Sheffield Doc/Fest Review: Toby Paton’s ‘Jo Cox: Death of an MP’
“‘Jo Cox: Death of an MP’ is a difficult film that resonates now more than ever with a minority Tory government, the knock-on effects of Brexit felt.”
Sheffield Doc/Fest Review: Josh Homme and Andreas Neumann’s ‘American Valhalla’
“There is a sense of bearing witness to history-in-the-making and of the unlikely melding of soulmates.”
Sheffield Doc/Fest Review: Nick Broomfield’s ‘Whitney: Can I Be Me’
“‘Whitney: Can I Be Me’ plays out like a tragedy of the most cinematic kind.”
Cannes Film Festival Review: Agnès Varda and JR’s ‘Visages, villages’
“Between the enlightened creators, the immensely intimate artwork and the fabulous people they meet, there is never a dull moment in this beautiful piece of cinema.”
Cannes Film Festival Review: Vanessa Redgrave’s ‘Sea Sorrow’
“While ‘Sea Sorrow’ is cinematically stunted, it is clearly made with great passion and belief.”
Tribeca Film Festival Review: Tim Golden and Ross McDonnell’s ‘ELIÁN’
“It’s a miracle that Golden and McDonnell were able to create such a coherent document out of what appears to be bureaucratic chaos.”
Why We Make Films: On Kirsten Johnson’s ‘Cameraperson’
“‘Cameraperson’ is about genuine human connections, about the elements that connect us all, regardless of culture, geography, race or language.”
Tribeca Film Festival Review: Zefrey Throwell and Josephine Decker’s ‘Flames’
“At times, Zefrey and Josephine seem more in love with their own clever filmmaking than they are with each other.”
Las Palmas Film Festival Review: Wang Bing’s ‘Ku Qian (Bitter Money)’
“Ultimately, ‘Bitter Money’ points out that accumulating money doesn’t necessarily bring wealth, and that slaving away isn’t necessarily a solution for the Chinese subjects — it’s their only option.”
DIFF 2017 Review: Peter Bratt’s ‘Dolores’
“In a time such as ours, ‘Dolores’ delivers a vision of community organization and social flourishment that can usher in a new reality for America’s masses.”
True/False 2017 Review: Fan Jian’s ‘Still Tomorrow’
“No matter which storyline is in play, the best thing about ‘Still Tomorrow’ is its subject.”
True/False 2017 Review: Yance Ford’s ‘Strong Island’
“‘Strong Island’ is a vulnerable, affecting documentary that illustrates what systemic racism looks like on a personal level.”
True/False 2017 Review: Kitty Green’s ‘Casting JonBenet’
“The editing is where the story of Casting JonBenet is truly built.”
True/False 2017 Review: Theo Anthony’s ‘Rat Film’
“‘Rat Film’ doesn’t spell out its conclusions, instead allowing the viewer to come to their own upon seeing the images and stories it presents.”
The Wonder of Cinema and Living in ‘Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey’
“As a ‘purely experimental film,’ ‘Voyage of Time’ is ultimately an extreme, sensory experience.”
Behind the Curtain in ‘David Lynch – The Art Life’
“If ever a soul was captured on camera, this is it.”
Review: Josh Appignanesi and Devorah Baum’s ‘The New Man’
“The director’s own forthrightness is, at once, both refreshing and perplexing.”
Review: Ester Gould and Reijer Zwaan’s ‘Strike a Pose’
“Recollecting lessons learned is not the same as actual learning.”
James Benning’s ‘Stemple Pass’: Minimalist Horror for Trump’s America
“Played in 2016, it’s eerily prophetic.”
Streamless – Off the Subscription Grid: ‘Heavy Metal Parking Lot’
“This is L-I-V-I-N in the moment at its best.”