We’ve seen countless documentaries about artists that use talking heads to describe their greatness. Some of them are very good, but there’s a sameness that often limits their effectiveness. ...
https://cinemaaxis.com/2015/04/29/hot-docs-2015-seths-dominion/
When you choose a grandiose title like How the Change the World, it brings expectations of earth-shattering moments that permanently modified our thinking. It’s a tall order to come close to ma...
https://cinemaaxis.com/2015/04/25/hot-docs-2015-how-to-change-the-world/
It’s easy to expect familiar patterns when watching films, even with less mainstream fare. Veteran moviegoers understand the normal structures for how genres function. It’s jarring to encount...
It’s a challenge to wrap your mind around the singular focus of Bill Cunningham. The longtime New York Times fashion photographer spends his days shooting everyday people on the streets of the ...
https://cinemaaxis.com/2015/01/14/netflix-pick-bill-cunningham-new-york/
Voice acting can be a pretty thankless job with limited recognition, and the people involved wouldn’t want it any other way. When you venture beyond the celebrity voices that can sell a project...
https://cinemaaxis.com/2014/11/05/netflix-pick-i-know-that-voice/
The film industry is still a world dominated by men, and we’ve seen little progress in recent years. This is especially true in the directing field, where successful women are an exception. Kat...
https://cinemaaxis.com/2014/10/08/netflix-pick-walking-and-talking/
There’s a relaxing charm to Wayne Wang’s Smoke that’s a real challenge to create on the big screen. Characters glide in and out of this airy Brooklyn world, yet it feels natural. The Brook...
We’re living in a blockbuster culture dominated by franchises, so it’s easy to grow disillusioned with movies’ future. Thankfully, there are more outlets than ever before for stories that a...
https://cinemaaxis.com/2014/08/06/netflix-pick-gimme-the-loot/
We’ve been obsessed with discovering eternal youth for centuries. From the searches for the Fountain of Youth by explorers to the plastic surgeons of today, humans are obsessed with combating a...
https://cinemaaxis.com/2014/05/01/hot-docs-review-the-immortalists/
It’s easy to look at the advancements for female athletes in the 21st century and think we’ve made great progress. The improvements have occurred, but strong perceptions remain that can direc...
https://cinemaaxis.com/2014/04/30/hot-docs-review-the-pink-helmet-posse/
When we think of Native Americans in movies, the images that appear frequently go back to one-note characterizations from westerns in their heyday. Revisionist films have shown the awful treatmen...
https://cinemaaxis.com/2014/04/26/hot-docs-review-pine-ridge/