Documentary — Reviews

'My Octopus Teacher'

The unlikeliest of human-animal connection leaves a powerful message behind.

DocumentaryAndrew JohnsonNovember 21, 2020Craig Foster, Philippa Erlich, James Reed

'The Way I See It'

Here is a chance to relive the Obama years from the perspective of someone tasked with documenting it.

Documentary, ReviewsAndrew JohnsonOctober 26, 2020Pete Souza, Barack Obama

'Spaceship Earth'

The profound weirdness of Biosphere 2 gets a timely revisit with this new documentary

Documentary, ReviewsAndrew JohnsonJuly 18, 2020Steve Bannon, John Allen

'John Lewis: Good Trouble'

A conventional and inspiring celebration of a Civil Rights hero couldn’t come at a better moment.

Reviews, DocumentaryAndrew JohnsonJuly 9, 2020John Lewis

'Capital in the Twenty-First Century'

A particularly timely documentary adaptation of Thomas Piketty’s best-selling book prompts urgency as we face an uncertain future.

Documentary, ReviewsAndrew JohnsonMay 16, 2020Justin Pemberton, Thomas Piketty

'They Shall Not Grow Old'

Peter Jackson brings the First World War to life in haunting, unforgettable fashion.

Documentary, Military and War, ReviewsAndrew JohnsonDecember 21, 2018Peter Jackson

'Won't You Be My Neighbor?'

The life, times, and beauty of Fred Rogers are captured brilliantly in this documentary about a radical in a sweater.

Documentary, ReviewsSteve CiminoJuly 4, 2018Morgan Neville, Fred Rogers

'Whose Streets'

This documentary about the Ferguson protests paints an uncomfortable but necessary portrait of what drives police response to peaceful gatherings.

Documentary, ReviewsSteve CiminoAugust 16, 2017Sabaah Folayan, Damon Davis

'I Am Not Your Negro'

A 10-year odyssey from director Raoul Peck has brought us a brilliant and necessary documentary that revisits the work of James Baldwin.

Documentary, ReviewsSteve CiminoMarch 9, 2017Raoul Peck, James Baldwin, Samuel L. Jackson

'13th'

In a year full of great documentaries, Ava DuVernay's searing look at black mass incarceration might be the best of all.

Reviews, DocumentarySteve CiminoJanuary 4, 2017Ava DuVernay

'Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World'

A relatively broad dissection of all things online, Lo and Behold is Werner Herzog’s attempt to link the past, present, and future of the Internet in one sprawling, wonderfully entertaining package.

Documentary, ReviewsSteve CiminoSeptember 22, 2016Elon Musk, werner herzog

'Weiner'

Never before has a documentary captured a politician in the midst of a sex scandal quite like Weiner captures former Congressman Anthony Weiner.

Documentary, ReviewsSteve CiminoMay 27, 2016Anthony Weiner, Elyse Steinberg, Josh Kriegman, Weiner

'Monkey Kingdom'

Disneynature's latest documentary is a frustrating one if you pay attention too closely.

Documentary, Kids and Family, ReviewsAndrew JohnsonDecember 9, 2015Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield, tina fey

'The Look of Silence'

A more straightforward conceit than The Act of Killing allows director Joshua Oppenheimer to dig deep on memory, history and the lies told in polite society to accelerate "progress"

Documentary, ReviewsAndrew JohnsonAugust 5, 2015Joshua Oppenheimer

Review: 'The Primary Instinct'

Stephen Tobolowsky takes to the stage to show off his storytelling prowess in the brilliant concert film The Primary Instinct.

Documentary, ReviewsSteve CiminoJune 12, 2015David Chen, Stephen Tobolowsky, The Primary Instinct

'What We Do in the Shadows'

New Zealand's answer to Christopher Guest, this vampire mockumentary is not

Review: 'Sunshine Superman'

Marah Strauch's first feature-length documentary, Sunshine Superman, uses impressive visuals to tell the story of BASE jumper Carl Boenish.

DocumentarySteve CiminoJune 1, 2015Carl Boenish, Marah Strauch, Sunshine Superman

'Citizenfour'

Laura Poitras' fantastic documentary provides a personal glimpse of the man behind the NSA leaks.

Documentary, ReviewsAndrew JohnsonMarch 17, 2015Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras

Review: 'Red Army'

Diehard hockey enthusiasts may find Red Army to be a bit too basic, but the casual fan or history buff will find much to like in Gabe Polsky's intimate retelling of the team that revolutionized international hockey.

Documentary, ReviewsSteve CiminoFebruary 16, 2015Gabe Polsky, Red Army, Slava Fetisov

Review: 'Art and Craft'

This documentary examines a famed art forger who's never committed a crime and the man obsessed with punishing him.

Documentary, ReviewsSteve CiminoOctober 15, 2014Art and Craft, Mark Landis, Matt Leininger