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A personal weblog of words and pictures by Manchester-based journalist and filmmaker David Quinn.

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2010 (7)
2009 (22)
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November 2009

 

Winnebago Man

dir. Ben Steinbauer, 87 mins, 2009 (USA)

A film about a man who appeared in a promotional film for Winnebagos may not sound that appealing but Jack Rebney's foul-mouthed out-takes are extremely funny, as is this documentary. Rebney appears to go on a genuine journey, from bafflement and anger about his infamy to feelings of warmth towards his fans. ***

Filed under  //  ben steinbauer   documentary  
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Junior

dir. Jenna Rosher, 77 mins, 2009 (USA)

I was really moved by this film, which won the Audience Award at Sheffield Doc/Fest. It charts the relationship between Eddie Belasco (75) and his mother Josephine (97). It's very funny but there are a lot of ups and downs. It gripped me from start to finish. *****

Filed under  //  documentary   jenna rosher  
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P-Star Rising

dir. Gabriel Noble, 84 mins, 2009 (USA)

Engaging film extracted from 270 hours of tapes about a nine-year-old girl hip-hop artist and her ex-rapper dad's attempts to make her into a star. I was gripped until about three-quarters of the way through when the lack of an obvious narrative resolution became apparent. ***

Filed under  //  documentary   gabriel noble  
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Videocracy

dir. Erik Gandini, 80 mins, 2009 (Denmark and Sweden)

An ambitious film looking at the relationship between television and political power in the Italy of Silvio Berlosconi. A critique of Berlosconi's media ownership using the media that Berlosconi has monopolised for his own ends. Extremely good. *****




Filed under  //  documentary   erik gandini  
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October Country

dir. Michael Palmieri, Donal Mosher, 80 mins, 2009 (USA)

A collaboration between Palmieri and photographer Mosher's family, October Country unfolds quite slowly but precisely. It's an extremely intimate film about a particular family's particular problems. Filmed over the course of a year and beginning and ending at Halloween, the ghostly theme suggests that people whose voice isn't heard begin to feel like ghosts. ***

Filed under  //  documentary   donal mosher   michael palmieri  
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RiP! A Remix Manifesto

dir. Brett Gaylor, 86 mins, 2008 (Canada)

Very entertaining and highly polished film about copyright and the desire of large corporations to protect their intellectual property by criminalising individuals. Successfully highlights the absurdities of the likes of Disney seeking to protect IP, despite ripping off others' ideas in the past. The site of hundreds of kids going bonkers to Girl Talk's mash-ups is as persuasive an argument for the relaxation of copyright laws as you're likely to see. ****

You can download the whole film and pay want you want for it (Radiohead-style) at www.ripremix.com

Filed under  //  brett gaylor   documentary  
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Presumed Guilty (Presunto Culpable)

dir. Roberto Hernandez, Geoffrey Smith, 86 mins, 2009 (Mexico)

Highly engaging and surprising film about the shortcomings of the Mexican legal system, told through the story of Tonio Zunga, who was picked up by the police and sentenced to 20 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. A series of face-offs between Tonio and his accuser form the dramatic centrepiece. The access to the prisons and courtroom (such as it is) are very impressive. ****

Filed under  //  documentary   geoffrey smith   roberto hernandez  
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Grizzly Man

Werner Herzog, 103 mins, 2005 (USA)


Blackly comic examination of the work of naturalist Timothy Treadwell, whose desire to interact with wild grizzly bears ended with predictable tragedy. Herzog sifts through Treadwell's own footage, interviews friends and relatives and expresses his own views about Treadwell's state of mind. *****


Filed under  //  documentary   werner herzog  
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The Leader, His Driver and the Driver's Wife

dir. Nick Broomfield, 85 mins, 1991 (UK)

Classic film in which Nick Broomfield hones his participatory style, ultimately making Eugene Terreblanche and the racist AWB look completely ridiculous. ***

Filed under  //  documentary   nick broomfield  
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O Dreamland

dir. Lesley Anderson, 12 mins, 1956 (UK)

British free cinema. Takes a somewhat sarcastic look at what might be termed "enforced fun" among the working class. ****

 

Filed under  //  documentary   free cinema   lesley anderson  
Posted