Fantastic Machine has some interesting insight on the power of a camera here-or-there - along with an impressive collection of archival footage - but the overall structure feels very scattered, and without a strong central thesis tying it all together, it’s hard to engage.
Deep Rising takes an important and imperative issue - deep sea mining - and covers this conversation in the most plain and perfunctory manner possible. It sparks to life when Jason Momoa is narrating over vibrant visuals of our oceans, but dulls everywhere else.
The filmmaking of Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil leaves a bit to be desired, but Lovato’s authenticity is wholly affecting nonetheless, and I’m insanely impressed with how far shes come over these past three years. Always been a fan, but really respect her more than ever now. Wish her nothing but the best.
I’m quite fond of the filmmaking here, but aside from that, I unfortunately found The Truffle Hunters to be really redundant as a whole. There’s sincerity in its storytelling, but little to truly attach to, which left me adrift in the end. I can see why some have come to really cherish it, but it’s one of those “not for me” movies - c’est la vie!
This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
I can’t quite explain why I found this to be uncomfortable and off-putting more often than not.
Even though I ire Kirsten Johnson’s aspirations and ambitions, this absurdist approach just didn’t work for me at all, and I felt like the tone was all over the place.
I can’t say it’s a “bad” film by any means - it’s clearly competently made and infused with love - but it’s most definitely “not for me.” Sorry folks.
(And the multiple “fakeout” deaths at the end were... not “fun“ or “funny”!)
Sweet but slight, Honeyland may stretch its subject matter a bit too far (this story would have been better suited for a short instead of a full-length feature), but its captivating cinematography and lively lead (the buoyant beekeeper, Hatidze) aid audience investment for its brisk 85-minute runtime.
Apollo 11 is an incredible filmmaking feat, bolstered by miraculous video restoration, impeccable sound design, intense editing, and a pulsating score courtesy of Matt Morton. Even though this historical event has been covered to death (most recently in Damien Chazelle’s First Man), Apollo 11 still adds a sense of urgency and suspense to the proceedings by providing a “never-before-seen” perspective and an intimate glance into the incredible efforts that had to function perfectly just to make this launch happen. While…
McQueen could’ve diverted a bit more focus on the psyche of its tortured protagonist as opposed to all the glitz and glam of his professional life, but it nevertheless represents an intriguing look at the life of this suffering artist and his eventual downfall. Technically, the film is composed with a normal documentary format and competently helmed by director Ian Bonhôte, but Michael Nyman’s score is the true star, adding an ethereal, dreamlike quality to the plentiful fashion show sequences.…
Is Anybody Out There? is emotionally enlightening and empowering, emphasizing how important it is to find those who make you feel less alone in this world, centered around a woman with a disability so rare no reliable statistics for it exist. Lovely and life-affirming.
Kim’s Video is such a welcome surprise, functioning as a nostalgic ode to the culture that video stores cultivated, a plea for the preservation of physical media, and an unexpected documentary/heist film hybrid that proves endlessly entertaining. It’s stretched a little thin (even at 90 minutes) and could’ve used more spirited narration, but all film fans will find something to enjoy here.
Little Richard: I Am Everything is sometimes too straightforward and standard of a documentary to truly capture the spirit of its central star, but it comes together in the end by offering a comprehensive - and most importantly, honest - look at its subject’s entire life and all its ups and downs, from the industry’s erasure of his work to his lifelong struggles with his sexuality.
Julia is a naturally inspiring, if slightly simple, look at the revolutionary celebrity chef, Julia Child. Not as riveting as RBG, but some fine cinematic comfort food nonetheless.
Read my full review on Next Best Picture!