Buena Vista Social Club

Music Doc
3.5 stars

Great music, moving stories and masterful craft demonstrated, but let's be clear: the moving camera bothered me in this context. I also feel this film is entirely overrated. The film seems somehow stiff and inorganic to me. I did NOT teach on this film to my class.

Genghis Blues

Music Doc
4.5 stars

Fascinating story about blind American who picks up Tuvan singing and travels to Mongolia. The music is incredible. A bit like watching home movies spun into a great story. Would have shown this one to my students had there been more time.

Los Zafiros: Music From the Edge of Time

Music Doc
3.5 stars

A touching look at the surviving members of Los Zafiros, Cuba's all-time pop group from the early and mid 1960s. A love of the subject and the people shines through here, as does a nice look at Cuba today. Plus the music is great.

The Devil and Daniel Johnston

Music Doc
5 stars

A fascinating look at a young musician with manic depression. Here's another film I showed to my students at UCSC. This film pulls the veil back on the notion of celebrity and is blessed with such a wealth of personal archival material. See this film.

Favela Rising

Music Doc
3.5 Stars

Very good music doc about afro-reggae in Rio. Another film I showed in my UCSC class. My students LOVED this movie. I watched this while I was cutting First Gravy and I got upset because I thought it was better than what I was trying to do. I got so mad that I turned it off a little before the end and put it back in and sealed up the return envelope. My special lady friend then got mad at me and chastised me, so I ripped the envelope back open and we got in a fight. Swell. She was right though, the ending was pretty special.

Jazz on a Summer's Day

Music Doc
4.5 stars

They cheated with recreating a party scene, but beautiful photography throughout. The music presented here represents jazz at the highest levels, but the commentary here would seem to be on the audience as much as the musicians. Consistently exciting.

The Ballad of Ramblin' Jack

Music Doc
4.5 stars

Great movie about daughter trying to have a relationship with her famous father. Very telling. A combo music bio and family story. Wonderful. Another film I showed to my UCSC students.

Stepping Razor: Red X

Music Doc
4 stars

Very well made doc about Peter Tosh, using his own words. Arty as well. Here's another film I showed to my UCSC students, the same week I showed them Fela in Music Is the Weapon. I had them read Jeff Chang to really plant some seeds. Who wouldn't want to take a class like that?

The Last of the Blue Devils

Music Doc
3.5 stars

Great footage of old Kansas City musicians, telling stories and playing. Not a great doc, but great footage. Recommended if you have even a passing interest in jazz or the blues or under-appreciated musicians. Unique and satisfying.

Suadade do Futuro

Music Doc
3 stars

Didn't finish this one, but it was an interesting music doc showing the haps in Brazil. Rap style prevails. I was just too tired to make it through.

East Side Story

Music Doc
3 stars

Didn't finish this one about the eastern european musicals. I'm not sayin' it's bad, I'm just sayin'.

Afro-Punk

Music doc
3 stars

Low-budg look at African American identity in punk. I taught on this film in my summer 2007 UCSC class, Music and Social Documentary. The students seemed to enjoy it, and it certainly sparked one of our best classroom debates.

The Clash: Rude Boy

Music Doc
3 stars
I was surprised at how I didn't really like this. Footage of Clash was great, story didn't stay strong. Was hoping for so much more.

Neil Young: Heart of Gold

Neil Young: Heart of Gold
Music Doc
1 star (out of 5).
I love Neil Young and the movie started strongly enough, but this was just a concert film. Perhaps better on the big screen. Fast forwarded through almost the entire film. Nowhere near as good as Year of the Horse. Zzzzzz.....