“Sammy Davis Jr.: I Gotta Be Me” (USA) Directed by Sam Pollard So…a ninety minute, well-researched, lovingly constructed documentary on the life of Sammy Davis Jr., filled with interviews of contemporaries who knew him best? Truly, what’s not to love? … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #15: “Sammy Davis Jr.: I Gotta Be Me” (USA)
“Charleston” (Romania/France) Directed by Andreï Cretilescu Andreï Cretilescu’s “Charleston” is a classic Romanian black comedy. Like last year’s brilliant “Sieraneveada”, it is very clever, often laugh-out-loud funny, earnest and heartwarming. But whereas the latter could sustain its almost three hours … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #14: “Charleston” (Romania/France)
“In the Intense Now” (Brazil) Directed by João Moreira Soles Historical docs very rarely stray from the tried and true formula – identify the main players, and chronologically take us through the events that shaped the story. Occasionally, one will … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #13: “In the Intense Now” (Brazil)
“Life Guidance” (Austria) Directed by Ruth Mader The film fest/world cinema space is littered with films whose allegorical natures are so obvious or forced they quickly rid us of our desire to see it through to the end. 2010 Oscar … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #11: “Life Guidance” (Austria)
“Experimental City” (USA) Directed by Chad Freidrichs Director Chad Freidrichs, whose “Pruitt-Igoe Myth” (2013), is one of the better, great, even, docs describing the failures of American urban development in the mid-twentieth century, follows that up with “Experimental City”, a … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #10: “Experimental City” (USA)
“Golden Years” (France) Directed by André Téchiné Not to be confused with another French film, 2015’s fantastic “My Golden Days”, André Téchiné’s “Golden Years” is anything but. In what is fast becoming well-worn territory (although perhaps not in France), this … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #12: “Golden Years” (France)
“Budapest Noir” (Hungary) Directed by Éva Gárdos Based on the bestselling Hungarian novel, “Budapest Noir” by Vilmos Kondor, director Éva Gárdos has taken the title to heart in her film of the same name. Not simply a love letter to … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #9: “Budapest Noir” (Hungary)
“The Reconciliation” (Poland) Directed by Maciej Sobieszczanski I hate to bash a film, especially an indie as concerned as “Reconciliation” is with getting a piece of history right. But, man this is a terrible film. It’s sole accomplishment is to … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #8: “The Reconciliation” (Poland)
“A Moon of Nickel and Ice” (Canada) Directed by François Jacob Half historically focused, half experiential, François Jacob’s new documentary, “A Moon of Nickel and Ice”, is a film that will affect you more in the looking back on it … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #7: “A Moon of Nickel and Ice” (Canada)
“Big Time” (Denmark) Directed by Kaspar Astrup Schröder For any documentary profile to succeed, there needs to be more than reverence for its subject. It must also illuminate something…drive, compassion, or lack thereof, universality, adversity, etc. This is especially difficult … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #6: “Big Time” (Denmark)
The No Spoiler Critic 