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Movie and Entertainment News >> Movie >> Genres >> Documentaries
Documentaries News
As part of its progressive program of documentaries to celebrate Black History Month, PBS is presenting a rerun of Freedom Riders, filmmaker Stanley Nelson's brilliant compilation documentary about the extraordinary group of civil rights activists -- black and white -- who banned together to integrate public transportation in the South during 1961.
Seeing the violence with which they were greeted by Southern racists is a compelling reminder of their heroism and determination, and an important lesson for all who did not witness the events for themselves. In short, this film is a must see -- during Black History Month, and any other month -- and PBS's presentation on February 7, 2012 is a great opportunity for viewers to judge for themselves how the Freedom Riders' actions forwarded the cause of equality in the United States. This is a must-see.
For more documentaries to watch during Black History Month, see my list of recommendations.
Freedom Riders Returns to PBS originally appeared on About.com Documentaries on Tuesday, February 7th, 2012 at 17:39:41.
New on DVD from Docurama, releasing on February 14, are three intensely interesting features:
- Under The Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story - This entertaining documentary covers the 75-year history of Monopoly, introducing the various editions and international versions of the game that has primed millions of kids of all ages about the wiles and ways of capitalist economics. The film culminates with the chronicling of the Monopoly World Championships, the high-stakes, winner-takes-all international competition that take place every four years. Read my full review
- How To Die In Oregon - Peter Richardson's well-balanced profoundly poignant documentary follows terminally ill patients who are considering whether or not to follow in the decision made by more than 500 people who have used Oregon's Death With Dignity Act to end their pain and suffering through physician assisted suicide. Oregon passed its controversial Death With Dignity Act in 1994, becoming the first state to legalize physician-assisted suicide.
- Woody Allen: A Documentary - With the 2012 Oscars looming large on the horizon, the release of this up close and personal profile of Woody Allen, Oscar-nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for his narrative feature, Midnight In Paris, is particularly timely. For it, filmmaker Robert Weide followed his subject for more than a year, capturing the notoriously shy and private Woody in moments of rare candor, unusual vulnerablity and tremendous wit. The film is a treat for Allen fans, or for anyone who simply wants to know what makes Woody tick. Docurama's two-DVD set features exclusive bonus material.
Docurama, one of the leading distributors of nonfiction films, has an outstanding list of documentaries on DVD. These three fine new releases, available on February 14, fit very nicely into the company's excellent catalogue.
(IMAGE: Docurama logo. Courtesy Docurama).
Docurama Releases New Docs on DVD originally appeared on About.com Documentaries on Monday, February 6th, 2012 at 04:15:30.
Surfing is all the rage in the small Papua New Guinea town of Vanimo Village, where citizens see success in the sport as a boost in status and as a way to see the wide world beyond the perfect waves that break on the shores of their island nation.
As the island prepares to stage its first-ever Papua New Guinea Surfing Championship competition, rivalry between two surf clubs in Vanimo Village shatters civic harmony.
Adam Pesce's surfing film is both a sports thriller and a fascinating ethnographic study. Read my full review.
(PHOTO: 'Splinters' Poster Art. Courtesy SnagFilms).
In Theaters: Splinters originally appeared on About.com Documentaries on Monday, February 6th, 2012 at 02:57:09.
Et voila! Veteran cinema verite filmmaker Frederick Wiseman turns his camera on the Crazy Horse, the legendary Parisian nightclub that rivals Las Vegas venues in its showgirl glam and glitz.
Wiseman mixes footage of performance pieces with glimpses of backstage preparation, and of auditions and administrative meetings to reveal all of what it takes to stage what is arguably the world's most famous and classiest nude cabaret.
Read my full review.
(PHOTO: Still from 'Crazy Horse.' Courtesy Zipporah Films).
In Theaters: Frederick Wiseman's Crazy Horse originally appeared on About.com Documentaries on Monday, February 6th, 2012 at 00:14:29.
Covering a range of topics from athletic accomplishments to the struggle for equal rights, these recently released documentaries are gateways to understanding various aspects of African-American history, culture and lifestyle. Watch them all for a fuller appreciation of Black History Month 2012. Read more...
(PHOTO: 'White Wash' Poster Art, Courtesy First Run Features
Documentaries For Black History Month 2012 originally appeared on About.com Documentaries on Sunday, February 5th, 2012 at 01:36:39.
MoMA's annual Oscar's Docs series presents Academy Award-winning and nominated documentary features and shorts from years past.
Scheduled from February 1 to 13, 2012, the fifth edition of the series is entitled 1950-87: Creative Expression, and focuses on the arts and humanities.
The films are about fascinating and highly esteemed musicians, dancers, fine artists and literary icons, including Jacques d'Amboise, Arthur Rubinstein, Robert Frost, Saul Bass, and Marc Chagall, among others.
This year's series' theme of creative expression is reflected, too, in the roster of filmmakers, ranging from first-time directors to well-known cinematic artists the likes of Shirley Clarke, Martin Scorsese and Michael Wadleigh, who experiment with the documentary genre while exploring the creativity of their subjects.
Check the full schedule for titles and screening times.
MoMA Shows Oscar's Docs in February originally appeared on About.com Documentaries on Monday, January 30th, 2012 at 00:36:46.
Already nominated for the 2012 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, Undefeated is one of the documentaries that will be releasing theatrically during February, 2012.
So is This is Not A Film, which I consider to be among the Best Documentaries of 2011.
For the opening dates of these films and the other fine documentaries coming to theaters in February, check out this list.
Documentaries Opening In Theaters During February, 2012 originally appeared on About.com Documentaries on Sunday, January 29th, 2012 at 23:54:48.
In The Guga Hunters of Ness, filmmaker Mike Day follows ten intrepid Scotsmen as they sail from their home town on the northern-most tip of the Isle of Lewis for a challenging voyage across brutally rough seas to an even more remote and tiny North Atlantic island, Sula Sgeir, where they scale steep cliffs to catch young gannets, known in the vernacular as guga.
The hearty Scotsmen's arduous annual journey is a centuries-old tradition, and the meat of the sea birds is considered by the people of Ness to be a highly treasured gourmet treat.
The Guga Hunters of Ness, an utterly unique and authentic adventure, is having its first US screening at Union Docs, 322 Union Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, on on Saturday, February 4, at 7:30 pm.
Mike Day will be present for a post-screening Q&A that will be moderated by...me.
(PHOTO: Still from 'The Guga Hunters of Ness.' Courtesy Intrepid Cinema).
Guga Hunters of Ness Screens at Union Docs originally appeared on About.com Documentaries on Sunday, January 29th, 2012 at 23:30:47.
Announced January 14, the 2012 nominees for Oscars for nonfiction filmmaking, including five films contending for Best Documentary Feature and five in the running for Best Documentary Short.
Looking at the chosen titles, you'd have to say that the Academy is in a serious mood. Films in both feature length and short categories are all about social and criminal justice, the wages of war, activism and aspiring for a better life. Serious subjects, presented seriously.
Out of several features about cultural icons, only one made it to the finals. And, none of the animal documentaries graduated from the shortlist.
Note that only two of the nominated features were on my Best Documentaries of 2011 list -- but I'd be willing to wager that I see more documentaries during the course of a year than most voting members of the Academy do, including those members in the Documentaries Branch.
I'd still like to see more recognition for Garbo: The Spy, Nostalgia For The Light, The Arbor and the others on my list. What films do you think deserve greater recognition? Please leave a comment with your favorite.
And, which of the nominated features do you pick as the 2012 Oscar winner? Take a moment to take our opinion poll.
Nominees for 2012 Oscar For Best Documentary Feature and Short originally appeared on About.com Documentaries on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 21:21:27.
What's Your 2012 Documentaries Oscar Pick? Vote Now! originally appeared on About.com Documentaries on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 21:17:55.