Despite having a long history in both narrative and documentary cinema, in his later career Herzog has become more synonymous with the second. This is probably because, outside of some notable exceptions (some of which are debatable), Herzog's documentary output has been of a much higher quality than his narrative features for some time. Sadly, … Continue reading Family Romance, LLC (Review)
Tag: documentary
Cassandro, The Exotico! (Review)
A great documentary requires a great subject. The figure at the heart of this documentary, Cassandro, is certainly that. They are a cross dressing Mexican wrestler who is openly gay and flamboyant in an area where traditional masculinity often reigns. The documentary goes into the impact of their sexuality on their life and career; the … Continue reading Cassandro, The Exotico! (Review)
Who Let the Dogs Out (Review)
If you exist in the world, the phrase 'Who Let the Dogs Out' is instantly recognisable. However, were you aware that this phrase - specifically the repeated chorus of the Baha Men's hit song - is the source of a seemingly never ending legal dispute? Do you actually know who let the dogs out? Well, … Continue reading Who Let the Dogs Out (Review)
For Sama (Review)
For several years, it has been hard to escape news about the turmoil in Syria. This being the case, exposure has been very surface level and tinged with prejudice - glossed over by disgusting vitriol towards necessary migration. For Sama is a document of the 'Battle of Aleppo' - which roughly spans 2012-2016 - from … Continue reading For Sama (Review)
A Dog Called Money (Review)
It's rare to see a documentary with such talent behind it turn out so misguided. A Dog Called Money is the seeming final layer of a multi-stage vanity project that has turned an interesting piece of art into an oblivious display of privilege. Technically, it's a documentary to accompany PJ Harvey's 2016 album The Hope … Continue reading A Dog Called Money (Review)
Dutch Angle: Chas Gerretsen & Apocalypse Now (Review)
Every film about Apocalypse Now lives in the shadow of the superb Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse. Dutch Angle is no exception and, though it introduces the viewer to what looks like a fascinating exhibition, it is singularly uninteresting. The film is about photographer Chas Gerretsen, who went from photographing the actual Vietnam war … Continue reading Dutch Angle: Chas Gerretsen & Apocalypse Now (Review)
Hail Satan? (Review)
Let's get this out of the way: for a while now, I've been fascinated by Satanism - specifically modern Satanism. Therefore, I have to admit that I am the exact target audience for a documentary that focuses on the Satanic Temple. Keeping this in mind, believe me when I say that Penny Lane's Hail Satan? … Continue reading Hail Satan? (Review)
Varda by Agnes (Review)
Agnes Varda is one of my favourite filmmakers; actually, Agnes Varda is one of my favourite artists full stop. Though her catalogue varies (somewhat varies - the vast majority is incredibly strong) everything she does is interesting and brings something for the table. Her latest film, a sadly posthumous release, takes the form of a … Continue reading Varda by Agnes (Review)
Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story (Review)
Martin Scorsese's Netflix documentary is exactly the kind of film that Bob Dylan deserves. First of all, it's excellent. In addition to this it also manages to be playful, misleading and silly, whilst also being profound, meaningful and insightful. It's a perfect companion-piece to the man himself - or at least the man he projected … Continue reading Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story (Review)
Diego Maradona (Review)
With the releases of Senna and Amy, filmmaker Asif Kapadia has established himself as one of the greats of documentary filmmaking. This pseudo-iconic status is only further established with his third documentary feature, Diego Maradona. These three films are united by quality, style and have become a spiritual trilogy due to the focus on contextualising … Continue reading Diego Maradona (Review)
Assorted Opinions 