The new documentary on J. D. Salinger, timed to appear close to the publication of a new biography, should revitalize interest — if that were needed — in one of the most admired writers of the last half of the 20th century. Ever since the publication of his most famous work, “The Catcher in the […]
Documentary
Posted inMovies
“Prisoners”
With the release of Denis Villeneuve’s chilly, David Fincher-esque procedural “Prisoners,” this year’s Oscar season has officially begun. Boasting several award-worthy performances from its A-list stars, a twisty plot, gorgeous cinematography, and an epic length, the film seems like exactly the sort of thing the Academy loves to reward. Still, the dark, often unpleasant subject […]
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“Ballin’ at the Graveyard”
Produced in Upstate New York, the documentary “Ballin’ at the Graveyard” posits that every city has one particular basketball court that everyone wants to play on, and functions as a hub in the subculture of urban pickup basketball. The film focuses on one such court, in Albany’s Washington Park, known as the Graveyard. Director Basil […]
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‘The Act of Killing’
Straddling the line between documentary and narrative, exploitation and exposé, the haunting “The Act of Killing” sees filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer ask the leaders of the notorious Indonesian death squads, responsible for the mass murder of more than 1 million civilians in 1965-66, to recount their most brutal crimes, then allow them the opportunity to re-enact […]
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“2 Guns”
The first time I saw the poster for “2 Guns,” the new action-comedy from Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur, a friend pointed it out to me while standing in the lobby of the multiplex, observing that it looked so hilariously generic it seemed to be one of those posters for a fake movie you see in […]
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“Blackfish”
UPDATED 8/9/13 to reflect a change to the Q&A at the Little. In the provocative new documentary “Blackfish,” director Gabriela Cowperthwaite examines the treatment of orca whales in SeaWorld theme parks, demonstrating the dangers (to both the animals as well as their human trainers) of keeping these fiercely intelligent, but often misunderstood, creatures in captivity. […]
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“West of Memphis”
In May of 1993, the bodies of three 8-year-old boys were found stripped naked, bound, and mutilated in a creek in a wooded area of West Memphis, Arkansas, known as Robin Hood Hills. The brutal and lurid nature of the crime led to rumors that the murders were part of a satanic ritual, incensing the […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
NEWS BLOG: HBO documentary showcases gay activist Vito Russo
Vito Russo is not a household name. He’s not even well known in the gay community, though he should be. The gay activist, who died in 1990 of AIDS, was extremely influential in getting mainstream media to change its approach to covering LGBT issues. “Vito,” a new documentary for HBO, aired for the first time […]
