, and its titular character’s smile is just infectious. […]
Tabloid
Though not quite on par with last year’s Exit Through the Gift Shop, Errol Morris’ Tabloid is the perfect antidote to the typical intensity and seriousness among a given year’s crop of non-fiction films. Tabloid doesn’t have high aspirations—it just throws this bizarre and complicated story at you, and let’s you choose what you want […]
