Documentary 2006-2014

Twenty Feet From Stardom;

                                         In this mesmerizing documentary about back up singers, most of whom you have never heard of and some (if you are old enough) you have. Merry Clayton who  did the iconic singing on the Stones “Gimme Shelter” as well as a ton of other work. Darlene Love who first sang with the Blossoms, worked with Phil Spector and Elvis Presley. The astounding voice of Lisa Fischer has to be heard to believed and who has gone on every tour with the Stones since 1989. There are current commentaries by producer Lou Adler, Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder. Sting and Bette Midler. The music and harmonies are spellbinding, and the women are beautiful in every way. 5000 stars

Cave of Forgotten Dreams;

Master film maker Werner Herzog come up with another memorable documentary. This one about the Chauvet cave in southern France, which is closed to the public and home to some of the most incredible pre historic paintings that I have seen. These drawings estimated to be 30000 years old have only recently been discovered, their sophistication and subtlety are a revelation. Only a filmic artist of Herzog’s ability could make what could have been a dry and clinical recording of facts into a totally engrossing journey into a wondrous past.

438 stars not for the claustrophobic

The Magic of Fellini;

A great little documentary about this Italian master, who was born at the right time in the right count

ry with the right producers to help him bring forth his brilliant films. With interviews with Fellini himself as well as Anthony Quinn, Claudia C

ardinale, Anita Ekberg, Donald Sutherland, Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, Lina Wertmuller, Paul Mazursky, Ettore Scola, Giuseppe Tornatore No one has a bad word to say about him and if you have seen any of his films you can see why. A Netflix recommendation

Into the great Silence:
If any need of proof that silence is golden, then here it is.
This mesmerizing documentary about life in the Chartreuse Monastery in the French Alps, is at once hypnotic, meditative and serene. Shot over a period of one year, this film follows, in detail the lives of the monks in this renowned abbey. Their daily routines and prayers and all recorded with a great deal of reverence. The photography is stunning, all shot with available light, and without any added soundtrack. The editing just about perfect lingering on shots for just the right amount of time, intercutting the interior scenes with the glorious alpine exteriors.
At 2 Hours and 40 minutes it is too long, director Phillip Groning, having made his point after 2 hours, but those first 2 hours won’t be ones that you will forget soon.
300 stars bring your own snacks

49 UP;
This latest installment in what must be the longest film experiment/documentary ever, is just as riveting as the first one, started 42 years ago as a one off BBC documentary. The purpose of which, was to track the progress of a cross section of British youngsters that cut across class and social lines to see how their lives would progress, and what role class and education had in how their lives would turn out. Director, Michael Apted realizing he was onto a unique social and filmic opportunity, chose to extend the idea well beyond its original time span, and has returned every 7 years hence to the same people to see how they are getting on in their lives. This latest episode, intercut as it is with previous one’s give a unique insight into everyone’s dreams, ambitions successes and failures. At once fascinating and predictable, viewing this remarkable film will touch everyone who see’s it.
500stars


Heart of Gold;
Jonathan Demme (Stop Making Sense) as crafted a wonderful document of a recent concert by Neil Young and his band playing at the historic Ryman auditorium in Nashville. Shot in the most unobtrusive and yet celebratory way, with wonderful editing, this film showcases Young’s latest album, “Prairie Wind” a cd full of great and poignant new songs. It’s really gratifying to see these aging rockers (i.e. Cream) still being able to come up with the goods. Young’s singing here is better than ever, and he shows why he has more than stood the test of time. With Emmylou Harris as one of the backup singers, How’s that for clout A Joy to watch
20000 stars (Are you ready for the Country)



The Devil & Daniel Johnston;
An engrossing look at creativity and madness, and how the two intersect. Daniel Johnston, at one point a boy wonder musician/composer, in the 1970’s is slipped some acid at a concert which becomes the tipping point in his already precarious mental state. He becomes increasingly delusional, on one occasion while his father is flying him home after a performance in his single engined plane Daniel, grabs the keys and throws them out of the window,grabs the controls and almost kills them both. By now he has already been in and out of mental hospitals, and has to be under constant supervision, (ultimately by his now ageing parents) Like other eccentric artists,(Syd Barret, Robert Crumb) somewhere underneath the madness is real talent, and this is the case here. The film makers here give a poignant portrait of a very troubled performer, his still enthusiastic public, and adoring parents.
350 stars (stay on your meds!)



”Shine a Light;
Martin Scorsese’s take on the Rolling Stones in Concert in IMAX. Well here we have “The greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World” in concert at the Beacon theater in NYC. I suppose the fact that none of the band members were in wheelchairs or had on breathing equipment, is testament enough to their stamina, but taking into account (or not) their history, life style and drug intake over the decades, this is a remarkable performance, especially by Jagger, whose manic physical antics have not diminished over the years. The film is intercut, on occasions, with some very early footage of interviews, one of which when asked by Dick Cavett whether he though he would still be performing when he was 60, Jagger shoots back immediately “Yeah easily” and here he is proving the point. The rest of the band are in great droll form. Scorsese is too, some of the “finding focus” shots were a bit irritating as were the close-ups of Mick’s bad teeth. And seen in the Imax huge 50 foot screen, the close-ups of Keef were really frightening. Nevertheless a great document of a great band by a great film maker, what else is there. 500 stars & fix ‘em teeth.




Gonzo, The Life & Work of Dr Hunter S Thompson;
In this exhausting and exhaustive account of the drug addled life and sad demise of this remarkable counter culture journalist/writer who finally became a victim of his own fame, this documentary in great detail recounts the life journey of Hunter S Thomson, (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and on the Campaign Trail) from idealist patriot (albeit with a very jaundiced eye) to depressed cynic who orchestrated his own departure with all of the hubris of a Hollywood producer. This is nevertheless a well crafted, endlessly entertaining film about a fascinating , iconic writer. Narrated by Johnny Depp, with contributing clips by George McGovern, Gary Hart, Jann Wenner, Jimmy Carter, Pat Buchanan and Ralph Steadman, who illustrated many of his books. If you are old enough to know who this person was this film is well worth your time.
346 stars and keep the guns unloaded


Encounters at the End of the World;
Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man) takes his world view and cameras to Antarctica, to record some predictably stunning images, but also to interview some of the oddballs that would be attracted to a job description that includes, freezing your ass off, diving into water that is 2 below zero Celsius ,6 months of darkness, followed by 6 months of sunshine, living in what looks like a strip mining camp and a complete lack of greenery. It is these interviews , plus the wonderful soundtrack that lifts this film from being just another gorgeous look at our disappearing world.
As he did with his study of Timothy Treadwell in Grizzly Man, it is Herzog’s fascination with people on the outside of mainstream society and what drives them that makes this film very much worth looking at. A Master film maker at the top of his game.
560 stars and don’t forget your thermals.