Tag Archives: documentaries

3 things about Frederick Wiseman’s NATIONAL GALLERY

Posted on October 20, 2014 by robchristopher

National Gallery [2014] 1. Varnish. Shiny, buffed floors. 2. A hunting horn, a lobster, a peeled lemon. 3. He collects the tiniest possible sample and places it on a glass slide. Phenomenal.

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3 things about Michael Caplan’s ALGREN

Posted on October 15, 2014 by robchristopher

Algren [2014] 1. “The true voice of the people belongs to the inarticulate.” 2. “Walking into his apartment was like walking into a scrapbook.” 3. Playing at the beach. An enormous belly, spindly legs. Featuring nearly 200 amazing photographs by … Continue reading →

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3 things about Les Blank’s BURDEN OF DREAMS

Posted on October 4, 2014 by robchristopher

Burden of Dreams [1982] 1. Three boats, two of which are stuck on sandbars during the longest dry spell in recorded history. 2. “The trees here are in misery. The birds are in misery. I don’t think they sing. They … Continue reading →

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3 things about Steve James’ LIFE ITSELF

Posted on September 11, 2014 by robchristopher

Life Itself [2014] 1. Seeing the same theater, onscreen, that I’m sitting in as I watch the movie. 2. “They were a pair of Siamese twins joined at the rear end.” 3. A reprieve, courtesy Leonard Cohen.

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3 things about Hubert Sauper’s DARWIN’S NIGHTMARE

Posted on August 1, 2014 by robchristopher

Darwin’s Nightmare [2004] 1. The only artist in his village, he signs most of his artwork with a copyright symbol next to his name. 2. It’s better to wait, he explains, until the intruder is on the inside of the … Continue reading →

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3 things about Steve James’ HOOP DREAMS

Posted on July 4, 2014 by robchristopher

Hoop Dreams [1994] 1. “Arthur and Shannon spend their summer at Pizza Hut, earning $3.35 an hour.” 2. As they hug, she smears her lipstick on her dress. 3. “Well. Another one walks out the door, and another one comes … Continue reading →

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3 things about Ben Cotner and Ryan White’s THE CASE AGAINST 8

Posted on June 12, 2014 by robchristopher

The Case Against 8 [2014] 1. Ted Olsen leaning against a stack of paper plates. 2. Scalia: “When did it become unconstitutional to exclude homosexual couples from marriage? 1791? 1868, when the 14th Amendment was adopted?” Olson: “When did it … Continue reading →

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3 things about Matt Wolf’s TEENAGE

Posted on April 28, 2014 by robchristopher

Teenage [2013] 1. Child labor ends, kids go to school longer: adolescence is born. 2. Bare-chested, shell-shocked soldiers. 3. “Anything that begins with Duke Ellington, ends with an assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler.”

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3 things about Godfrey Reggio’s VISITORS

Posted on March 8, 2014 by robchristopher

Visitors [2013] 1. Crumbling clown head. 2. Pinch. 3. Corporate totems tumble amidst the garbage.

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3 things about Daniel Kraus’ PREACHER

Posted on January 16, 2014 by robchristopher

Preacher [2011] 1. During his sermon, in his exuberance he drops his handkerchief. A man picks it up and, not missing a beat, he takes it back. 2. He likes to wrastle with fish. 3. A cake that says HAPPY … Continue reading →

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