Review: Tea With the Dames
The Dames in question are Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright and Eileen Atkins, four of England best actresses and life-long friends who meet up regularly at Plowright's country home.…
Quickie Review: Free Solo (Documentary)
You slip, you fall, you die. That’s the simple truth at the heart of the sometimes meh, sometimes gripping (pun intended but also accurate) documentary Free Solo, about American rock…
Review: Hal
In the 1970s, there was a director who made an extraordinary series of socially conscious and brilliantly entertaining films. His name was Hal Ashby. From Harold and Maude to Being…
Review: Love, Gilda
I loved Gilda Radner! She's the only celebrity whose death has ever made me weep. So when I heard there was going to be a documentary about her, I was…
Review: Kusama: Infinity
This documentary was full of surprises for me. I've been an art lover for as long as I can remember, but somehow missed knowing one of the most critically acclaimed…
Review: Love, Cecil
I'd known about Cecil Beaton as a photographer for decades, but had no idea the breadth of his creative talents. Love, Cecil is a beautifully crafted documentary about him that…
Quickie (documentary) Reviews: Three Identical Strangers; The King
Three Identical Strangers is a fascinating documentary that runs the gamut from joyous and surreal to shocking and sad. It tells the story of three complete strangers – Bobby Shafran,…
Review: Dark Money
It's the documentary of our time. Untraceable money is flooding US political races, from corporations and rich individuals with agendas that run counter to the will of the people. Filmmaker…
Review: Whitney
Whitney, the new documentary about Whitney Houston has it all. Star power, incredible performances, heroes and villains, a sexual abuse bombshell, and the self-destruction and ultimate tragic death of its…
Review: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Even as a kid, I knew there was something inherently comfortable and calming about Mr. Rogers. I remember sitting in front of the television watching him put on his cardigan…
Review: RBG
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg aka The Notorious RBG is a fabulous role model for the masses. At 85 and with 15 years on the highest bench in the land, it's…
Review: Leaning Into the Wind: Andy Goldsworthy
If you don't know about British artist Andy Goldsworthy, this documentary is a great way to get your feet wet. He's hard to classify artistically, since there are not a…
Review: Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story
She was considered the most beautiful woman in the world when she came to Hollywood in the 1930s from her native Austria. She forced Louis B. Mayer to sign her…
Mini-reviews: The Oscar Nominated Shorts 2018 (Documentary)
Last year was all about war and refugees and people in peril a world away. This time it's all about people here at home though still in peril. The films…
Review: Human Flow
The world is awash in people who cannot stay in their homes because of war or famine or climate or any number of other tragedies that might make remaining impossible.…