Tag: documentary
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Just like the sushi of which Jiro dreams, the beauty of this documentary from producer/director/cinematographer David Gelb owes in large part to its simplicity. As is the case with many great documentaries, it seems that all Gelb had to do to stir up a great film was to sit down with his wholly fascinating subjects, [...]
Fightville
Even before the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) exploded into the mainstream, filmmakers have been fascinated by the sport and compelled to document the lives and careers of its competitors. In 2002, HBO picked up John Hyams’ documentary The Smashing Machine following its premiere at that year’s Tribeca Film Festival. The Smashing Machine followed [...]
The Story of the Costume Drama
Costume dramas have been a staple of British television since the fifties. They come in all forms; romance, adventure, adapted classic and contemporary novels, and even original stories written for the screen. They have not only captivated the British audience, but after making their way to America, we fell in love with them as well. [...]
Shark Divers
Ever since I saw Jaws as a kid, I’ve been simultaneously fearful and fascinated by sharks. I imagine my story isn’t too uncommon, with the ever-increasing popularity of Discovery’s Shark Week. So when Mill Creek Entertainment stepped up to the plate, with their newest release Shark Divers, I was a little nervous. What was I [...]
The Hitler Chronicles
The Hitler Chronicles: Collectors Edition DVD box set includes four intriguing documentaries surrounding Hitler and the Third Reich. Although hailing from various decades, these four documentaries fit together perfectly. Each documentary will take you deeper into the lives and actions of the people involved in various way to WWII. The footage, some of which was [...]
Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies
Director Nicholas Eliopoulos’ documentary, Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies , opens with a bold, but ultimately justified assertion that the story of actress Mary Pickford (1892-1979) and that of the development of the film form in the early days of motion pictures are intrinsically-linked tales with analogous historical trajectories. As a world-renowned actress, [...]
John Mellencamp: It’s About You
Following John Mellencamp’s 2009 tour with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, this documentary collects a variety of footage of Mellencamp both on and off stage in an attempt to show his audience the committed businessman behind the artist. Honsetly, I couldn’t name a John Mellencamp song to save my life. Watching this documentary, it’s not [...]
Films of Fury
If one is a fan of kung-fu cinema, one will know the name of Ric Meyers, the writer of many books, columns and articles on the genre. Seeing Ric Meyers’ name on the cover of Films of Fury made me extremely happy because I felt as though I was going to receive a master class [...]
How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster
I have to admit going in that I expected this documentary to not be for everyone, but thought that I’d like it because my father was an architect, and it’s about a world-famous architect. At the end, though, I’d recommend it to anyone who happens to live in or work in anything that has been [...]
Norman Mailer: The American
Two- time Pulitzer Prize winner, political candidate, journalist, movie director and social critic are just a few of the titles that Norman Mailer holds. Mailer wrote more than 30 books in his lifetime, married six times and had nine children. He died at the age of 84 on November 10, 2007. He lived a tumultuous [...]
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