America’s Film Legacy
America’s Film Legacy 2009-2010
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Jackie Chan returns in Vanguard: review
Thirty years ago Jackie Chan was the biggest movie star in the world. After conquering Asian markets, he embraced Hollywood in vehicles that tried to reproduce the action and humor of his Hong Kong movies. In recent years he has … Continue reading
Posted in Action, Asian, New Releases, Streaming
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76 Days review: Inside Wuhan’s ICUs
More a document than a documentary, 76 Days unfolds in the ICU units and critical care wards of hospitals in Wuhan, China, ground zero for the Covid-10 outbreak. Filmed on the fly, the film captures the hysteria and desperation of … Continue reading
Posted in Asian, Documentary, Film Festivals, Streaming
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Monsoon review: Finding and changing identities
With its focus on character and attention to detail, Monsoon feels like a short story. Set in Vietnam, it follows thirty-something Kit (played by Henry Golding) as he arrives from Europe to settle his parents’ estate. Along the way he … Continue reading
Posted in Asian, Film Festivals, New Releases, Streaming
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NYFF Post Mortem: Streaming a Festival
Yes, the pandemic has changed everything about the movie industry, from production to exhibition. Unable to hold in-person screenings, theater owners have turned to the only viable alternative, streaming, in the process accelerating the decline of their livelihood. Even without … Continue reading
Posted in Documentary, Film Festivals, Streaming
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Aswang review: The victims of Duterte’s drug war
In Filipino folklore, an “aswang” is a shapeshifting demon, the monster parents use to frighten their kids. For director Alyx Ayn Arumpac, the aswang is a metaphor for the current state of the Philippines. How else to explain the 30,000+ … Continue reading
Posted in Asian, Documentary, Film Festivals, Streaming
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Steve McQueen on Lovers Rock
With covid-19 still uncontrolled, the 58th edition of the New York Film Festival gets underway September 25, running until October 11. A collaboration of sorts with the Toronto International Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival, this year’s schedule is … Continue reading
Posted in Film Festivals, New Releases, Streaming
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Fighting for kids in the doc My Name Is Pedro
Opening virtually after touring festivals in 2017, My Name Is Pedro is a bare-bones, unprepossessing documentary about Bronx-born educator Pedro Santana. Making her feature documentary debut, director Lillian LaSalle takes a narrowly focused story and connects it to larger themes … Continue reading
Posted in Documentary, Streaming, Uncategorized
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Unprescribed documentary: vets need better health care
Veterans put their lives on the line to defend our country, only to be ignored when they need help. Unprescribed, a documentary by Steve Ellmore, questions the use of opioids to address a host of problems related to PTSD. Tough, … Continue reading
Posted in Documentary
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The Secret: Dare to Dream—Elevating the Hallmark formula
Good intentions ooze throughout The Secret: Dare to Dream, a high-toned drama about a widow searching for happiness in the suburbs of New Orleans. Given that the widow’s Katie Holmes, a veteran of melancholy soap operas, The Secret offers plush … Continue reading
Posted in New Releases, Streaming
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Rebuilding Paradise review: After the Fire
The Camp Fire on November 8, 2018, claimed 85 victims and destroyed nearly all of Paradise, California. Rebuilding Paradise, a new documentary from director Ron Howard, follows the community through a year-long recovery period. Best known for commercial blockbusters like … Continue reading
Posted in Documentary, New Releases
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