Teaching audiences to view films actively
By Michael Colford
Director: Matthew Miele
Starring: documentary
Thom says: “Here’s a perfectly competent, entertaining film about the iconic, internationally celebrated, fabulous New York destination hotel, the Carlyle. The hotel is the very definition of swanky, with elaborate furnishings, immaculate, refined service, & a staff that is devoted
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Lisa Dapolito
Starring: documentary
Chris says: “Gilda Radner may not have been the most original or technically accomplished comedienne, but she was unquestionably one of the most likable–as the cliche goes, she lit up whatever room she entered. Lisa D’Apolito’s sympathetic documentary gets this
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 5 cats
Director: Julien Faraut
Starring: documentary
Beth Ca says: “I saw this film at the Provincetown Film Festival this summer and loved it. It’s a spectacular film, especially with the editing and visual design (it is winning awards for editing, and other categories). The film uses
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.5 cats
Director: Sophie Fiennes
Starring: documentary
Chris says: “Cutting back and forth between concert and cinema verité footage is initially somewhat jarring, particularly for those who know little about Jones’ life offstage (i.e., most viewers). Fortunately, the latter’s contrast with the former grows more compelling as
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.75 cats
Director: Ian Bonhôte | Peter Ettedgui
Starring: documentary
Beth CA says: “This film is interesting, and it’s worth watching because of the subject – and the video and photographic footage was excellent. However, when a film aims to document an artist’s life and work, the film ought to
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Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Tim Wardle
Starring: documentary
Chris says: “A stranger-than-fiction doc even *more* fun than but almost disturbing as CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS? No wonder it’s the feel-good-then-feel-bad indie hit of the summer. The first half hour or so is immensely entertaining; the increasingly wacko plot twists
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Kate Novack
Starring: documentary
Chris says: “Fairly pedestrian for a profile documentary—more worthy of CNN than a theatrical release, really. But Andre Leon Talley’s personality is welcome in almost any setting. Just as he nearly stole the show from no less than Anna Wintour
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 5 cats
Director: Agnès Varda | JR
Starring: documentary
Chris says: “Given that 2008’s THE BEACHES OF AGNÈS was supposed to be Agnès Varda’s swan song, we’re just lucky at all to get one more film from the now 89-year-old Godmother of the French New Wave. And while this
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Tom Volf
Starring: documentary
Chris says: “As an opera singer, Maria Callas had an undeniably great voice, but in her time she was also unmatched as to how she embodied her roles onstage (and offstage as well.) Tom Volf’s documentary is a lovingly assembled
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Rating: 4 cats
Director: Antonio Santini | Don Sickles
Starring: documentary
Diane says: “Caught this Sundance winner doc at a small theater today. The central figure is a friend of director Dan Sickles’ (co-director is Antonio Santini; their first was MALA MALA). We land in the middle of the lives of
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