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INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS - **** (105 minutes)

 
Inside Llewyn Davis 
 
December 15, 2013
 
Joel and Ethan Coen have done it again, creating yet another period masterpiece centered around the popular folk music scene in the early 1960's.  Infused with memorable fictional characters (some of whom are composites of actual persons), the brothers have effectively tackled the genre, imparting a original story, with music fondly reminiscent of the era, that never bores.
 
Llewyn Davis (the sad-eyed Oscar Isaac in a superlative breakout performance) is a struggling artist in Greenwich Village New York trying to make it solo after his partner committed suicide.  The movie covers a week in his life that carefully chronicles his struggle to survive.   First, he tries to obtain temporary shelter with his married musical pals Jean and Jim (played admirably by Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake), the former of which informs Davis that she is pregnant with his child.  A visit to his sister to get a handout is met with total disdain.  His road trip to Chicago to audition for a prominent music exec (F.  Abraham Murray in a brief but memorable scene) ends disastrously.  And his return to New York discourages him to the point where he decides to chuck it all and rejoin the Merchant Marines-only to find out his sister threw out his Merchant Marine license.  This is further exasperated when he is told that he needs $85 to obtain a new one, which is tough for a penniless homeless musician.
 
These and other scenes depict Llewyn as a totally bitter and unsympathetic dude.  Yet, despite that, Isaac manages us to feel so sorry for his plight that I actually found myself secretly rooting for him. 
 
Even though this synopsis seems to paint a bleak depressing portrait of a struggling artist, the Coens typically infuse enough continuous humor and pathos to keep those 105 minutes flying along.   All of this works because of the extraordinary acting and musical abilities of Oscar Isaac. 
 
Special mentions go out to the amazing cinematography by Bruno Delbonnel as well as the production design of Jess Gonchor  who both expertly capture the times and feel of 1961.  And, as he did for O Brother Where Art Thou, T. Bone Burnett serves as executive music producer.
 
A special note about the score:  All of the actors performed their original and traditional songs live.  Also, the main character is loosely based on Dave Van Ronk (the title refers to Van Ronk's 1963 album "Inside Dave Van Ronk") who actually sings his song over the closing credits.
 
This is a modest film by the talented filmmakers.  Yet it ranks as one of my all time favorites from their vast outstanding catalogue.
 
Upcoming:  American Hustle  
 
Lllwelyn (Oscar Isaac) ponders his next
 move
 
Jean (Carey Mulligan) and hubby
Jim (Justin Timberlake) performing
at The Gaslight Café

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Philomena - ***1/2 (94 minutes)


 philomena-poster

 
 Wednesday November 6, 2013
 
The great British director Stephen Frears' (2006's The Queen) latest is based on Martin Sixsmith's book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, which recounts the true life story of a mother who had the misfortune of becoming pregnant after engaging in teenage premarital sex in 1960's Irish Catholic England.  Considered a sinner, she was place in a convent where she underwent a horrible birth.  Then working as a slave laborer in the laundromat to pay off her "debt" to the order, she was allowed to see the child only one hour a day.  Later, she shockingly observes the nuns snatching the child to give him to an adoptive couple from The States. 
 
Many years later, Philomena (played note perfectly by the acclaimed English actor, Judi Dench), whose regret for the loss 50 years earlier has increased exponentially with her advanced age, enlists the aid of  Martin Sixsmith.  Martin (comedic actor Steve Coogan who also produced and co-wrote the script with Jeff Pope) is a recently unemployed journalist who only becomes involved after realizing that this human interest story for a local newspaper might jump start his stalled career.  Together, they embark on a journey that brings many surprises-replete with satisfying doses of humor and pathos that will also paint yet another portrait of inhumane treatment by the Church during mid-20th century England.   (The film brings to mind Peter Mullan's excellent 2003 film The Magdalene Sisters.)
 
Once again, another terrific score provided by Alexander Desplat (who has been AA nominated five times since 2007) is a welcomed unobtrusive addition to the excellent script.  Coogan shows remarkable restraint and believable skepticism while delivering enough subtle humor to keep the proceedings from becoming too maudlin.  (His pivotal scene at the convent near the end with the now reclusive nun who caused the separation, is a noted powerful highlight.)  However, it is Dame Judi Dench who steals the show.  The late movie bloomer, who enjoyed most of her career on the English stage, will undoubtedly receive strong consideration during Oscar time, as well as the film which is one of the best of the year. 
 
Philomena opens in Baltimore and limited national platform release beginning November 22.  
 
Philomena (Judi Dench) and Martin (Steve Coogan)
begin their quest for her long lost son 

All is Lost - ** 1/2 (106 minutes)

 
Tuesday October 22, 2013
 
Writer/director J. C. Chandor's 2nd effort (the first was his 2011 critically acclaimed "Margin Call" which received an Academy Award Best Screenplay nomination) is simple in narration but harrowing in its execution.  It is man against the sea (Hemingway:  Are you listening?). 
 
With virtually no dialogue, for eight days, the director takes you into a world of survival as one man attempts to save his life after his 39-foot sailboat rams into a stray shipping container in the open Indian Ocean.  After patching the hole, his immediate sense of relief is replaced with crises after crisis that slowly leaves the lone sailor (identified as "Our Man" in the credits) frustrated and exhausted.  The only questions appear to be how and when the voyager's life will end. 
 
Despite his 77 years, the charismatic veteran actor, Robert Redford, looks buff and capable (the actor performed nearly all of his own stunts) and attempts to make all of this believable to a certain degree.  However, the film failed to emotionally involve and move me.  Ultimately,  the main problem I had were the many unanswered questions presented such as why would a lone elderly sailor attempt to sail alone in a relatively small vessel and risk his life in open waters?  By not providing any back story, the narrative suffered as a result, so that, in the end, I could have cared less if the distressed voyager lived or died-despite his numerous heroic attempts to survive.  And the ending may have some folks shaking their head in disbelief after spending nearly two hours with Our Man in the open seas.   
 
That being said there is much to be admired.  The director's dazzling technical achievements succeeded in creating a claustrophobic milieu (I did learn a bit of survival strategy that, hopefully, will never be used in this reviewer's future).  Also, an effective score by Alex Ebert nicely complements the visuals, while Frank G. DeMarco and Peter Zuccarini provided outstanding cinematography. 
 
"All is Lost" began a U.S. platform release beginning October 18.  It opens October 25 in D.C. and November 1 in Baltimore.
 
Our Man (Robert Redford) battles the sea in order to
 survive his sinking sailboat


Don Jon - *** 1/2 (90 minutes)

Don Jon

 
Tuesday May 28, 2013

Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  A name that is hard to remember-however a face you've seen over and over.  After all, he has over 60 credits as an actor despite his scant 32 years on the planet.  Most folks will remember his visage from the popular TV series "Third Rock from the Sun" in which he appeared in 139 episodes from 1996-2001.  However, his filmography stretches back to 1991, including a role in Robert Redford's 1992 film "A River Runs through It".   Acting is just one facet of his talent as his credits run the gamut from producing, composing, to working behind the camera.  With "Don Jon", he combines his knowledge and experience to a new level, performing triple duties as first-time director, writer, and lead actor.

This is a different kind of romantic comedy the likes of which Hollywood has never seen.  Don Martello, (called affectionately Don Jon by his friends) has a lot going for him:  he's handsome, smart, and has a way with the women.  However, there is one little quirk that keeps him from establishing a lasting loving relationship.  He'd rather direct his "romantic" intentions to online pornography sites than in-the-flesh members of the opposite sex.  That is, until he meets Barbara Sugarman (Scarlett Johansson juicily playing a character that many guys in the audience will surely recognize) who just might be the living doll of his fantasies. 

The first half of the film is the strongest as the camera and effective soundtrack feverishly cuts and whirls as it catalogues nonstop Don's crazy lifestyle and obsession.   The scenes with his buds in a nightclub where he does his real-life stalking are hilarious.  Don lives a more subdued double life when he hooks up with his family which includes dad (Tony Danza), mom (Glenn Headley in an Oscar caliber performance) and social media addicted younger sister, Monica (Brie Larson).  And the always outstanding Julianne Moore plays an older, wiser woman Don meets at college who just might have the answers he is seeking.

Unfortunately, the second half of the film somewhat deteriorates into a typical Hollywood sitcom as it slows down the energy in the first half to more closely define the characters and plot.  Overall, though, Gordon-Levitt shows extreme confidence in his writing and directing.  Although there are stereotypes galore, Joseph successfully pulls off a comedy about a topic that some may find distasteful, but at its core, is a film that reflects, rightly or wrongly, the modern times we live in.

"Don Jon" opens nationwide Friday September 27.

Jon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) makes his move on Barbara
(Scarlett Johanssen)
 
Jon, Sr. (Tony Danza) having a heart-to-heart
with Jr.
 
 


2013 AFI DOCS - COMPLETE COVERAGE -17 FILMS, GUGGENHEIM SYMPOSIUM HONORING ERROL MORRIS, PHOTOS AND MORE!


 

 
 
The ten year run of the premier documentary film festival known as SILVERDOCS is no more.  The long-time major presenting sponsor, Discovery Channel, has bowed out and replaced by Audi - and with it came some major changes for 2013.  Besides the obvious name change, the festival was reduced from six days to five and the venues were expanded into the metropolitan D.C. area for the first time allowing easier access for film goers in the D.C. and northern Virginia suburbs.  Also new were the "AFI Catalyst Sessions:  The Art of Moving Reality" which served to create a dialogue between filmmakers and our nation's leaders on many of the controversial issues raised by several of the films.  Gone were the plethora of awards handed out to deserving filmmakers-replaced with just two Audience Awards for Best Feature film and Short film; as well as the numerous conferences held at the main hub:  The AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring, MD.   Although I lamented the loss of having the totality of the fest surrounding the AFI Silver Theater, there is a certain excitement of having our elective officials included in the discussions raised by these documentarians.   Finally, despite the changes, the constant of having Festival Director Sky Sitney and her staff remain on the scene is a definite plus.  I screened seventeen of the fifty-three films (chosen from 1,929 submissions) and each were worthy of my time.  My main suggestion to the organizers would be to provide a shuttle service next year for attendees who want to attend films both in Silver Spring and D.C. in order to avoid the usual traffic and parking nightmares.  


TOP 3 AT THE 2013 AFI DOCS
(1)  "Wrong Place Wrong Time" 
(2)   "Let the Fire Burn"
(3)   "Blackfish"
 
Below are the reviews in alphabetical order of the 17 films I screened followed by coverage of annual The Guggenheim Symposium honoring Errol Morris and festival snapshots.  (NOTE:  The Audience Award for Best Feature went to "The New Black" by director Yoruba Richen and the Audience Award for Best Short went to "Slomo" by director Josh Izenberg-neither of which was screened by this critic.)

"The Act of Killing" (***1/2 out of 4 - 122 minutes)

 
When the military overthrew the Indonesian government in 1965, Anwar Congo and his buds were promoted from small-time gangsters to death squad organizers who contributed in executing over one million alleged communists, ethnic Chinese, and intellectuals.  Director Joshua Oppenheimer convinces Congo, a huge fan of Hollywood movies, to reenact his gruesome methods of genocide (he claims he personally strangled, stabbed, and dismembered over a thousand people) while taking us to the exact locations of the murders.  Despite raising more questions than it answers, it is undoubtedly one of the most bizarre, disturbing, and unforgettable films I've ever seen.  The documentary, which has won multiple awards around the worlds, opens in theaters on a limited basis on July 19.

Anwar Congo (r) preparing for his scene reenacting a murder
 

"After Tiller"  (*** out of 4 - 85 minutes)

 
Directors Lana Wilson and Martha Shane offer a deeply personal side to the explosive abortion issue that is rarely a media focus:  the professional and personal life of the few physicians who are performing late-term abortions in the aftermath of the 2009 extremist murder of Dr. George Tiller in a Kansas Lutheran church.  The directors follow the four doctors, and some of their patients, in order to shed light on why they risk their lives despite the social and political pressure to cease performing abortions during the third trimester.  However, although the film makers fail to present a balanced viewpoint, almost completely making this a one-sided argument, the doc should raise some intense discussions from both sides of the liberal and conservative aisle.   A limited distribution in theaters is planned beginning September 20.

Dr. Warren Hern, one of the featured late-term abortion doctors


(l to r) Co-directors, Martha Shane and
Lana Wilson 

"American Revolutionary:  The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs"  (***1/2 out of 4 - 82 minutes)
When Korean American director Grace Lee began a search of notable Asian American women bearing her name, she discovered feisty 97-year-old Detroit-based Grace Lee Boggs and structured a film around one of the most extraordinary woman of the 20th century.   Boggs is a Chinese American philosopher (she's a proponent of Marx and Hegel) and social activist in the Civil Rights and Black Power movements (Angela Davis stated in the movie that she, "has made more contributions to the black struggle than most black people have”).  The film maker expertly interweaves archival footage of her life and the horrid conditions and inequities she fought against on behalf of Blacks while living in Detroit.  Her views that revolution begins with individual transformation is a constant theme presented throughout.  The East Coast premiere of this fascinating profile recently won the audience award at the Los Angeles Film Festival.

grace lee boggs american revolutionary
Grace Lee Boggs

Director Grace Lee and son
 

"Approved for Adoption"  (***1/2 out of 4 - 75 minutes)


This is a slight but very entertaining French doc by directors Jung Henin and Laurent Boileau which focuses on the life of graphic novelist Jung, one of over 200,000 Korean children adopted in the 1950's after the Korean War.  The film's major theme deals with Jung's constant adjustment and yearning to belong while growing up in a multicultural family and community.  Jung has always been in search of his identity while growing up in a Belgian family with four siblings.  Effective animation by Jung (3D figures are used against a 2D background) aptly describes both humorous and challenging episodes during his adolescence which alternates with live footage of his return to Korea in an effort to connect to his roots and heritage.

 
 JUNG and Laurent BOILEAU
Director Laurent Boileau (l) and Jung
 

"Blackfish"  (**** out of 4 - 82 minutes)


This riveting true-life horror story by director Gabriela Cowperthwite is another disturbing exposé of man's inhumanity to one of nature's most exquisite creatures.  In general, the documentary focuses on the insane practice of capturing "killer whales" to live 24/7 in a "bathtub" in sea parks in order to entertain for profit.  In particular, the director concentrates on a 12,000-pound bull orca named Tilikum who was responsible for the 2010 death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau as well as two other people during his over 20 year existence in theme parks.  Ironically, although labeled as "killer", these animals have never been known to harm a human while living free in the wild.  Revealing interviews and startling never before seen footage help to hammer home the cruelty we are inflicting on these majestic highly intelligent animals, and helps to debunk many of the myths perpetrated by the owners of these parks.  Expert editing by Eli Despres plus a wonderful score by Jeff Beal makes this film one of the most important works I have ever viewed on screen.  The film opens on a limited theatrical run beginning July 19. 


Tilikum


 Former Sea World Trainer Samantha Berg
and associate producer Tim Zimmermann
 

"Gideon's Army"  (**** out of 4 - 96 minutes)

Gideon's Army

The subjects of this excellent HBO-produced documentary are a group of idealistic public defenders in the South who struggle to perform their thankless job despite enormous caseloads, long hours and little remuneration.  The title refers to Clarence Earl Gideon whose 1961 conviction, without counsel, for stealing a soda and a couple of dollars from a pool hall in Panama City led to the landmark 1963 Supreme Court decision granting the right to counsel in every criminal court case.  Although there are 12 million people arrested each year in the U.S., most will need one of only 12,000 public defenders available.  Director Dawn Porter lets the cameras roll, sans narration with a minimal soundtrack, as she concentrates on three of these lawyers.   Each juggles an outrageous number of cases, representing folks the majority of which they feel are guilty, while sacrificing their personal lives and, in some instances, even their sanity, to perform an often thankless service.  This is an extremely affecting film that will likely change your perspective of our judicial system while better appreciating this army of warriors who tirelessly serve to protect our liberties.  Matthew Hamachek's expert editing won the Editing Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival.  "Gideon's Army" began a limited theatrical run on June 28 in New York before premiering July 1 on HBO.

Public defender Travis Williams


(l to r)   "Gideon's Army" subject Jonathan Rapping, subject
June Hardwick, co-producer Summer Damon, subject Brandy 
Alexander, director Dawn Porter, and subject Travis Williams.

(l to r)   Director Dawn Porter, and subjects Travis Williams,
 Jonathan Rapping, June Hardwick and Brandy Alexander
 
"Let the Fire Burn"  (**** out of 4 - 95 minutes)
Philadelphia's law enforcement had been dealing with the back-to-nature militant African-American group MOVE for years-especially after a police officer was killed in a 1978 confrontation in which nine members were convicted despite their denials.  Conversely, no officers were convicted when a MOVE member was later brutally beaten-despite video evidence.  After the group moved to a middle-class neighborhood, erected a roof bunker, and continuously caused disturbances, this explosive situation came to abrupt end.  On May 13, 1985, in an attempt to remove thirteen members (including children) from their row house, police fired 10,000 rounds at the house and dropped C-4 explosives on the roof.  The result:  nine MOVE members died (including 5 children) and 61 homes across several city blocks burned to the ground-especially after the order was made to firefighters to "let the fire burn".  Director Jason Osder brilliantly recounts this horrific event.  Using archival footage including TV and witness accounts, the resultant investigative committee proceedings, and the disposition by a 13-year-old survivor, he dramatically weaves its narrative with precise editing by Nels Bangerter (the doc won the Tribeca Film Festival Editing Award) and a wonderful score by Chris Mangum.  A disturbing look into a rampant police culture replete with racism and corruption that would be repeated eight years later in Waco Texas where authorities decided to eliminate a group instead of peacefully bringing them to justice without bloodshed. 
 
61 row homes burning in Philadelphia on 5/13/85


"Letters to Jackie"  (*** out of 4 - 88 minutes)


The opening night film is a world premiere and a loving tribute to a long lost innocent era of our country when it was headed by the youngest president ever elected.  The week after John F. Kennedy was assassinated, the First Lady received 45,000 letters from a grieving nation.  Seven weeks later, that number grew to 800,000 and would finally top off at 1.5 million.   Academy Award winning director  Bill Couturie (1989's "Common Threads:  Stories from the Quilt") based his film on "Letters to Jackie:  Condolences of a Grieving Nation," by Ellen Fitzpatrick, who researched for her book many of the 200,000 existing letters in the Kennedy Library.  For his film, Couturie utilized 20 top Hollywood actors to voiceover a number of these poignant correspondences which provides a snapshot of America and its citizenry during one of its darkest hours.  Somewhat disjointedly interspersed with the readings are public and private imagery during Kennedy's brief 1,039 days in office.  And although not all of these events are sugar-coated (the Bay of Pigs fiasco is mentioned, e.g.), you will not see any references to his alleged womanizing.  Instead, Couturie mainly succeeds in capturing a mood of a nation distraught about the end of Camelot.  The Stephen Spielberg-produced film will air on TLC this fall honoring the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's death.

     LETTERS TO JACKIE
 
 
 Director Bill Couturie


"Life According To Sam"  (**** out of 4 - 93 minutes)


Yet another superlative HBO-produced documentary that is heartbreaking, heartwarming, and, ultimately, optimistic.  Directors Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine (who directed the wonderful 2007 Oscar nominated doc "War Dance") tackle the rare devastating disease, progeria.  Afflicted children  (only one in several million will have it with about 250 existing worldwide) suffer accelerating aging and often die by age 13 of stroke or heart attack.    The bad news:  Sam Berns was diagnosed before age two.  The good news:  his parents are physicians determined to raise money to first identify the gene responsible for the disease and, when accomplished, develop an experimental drug to combat it using progeria children from 16 countries for their study.  Sam is already thirteen at the start the film so it becomes clear that Leslie and Scott are facing a race against time to head off their son's certain premature death.  The Fines brilliantly amp up the suspense throughout while constructing a wonderful profile of Sam as an intelligent lad who, like any normal teenager, loves sports and music while facing his predicament with incredible elegance and courage.  The film is scheduled to premiere on HBO sometime this fall.

 (l to r) Dr. Leslie Gordon, Sam Berns and Dr. Scott Berns


(l to r) Sam's dad Dr. Scott Berns, editor Jeff Consiglio
and directors Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine

Sam and mom Dr. Leslie Gordon appear via Skype to
answer questions from the audience after the screening
 

"Lost For Life"  (***1/2 out of 4 - 75 minutes)
The world premiere of Joshua Rofé's film commendably debates the question of whether juveniles should receive life sentences without parole-despite the possibility of their redemption after serving years in prison.  Certainly there are instances where such sentences seem appropriate, such as the onslaught of mass school killings by disturbed teens in recent years.  However, as the director points out, there are other cases where life without parole can be inappropriate at best and inhumane at worse.  We are shown two teens who, for kicks, plotted and killed a female schoolmate.  Reminiscent of the infamous 1924 Leopold and Loeb case, the heinous crime will garner little sympathy for the fate of the two perpetrators.  However, the argument for life without parole becomes much more blurred when we are introduced to an  adult who was a gang member when convicted at age 17.  He not only has shown noticeable remorse but is also totally involved in helping others avoid the mistakes he made when he was a juvenile.  (This individual ended up being paroled by the governor after serving 20 years.)  Other examples are provided as well including a scene of a poignant support group of relatives of convicted juveniles, which further adds to the complexity of the subject.  To his credit, the director makes no final judgments but leaves it up to the viewer to decide this issue that has no definitive answers.

A juvenile lifer profiled in "Lost for Life"
 
  
(l to r) Producer Mark Jonathan Harris, editor
Jason Rosenfeld, producer Rick Allen and
director Joshua Rofé
 
"McCullin"  (***1/2 out of 4 - 89 minutes)


The life and career of renowned British photojournalist Don McCullin is given a glowing tribute by directors Jacqui and David Morris who document McCullin's harrowing exploits while
photographing wars on three continents.  The photographer put himself on the front lines of conflicts in Vietnam, Biafra, Cambodia, Northern Ireland and the Congo to chronicle the utter horrors of wars for the rest of the world-often risking his life in the process.  Working for the Sunday Times from the 1960's to the early 80's, McCullin, now 77 years old, expounds on his craft and relates his intimate thoughts behind the images he recorded.  Concurrently, the screen fills with his incredible pristine photos of war and the devastating human suffering it creates.  Although the doc covers his early years growing up in an impoverish neighborhood in North London, I would have liked some more insight into his personal life as an adult away from the battlefields.  Despite that, this is an insightful portrait of one of the finest war photographers of the 20th century that offers amazing images that you will not soon forget.

Don McCullin


Director Jacqui Morris
 
"Mistaken For Strangers"  (**1/2 out of 4) - 80 minutes

national-mistaken-for-strangers-608x912


Tom and Matt Berninger are brothers.  That is where the similarity ends.  Matt, married with children, is the older brother (by nine years) and is the pensive charismatic lead singer of the semi-famous indie rock group The Nationals-a Cincinnati band that formed in 1999 .  Oafish Tom is an aspiring director who still lives at home, loves to party and listen to heavy metal.  While Tom has made some grade C horror flicks, it is clear that his future life path is still to be determined.  All that appears to change when Matt asks Tom to be a roadie and to film the group while they embark on a year-long tour.  This endeavor becomes humorously disastrous at every step of the tour as Tom keeps pissing off the band's handlers.  He continually drinks and screws up his simplistic roadie duties while getting inane interviews and filming the band at its most awkward moments.  The result:  Tom's fired midway through the tour.  More a family profile than a music documentary, director Tom does manage to film some all-too-brief satisfying musical snippets of the group.  In fact, one downside is that more extended versions were not included as it is clear that the Nationals are indeed talented.  However, some of the humor is forced and staged-but in the end, Tom does appear to have more promise as a film maker then he lets on.  The doc is not to be missed by true fans of The Nationals, but if they are expecting to see extended concert footage, they might be a tad disappointed.
 
 
(l to r) Matt and Tom Berninger
 

 
Director Matt Berninger
 

 "Our Nixon"  (**** out of 4 - 85 minutes)


Whereas "Letters to Jackie" (reviewed earlier) gloried JFK as one of this nation's most endearing presidents whose assassination was almost universally mourned by its populace, here comes a portrait of this our country's most corrupt and despicable leader.  Although the nation has wallowed through the muck known as Watergate emphasized by Nixon's own secretly recorded White House tapes, Director Penny Lane obtained recently released never-before-seen super 8 home movies shot between 1969-1974 by close Nixon aides H.R. "Bob" Haldeman, John Erlichman, and Dwight Chapin which were confiscated and vaulted away for over 40 years by the FBI.  Lane culled through over 500 reels of silent film and, with editor Francisco Bello, has expertly interwoven interviews, rare archival footage, TV bites, and, yes, portions of those infamous audio tapes, that illustrates a President as a total control freak bigot (his take on Archie Bunker and the enormously popular TV show "All In The Family" is laugh-out-loud priceless) whose stupidity ultimately led to his personal and professional downfall.  Lane also infuses original music by Hrishikesh Hirway to round out the production of a film that will hold your interest throughout.  Winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Seattle International Film Festival, "Our Nixon" is scheduled to be shown on CNN in August and have a limited theatrical release on August 30.

Our Nixon
Special Assistant Dwight Chapin films Haldeman
filming him at the White House on the night
of the Apollo 11 moon landing (July 20, 1969)
 
 
"Running From Crazy"  (**1/2 out of 4 - 100 minutes)

Running From Crazy

Director Barbara Kopple won Academy Awards in 1976 ("Harlan County, USA") and 1990 ("American Dream") tackling hard hard-hitting subjects.  She attempts similar audience involvement here but comes up short in this uneven doc connecting the mental illness dots in a famous family line with a distinct history of the disease that includes seven suicides.   The center of the film is actress Mariel Hemingway who gives candid interviews elucidating her family history that includes her late famous grandfather, Ernest, and her two older siblings, Margaux and Muffet-the former, a 70's supermodel and actress who committed suicide in 1983 and the latter, who resides in a home suffering from bipolar schizophrenia.  Certainly, the main focus is important and worthy of a documentary; however Kopple leaves too many questions unanswered.  The most startling revelation, that Mariel mentions possible sexual abuse by her father, comes out of nowhere and then leaves just as quickly with no explanation or clarification.  Other segments (for example, a scene recording a fight between Mariel and her boyfriend during a rock climbing trip in the desert) seem out of place and irrelevant to the much larger issues underlying the film.  What could have been an uncompromising investigation instead leans more towards a Hollywood biopic fluff piece that suffers from a lack of focus and tight editing.  A disappointment from one of our foremost documentary film makers.  The Oprah Winfrey-produced movie will air on Winfrey's OWN channel later this year.

Mariel Hemingway and her partner, Bobby Williams
during their rock climbing trip


Director Barbara Kopple 

"Teenage"  (*** out of 4 - 78 minutes)
"Teenage" is more a pictorial essay than what we would label a traditional documentary.  Director Matt Wolf based his experimental film on Jon Savage's book of the same name and, provides an interesting abstract analysis of adolescence, or "teenager" as it was first labeled in 1945.  Wolf concentrates on four examples during the first half of the 20th century:  a hard-partying Brit, a Hitler Youth, a German who is caught up in overseas culture and a black Boy Scout searching for his identity.  The experimental film uses no traditional narration but instead imbues a multitude of both actual and recreated images with actor voiceovers reciting passages from journal entries to match the period.  An interesting soundtrack by Bradford Cox of the indie band Deerhunter, swirls throughout and is appropriately spacey and a nice accompaniment.  The film, although confusing at times, will evoke feelings, rather than knowledge, in viewers who are more accustomed to straightforward documentary fare.

Teenage Matt Wolf
 

Director Matt Wolf 

 
"White Black Boy"  (**1/2 out of 4 - 57 minutes)


The title refers to Shida, an albino who, unfortunately, lives in Tanzania where limbs of albinos are considered valuable by witch doctors who pay good money to bounty hunters to obtain them.  Director Camilla Magid documents Shida's first year at a protective boarding school and follows his  progress fraught with immediate personal and linguistic challenges.  The minimalist film (which had its North American premiere at the festival) has no narration and no noticeable soundtrack as Magid is more interested in observing Shida dealing with life and learning in a hostile environment than in eliciting social commentary.  Although the subject at its core is novel, the film failed to grab and, even at a quick 57 minutes, seemed much longer as a result.
 
Shida 


Director Camilla Magid
 
"Wrong Time Wrong Place"  (**** out of 4 - 80 minutes) 


The idea that life, injury or death can be determined by one's being in the wrong place at the wrong time was never more recently pronounced than at the Boston Marathon bombings earlier this year where mere seconds and location determined one's consequence.  John Appel's amazing documentary causes one to ponder whether this is due to fate or coincidence as he powerfully recounts five stories involving individuals who were present in Norway on July 22, 2011 when a deranged gunman, Anders Breivik, caused the worst domestic attack there since World War II.  Interviews with survivors and victims' families help to create narratives that are equal parts fascinating and horrifying as they quietly relate their stories before, during, and after that fateful day.  Appel masterfully edits the subtle details, slowly unraveling each story while switching back and forth without immediately revealing surprising details-sometimes waiting until the final reel.  He correctly doesn't sensationalize the event (the killer has one brief scene and his name is never mentioned) but instead focuses on the stories.  Beautifully shot, the doc actually ends on an unexpected emotionally uplifting note.  My favorite movie at this year's AFI Docs, this haunting documentary will surprise you and linger long after the lights come up.

Ritah, a survivor of the massacre in Norway
 
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The festival's annual Guggenheim Award went to the great Errol Morris.  His "The Thin Blue Line" broke new ground for what was considered traditional in this genre by combining actual footage with reenactments of the crime.  Not only did the film receive almost universal critical acclaim (it made many critics' top ten list) but actually led to the release of a wrongly convicted man days from his execution.  Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel called out The Motion Picture Arts and Sciences when it was not included in their Best Documentary nominee list for 1988.  It is believed that such outcry ultimately was responsible for altering the process The Academy used for recognizing documentaries.   
 
After a splendid 21 minute video retrospective, a compelling discussion was moderated by the distinguished Washington Post critic Ann Hornaday, which yielded some interesting information from the Academy Award winning film maker (2003's "Fog of War" in which he profiled former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara).

Here are several highlights of the interview:     

-Ann mentioned that music practically plays a separate character in several of his documentaries.  In response, Errol discussed his musical background, pointing out that his mother was a Julliard graduate and that he, too studied cello at the prestigious school.  Therefore, music is still a very big part of his life.  He developed a close collaboration with the great composer Philip Glass who scored several of his films including "The Thin Blue Line" (which led to the freeing of falsely convicted Randall Dale Adams and which Morris proclaimed as "so far the proudest moment of my life"), 1991's "A Brief History of Time" (featuring British physicist Stephen Hawking) and the Academy Award winning "The Fog of War".  He said that Glass told him many times over the years that "The Thin Blue Line" soundtrack is the "one that he is most proud".

-In explaining the length of time after his two initial docs (1978's "Gates of Heaven" and 1981's "Vernon Florida") and "The Thin Blue Line", despite critical acclaim for the first two, he was unable to continue his craft due to lack of funds.  This forced him into a new occupation as a private detective which later helped him in his two and a half year investigation of a miscarriage of justice case in Texas that he stumbled upon and later documented in "The Thin Blue Line".

-On his use of reenactments and truth in film making, Errol pointed out that "a really great documentary for me makes me think about what's true; it doesn't serve it up on a platter with garnishing.  You are supposes to be, at least to my way of thinking, put in a position . . . where you are questioning . . . you are thinking about it.  You're wondering whether if it is true or false. . .   The reenactments in 'The Thin Blue Line' are a way of making the audience and me . . . think about what actually happened.  I have contradictory reenactments.  I have reenactments of things that I believe to be lies or untruths . . . Reenactments as a way of taking you into the ambiguities of evidence and helping you to think about them as an audience and for myself as a detective film maker.  . . I know this by hearsay, when the film was shown
to various people screening for The Academy Awards it was turned off very very quickly after the first reenactment appeared on screen because it was considered to be a no-no. . . What makes something true is the pursuit of truth, the investigation of what might be true.  Truth is not something that is guaranteed because you adopt a certain kind of style.  'I eschew reenactments therefore what I do is more true?'  Crazy talk!  I spent most of three years investigating that word, put myself at risk many . . . times trying to figure it out; and the reenactments in no way detract from that effort." 

-Ann pointed out that Errol was executive producer of "The Act of Killing" (which is playing at the festival and is reviewed above), while Morris mentioned that his new film ("The Unknown Known: The Life and Times of Donald Rumsfeld") is being released in the fall.  For the film, he interviewed the former Secretary of Defense over 30 hours (in contrast, he interviewed McNamara over 20 hours for "The Fog of War").


 
Director Errol Morris and Washington Post critic
 Ann Hornaday


(l to r)  AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale, Errol Morris,
Ann Hornday, Festival Director Skye Sitney, and daughter
 of Charles Guggenheim Grace Guggenheim


 

 
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Festival Snapshots:


 

 
Opening Night Red Carpet (l to r):  TLC Senior Vice President
 of Production and Development Howard Lee; "Letters to
Jackie" film subject and letter writer Gretchen Lundstrom;
 "Letters to Jackie" director Bill Couturie; letter writer 
Janis Hirsch;  John Clarke, husband of deceased letter
writer; TLC General Manager Amy Winter and TLC Vice
President  of Production and Development Timothy Kuryak
 
 
Opening Night Red Carpet (l to r):  AFI President and CEO
Bob Gazzaleletter writer Gretchen Lundstrom; director
 Bill Couturie; letter writer Janis Hirsch; John Clarke, husband
of deceased letter writer; Festival Director Skye Sitney
 
 
 Opening Night screening of "Letters to Jackie" in
The Newseum's auditorium
 
AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale opens the festival
 

Scott Keogh, President & CEO of major
sponsor Audi
The party in the Newseum lobby after the screening of
"Letters to Jackie"