Documentary

REVIEW: The Director and the Jedi (2018 – Documentary)

The following is a review of The Director and the Jedi — Directed by Anthony Wonke.

You can’t talk about Star Wars right now. I mean, sure, you have the ability to talk about the franchise, but the vocal minority of the Star Wars fandom has become rather toxic. As someone once put it, no one hates Star Wars more than Star Wars fans. As a big Star Wars fan, I had always disagreed with that notion, but the first fan reaction that made me realize the truth in that phrase was the reaction to Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi. (more…)

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IJR Awards 2017: Film and Documentary Nominations Announced

Today I’m revealing the second half of the 2017 nominations for this blog’s IJR Awards (I’m Jeffrey Rex Awards, but you probably already guessed that). The final legend award (Film Legend) isn’t getting any nominees, instead I’ll reveal the winner, or honoree, when all of the winners are to be announced on March 1st.
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REVIEW: First Team: Juventus – Part One (2018)

Release Poster – Netflix

The following is a review of the first three episodes of the first season of Netflix’s First Team: Juventus.

As one person, during the second episode of First Team: Juventus, points out, it is a matter of black and white with Juventus in Italy — either you hate them or you love them. Juventus is one of the most storied clubs in world football. When it comes to legendary club kits the only kits that rival the striped black and white home kit of Juventus are those worn by Barcelona and Real Madrid from Spain. Juventus, arguably the greatest club in Italian football history, is that kind of club — a true winner.
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REVIEW: Seeing Allred (2018 – Documentary)

Release Poster – Netflix

The following is a review of Seeing Allred — A Netflix Documentary.

I’ll be honest with you, I was not at all that familiar with Gloria Allred before I saw this documentary. Sure, I had seen her referenced in stuff like South Park or The Simpsons, and I remember the Gloria Allred scene in Jerry Zucker’s Rat Race. But that was pretty much it. This Netflix documentary definitely filled in some gaps, for me, but it still somehow feels incomplete. (more…)

RETRO REVIEW: The Five Obstructions (2003 – Documentary)

Release Poster – Zentropa

The following is a review of The Five Obstructions.

The Five Obstructions is a Danish documentary about a very particular friendship between directors. Danish auteur Lars Von Trier is a big fan of Jørgen Leth — a Danish director — and his 1967 Danish short film The Perfect Human — a very literal examination of a couple. So, Lars Von Trier has this idea — what if we took this gem of a short film and absolutely ruined it? Made a mess of it.  (more…)

REVIEW: Icarus (2017 – Documentary)

Release Poster – Netflix

The following is a short review of Icarus – A Netflix Documentary

I enjoy watching the Tour de France. In fact, if you go back and search for the Tour on this site, then I’m pretty sure you’ll find an article or two. I watch the Tour every year, thus I am awfully familiar with doping allegations and sinners like Lance Armstrong. Naturally, this documentary intrigued me, but I didn’t think it would be as captivating as it, ultimately, is. (more…)

REVIEW: Five Came Back (2017)

Release Poster – Netflix

The following is a recap and review of Five Came Back – A Netflix Documentary Series

Netflix’s Five Came Back is a three-part documentary (narrated by Meryl Streep) about five famous Hollywood directors and their impact on the documentation and presentation of the Second World War and, in turn, how it forever altered their careers as filmmakers. (more…)