Hoover Street Revival

Documentary
4 stars

Almost-great doc about how a preacher in impoverished LA has changed lives. Old school yet marginally experimental. Me likey.

American Blackout

Documentary
3 stars

A valuable social doc on the disenfranchisement of African-American voters, focused on the '00 and '04 elections. Any elected official who engages with tough questions of the Bush administration-and not ex post facto-deserves some sort of notice. The fact that some of our elected officials feel voter disenfranchisement isn't an issue at all is downright scary. More serious attention needs to be paid to this problem.

Zoo

Doc
.5 star

The responsibility for this dud falls on the director and editor. At what point did they think they had the story? The entire movie circles around the issue of zoophilia or bestiality, never landing on any insightful explorations or even insight into the event itself. There's way too much Errol Morris homage as if the filmmaker either never found the story or proper access. The story is what was gelded here.

Night and Fog

Doc
Film Poem
50s
4 stars

Like Hiroshima Mon Amor, a beautifully shot, poetic statement about an awful chapter, this time about the Holocaust. A short film made in the wake and thus containing the urgency of unimaginable horror. This film should be required viewing to film and history students.

Sonic Outlaws

Doc
3 stars

Low-budg style, geeky, informative look at Negativeland and other folks fighting against copyright law. This doc meanders a bit as the participants fight the good fight. We used to listen to Negativeland my former employer's warehouse, so I've got a soft spot for 'em.

This Film Is Not Yet Rated

Doc
3 Stars

Interesting, albeit cheesy look at the film rating industry. Too much self-aware satire.

Born Into Brothels

Doc
3 stars

India--Children & photography. Issues of interference v. trying to help. We discussed this one quite a bit in our grad program. Did we solve or resolve anything? Uh, it was grad school.

Shotgun Freeway

Documentary
2.5 stars
I fell asleep. It was a tad boring and the creative design seemed weak. Or at least that's what I think I remember about it.