‘Zodiac Killer Project’ Review: An Intellectual Slide to Sensationalism
“In ‘Zodiac Killer Project,’ Shackleton finds clarity via cinema by stripping the true crime phenomenon down to its core essentials, ugly as they may be.”
Review: Josh Appignanesi’s ‘Colossal Wreck’
“Based on the novelistic nature of ‘Colossal Wreck,’ with all its rich philosophical meditations about ego and personal connections, Appignanesi’s growing filmography seems to be a cinematic vessel for meaningful change.”
Review: Alan Berliner and Benita Raphan’s ‘Benita’
“‘Benita’ is more of a cinematic explainer than a rich psychological study.”
Review: Jill Campbell’s ‘Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue’
“‘Beyond the Gaze’ effectively links the past and present timelines to accentuate the subject’s commitment to her craft and models.”
Anatomy of a Scene: ‘When Comedy Went to School’ (Borscht Belt Film Fest)
“‘When Comedy Went to School’ is a must-see for not only American Jews, but also for anyone who appreciates the art of stand-up comedy.”
Review: Cosima Spender’s ‘Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe’
“As politics continue to divide people via blinding shades of blue and red, Andrea Bocelli transcends above the madness by communicating what’s in his heart.”
TIFF 2025 Review: Gianfranco Rosi’s ‘Below the Clouds’
“With ‘Below the Clouds,” Rosi makes it clear that history and the present interact every day.”
Review: Robert Schwartzman’s ‘Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary’
“Press play on ‘Hung Up on a Dream’ for the music, stay for the wild and interconnected industry stories that span seven decades.”
EIFF 2025 Review: Sepideh Farsi’s ‘Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk’
“As a cinematic epitaph for an extraordinary young woman, ‘Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk’ more than captures the spirit of Fatima Hassouna.”
Short Film Review: Laura Checkoway’s ‘The Cat Man Eshete’
“‘The Cat Man Eshete’ is more of a psychological character study — one worthy of repeat viewings, especially for immigrants — than a traditional documentary short about trauma and redemption.”
Saving Seconds of Time: On Rachel Elizabeth Seed’s ‘A Photographic Memory’
“Some minor continuity issues in ‘A Photographic Memory’ point to the first-time director’s lack of experience, yet they oddly work in favor of the established mood and tone via the (mostly) outstanding editing.”
Review: Tom DeNucci, Seth Koch and Rick Lazes’ ‘Knock Out Blonde: The Kellie Maloney Story’
“‘Knock Out Blonde’ isn’t the kind of documentary that wants to paint a complicated picture of its subject — which, paradoxically, would be the kind of boundary-pushing representation we need now.”
Review: Alex Braverman’s ‘Thank You Very Much’
“‘Thank You Very Much’ separates itself from previous Kaufman documentaries in the way the director directly confronts the correlation between an artist’s childhood trauma and creative outlook as an adult.”
Soundtracks of Television: ‘Court of Gold’
‘Court of Gold’ Soundtrack: A Vague Visages guide for every song in Jake Rogal’s Netflix series.
Review: Bruce David Klein’s ‘Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story’
“Even though ‘Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story’ might leave fans wanting more, Klein’s documentary will presumably be the go-to Minnelli doc for years to come, based on the subject’s participation and an interview cast of high-profile names.”
Review: Taku Aoyagi’s ‘Tokyo Uber Blues’
“‘Tokyo Uber Blues’ is best when it works as a borderline psychodramatic character study…”
Review: Benjamin Ree’s ‘The Remarkable Life of Ibelin’
“There are moments of richness in ‘The Remarkable Life of Ibelin,’ but they only materialize when Ree allows his tale to be told from the only truly lived-in perspective.”
Review: Thom Zimny’s ‘Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’
“‘Road Diary’ is intimate and illuminating, revealing the E Street Band’s brilliance and how they function like a well-oiled machine, with Springsteen as the engine that guides them.”
Review: John McDermott’s ‘Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision’
“With ‘Electric Lady Studios,’ McDermott artfully explores intriguing stories about hard-working music professionals who experienced first-hand what it was like to make a dream come true.”
Review: Jason Miller’s ‘Not Not Jazz’
“Miller’s documentary will likely bore viewers who are unfamiliar with Medeski Martin & Wood, but ‘Not Not Jazz’ is still a worthy tribute to what makes the band members such singular musicians.”