documentary

Film Review: “Code Black” – A Feel Good Documentary That is Difficult to Watch

July 30, 2014
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At its core, Code Black is about the struggle faced by young physicians who want to remain idealistic in the face of our failing health care system.

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Film Review: “Life Itself” — The Roger Ebert Story, Told Brilliantly

July 11, 2014
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Film critic Roger Ebert was a complicated man and this documentary does a superb job of exploring his different sides, detailing the evolution of his personality over the decades.

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Film Review: “The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne — A Dynamic Documentary

June 24, 2014
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The beauty of this documentary is that even as it makes you laugh, the story’s essential sadness remains. Though it is very fast-paced, the film makes you stop and think — it’s as unsettling as it is charming.

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Film Review: “What is Cinema?” — An Inspirational Documentary about the Power of the Movies

June 6, 2014
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The clips from both experimental and commercial cinema play well against the interviews from a group directors who are known for pushing boundaries.

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Film Review: An Obscure But Fascinating Documentary on the Life of Edith Wharton

June 3, 2014
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Artist/scholar Elizabeth Lennard has managed to evoke the breadth of Edith Wharton’s life and work in a relatively short and vivid film.

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Film Review: “Teenage” — What it Was Like to be Young and Restless in the 20th Century

May 23, 2014
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Like the Jon Savage book it is based on, “Teenage” avoids gooey nostalgia; the documentary’s enjoyable to watch, and refreshingly not tongue-in-cheek.

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Film Review: “Growing Cities” — Searching for America’s Urban Farmland

May 13, 2014
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Although “Growing Cities” plays a bit like a home movie, it at least scores points for enthusiasm.

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Film/Visual Arts Commentary: A Great Backstory — But are Vivian Maier’s Photos All That Good?

May 12, 2014
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A captivating story, indeed. But is Vivian Maier, suddenly famous, and the subject of a new film, the John Maloof-directed Finding Vivian Maier, a worthy artist?

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Television Review: A Rousing Documentary on the Liberal Gusto of Ann Richards

April 28, 2014
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This fine, partisan documentary resurrects Ann Richards, and it’s showing on HBO in a Lone Star election year. The Republicans better worry about Texans seeing it.

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Film Review: “The Unknown Known” — As Insanely Entertaining as a Mad Hatter Tea Party.

April 11, 2014
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My first thought: filming Donald Rumsfeld can only be rationalized if it’s a front for a citizen’s arrest.

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