Starring: Metallica, Dane DeHaan
Written by Nimród Antal & Metallica
Directed by Nimród Antal
3D IMAX concert footage of Metallica is interspersed with a dark fantasy narrative about a roadie sent on an urgent mission for the band.
Somewhere Dave Mustaine
shakes his fist over a failed
Vic Rattlehead flick.
Grade: B+
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
Metallica: Through the Never is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172935/?ref_=sr_1
Directed by Rodney Ascher
This documentary explores numerous conspiracy theories about the hidden meanings that Stanley Kubrick supposedly buried in his 1980 film The Shining.
All work and no play
makes Jack dream up some crazy,
whacked-out ideas.
Grade: B+
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
Room 237 is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2085910/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Written and directed by Sarah Burns & David McMahon & Ken Burns
This documentary tells the story of five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem who, in 1989, were wrongfully convicted of raping a white woman in New York City’s Central Park.
West Memphis Three got
four films. Did these guys get just
one ’cause they’re not white?
Grade: B+
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Central Park Five is available on Blu-ray and DVD on 4/23/13.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2380247/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Featuring: David Simon
Written and directed by Eugene Jarecki
A documentary about the War on Drugs, and the dramatic toll it has taken on the United States, its criminal justice system, and its economy.
The War on Drugs failed
long before you got your weed
card for swimmer’s ear.
Grade: A-
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
The House I Live In is now playing in select cities and on VOD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2125653/
Featuring: Pina Bausch
Written and directed by Wim Wenders
Director Wim Wenders pays tribute to choreographer Pina Bausch with the help of dancers from her company.
So this is what was
missing from all the modern
dance I’ve ever seen…
Grade: A-
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
Pina is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1440266/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Featuring: Emad Burnat
Written by Guy Davidi
Directed by Emad Burnat & Guy Davidi
A Palestinian farmer documents the nonviolent protests that take place in his West Bank village against the encroachment of the Israeli army.
If a camera
stops a bullet to my head,
I’ll take up painting.
Grade: B+
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
5 Broken Cameras is now available on DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2125423/
Featuring: Mark Harrington, Larry Kramer, Bob Rafsky & Peter Staley
Written by David France, Todd Woody Richman & Tyler H. Walk
Directed by David France
A chronicle of the AIDS epidemic in the 80s and 90s and the activists who fought relentlessly for government action.
When the world wants to
ignore you, stand up, fight back,
make those assholes care.
Grade: A-
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
How to Survive a Plague is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2124803/
Written and directed by Kirby Dick
A harrowing look at the disturbing epidemic of rape within the U.S. military and the shocking repercussions that soldiers face when they courageously speak out.
Uncle Sam wants you
to keep silent when Uncle
Sam really wants you.
Grade: A-
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Invisible War is available now on DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2120152/
Featuring: James Balog
Written by Mark Monroe
Directed by Jeff Orlowski
A National Geographic photographer uses time-lapse photography to capture the devastating effect of climate change on the world’s glaciers.
They didn’t listen
to Al Gore, so I doubt they’ll
listen to this guy.
Grade: B
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Chasing Ice is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1579361/
Featuring: Sixto Rodriguez
Directed by Malik Bendjelloul
A documentary about Sixto Rodriguez, who gave up his struggling singer/songwriter career in the 1970s after just two albums, only to discover nearly thirty years later that, in South Africa, he has achieved massive success and is something of a mysterious legend.
Could wherever I’m
famous please let me know now,
not in three decades?
Grade: B+
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Searching for Sugar Man is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2125608/
The Haiku Review 