“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.”
“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.”
“The refreshing clarity of Peck’s style in ‘Ernest Cole: Lost and Found’ often feels like a drawback in the way that it disrupts the emotional weight of voice and visual form.”
“It’s quite remarkable how Diop captures the collective view of a West African country through her debate sequences in ‘Dahomey.'”
‘Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War’ Cast: A Vague Visages guide for every actor and character in Patrick Reams’ 2024 docuseries.
“As a sports documentary, ‘Torched’ succeeds by establishing and celebrating the DIY culture of both Austin, Texas and the featured frisbee squad.”
‘Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam’ Soundtrack: A Vague Visages guide for every song in David Terry Fine’s 2024 docuseries.
‘Beckham’ Soundtrack: A Vague Visages guide for every song in Fisher Stevens’ 2023 Netflix docuseries.
‘Quarterback’ Soundtrack: A Vague Visages guide for every song in the Netflix docuseries.
‘Simone Biles: Rising’ Soundtrack: A Vague Visages guide for every song in Katie Walsh’s 2024 Netflix docuseries.
‘Receiver’ Soundtrack: A Vague Visages guide for every song in the Netflix series.
“Sorry/Not Sorry’ is fascinating with its exploration of ethics, but Mones and Suh’s documentary essentially plays out like a CliffsNotes version of The New York Times’ 2017 report about Louis C.K.’s sexual misconduct.”
‘Sprint’ Soundtrack: A Vague Visages guide for every song in the Netflix series.
‘Through the Writer’s Mirror’ Interview: George Kowalik and Anne-Laure Tissut discuss the 2022 Percival Everett documentary with director Alexandre Westphal.
“Being multiple things at once is what makes Everett’s novels, but also his other art, so intriguing. ‘Through the Writer’s Mirror’ is its own process of plate spinning. It is its own juggling act.”
“‘Linda Perry: Let It Die Here’ is a moving study of female self-empowerment and perseverance.”
“Gish speaks confidently and passionately about acting in Sanders’ American Masters documentary, but perhaps the most intriguing moments emerge when she discusses her love for film preservation…”
“My TCM Fest weekend, packed full of classic movies, was not only a fun experience in April 2024, but it made me feel hopeful that film preservation is alive and well, and that these beloved — if occasionally dusty — pictures aren’t going anywhere.”
“Part of the film’s effectiveness lies in the iceberg-style storytelling, which respects the audience’s intelligence by showing and addressing crime scene evidence without detailing the grisly specifics.”
“A unique sense of intimacy arguably makes ‘Lady Like’ the strongest of all the ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ documentaries produced so far, but that doesn’t mean it is flawless in the wider medium.”