Documentary

'Addiction Incorporated' directed by Charles Evan Jr.

2/6/2012
Jackie Morrison
Hooked on a feeling aka nicotine craving

The tobacco industry has been blowing smoke of a different kind and it’s not called Marlboro or Dunhill. For years, industry executives practically swore on the cross that cigarettes were not addictive. Try telling that to the pack a day smoker who has spent thousands of dollars on every stop smoking program available but still is hooked on Camels.

Film Review: ‘Who Killed Nancy’ directed by Alan Parker

1/3/2012
Jackie Morrison
The Unsolved Punk Murder

In October 1978, Sid Vicious was accused of killing his girlfriend Nancy Spungen in the Chelsea Hotel. Nancy had become notorious in the punk rock circles for her outrageous behavior. She had a history of mental illness and had worked occasionally as both a prostitute and stripper before finding Sid. When they met in England the relationship quickly became toxic. It is widely believed that Nancy was the one who introduced Sid to heroin. Since her death it has been fashionable to consider Nancy a demonic groupie who destroyed the life of a punk rock legend.

Mr. Immorality: The Life and Times of Twista

1/12/2011
Lauren Keating

1\11\11 appears to be a lucky day, as it is one of thirteen days this century written with the same digits. Some artists like Britney Spears, Kayne West, and Jay-Z opted to press their luck with releasing new singles. However, today is the perfect day of a documentary release that has been getting lots of buzz.

Reviewer Rating: 
4.00Stars

Capitalism: A Love Story

11/5/2009
Alisha Prakash

Michael Moore has done it again. Labeled by some as one of the most dangerous filmmakers of our time because of his tendency to expose the truth through humor and outrage, Michael Moore's newest film, "Capitalism: A Love Story" doesn't stray too far from his others. Using the stock market crash as its backdrop, this documentary exposes the evil of a capitalist system in America throughout the 20th century. It is both a thought provoking and entertaining historical account of the impact of corporate dominance on Americans.

Reviewer Rating: 
4.50Stars

Capitalism: A Love Story

10/11/2009
Rachel Kolb
The human subjects are the heart of Moore's latest documentary

Capitalism: A Love Story is heartfelt documentary that unfortunately will not be seen by many of the people who really need to see it. I almost wish that Michael Moore had not made it. Since his name is attached to the film, many people will automatically be inclined to kick it. I have a feeling, though, that if audiences come in with an open mind, they might walk away eager to change America for the better, even if they don't necessarily agree with how Moore thinks it should be done.

Reviewer Rating: 
4.00Stars

It Might Get Loud

9/26/2009
Tom Helberg
Davis Guggenheim's rock-doc on three guitar legends will give music geeks something to sing about.

If seeing Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White playing in a room together wouldn't give chills to any music geek, I don't know what would.

Director Davis Guggenheim scored three generations of rock 'n' roll gods, guitarists from Led Zeppelin, U2, and The White Stripes, in his documentary tribute to the electric guitar, "It Might Get Loud."

The trio got together in January 2008 to chat about their mutual love of the instrument and inevitably ended up jamming.

Reviewer Rating: 
4.50Stars

Zeitgeist

8/9/2009
Lindsey Weedston
If you appreciate good filmmaking, this movie may become your guilty pleasure.

Zeitgeist comes in three parts. The first is about the origins of religion, beginning with the ancient pagan worship of the sun. The film then explains the sun's relationship with the constellations and the zodiac, and then describes how it relates to the myths of numerous religious figures created throughout history. It focuses mainly on the story of one of the most familiar figures: Jesus Christ. Once the narrator has explained the story of Jesus, based on the movement of the sun and stars, he makes a claim that would strike a nerve with a good chunk of the Western world.

Reviewer Rating: 
3.50Stars

Sicko

8/2/2009
Lindsey Weedston
Michael Moore knows how to entertain, with or without facts.

Fans of being shocked and outraged by the exposure of deep corruption and greed will undoubtedly become fans of Michael Moore's documentary on the state of American health care.

The film is filled with deeply touching and heartbreaking moments. The story of a man having to choose which finger is going to be reattached: the middle finger, which will cost $60,000, or the ring finger, which will cost only $12,000. A mother, whose infant is refused treatment from a hospital because her insurance company wants her to go to a company-owned hospital.

Reviewer Rating: 
4.50Stars

Taxi to the Dark Side

8/2/2009
Brian Donnelly
Does torture make America any more safe, or does it put us in more danger?

Torture has been a contentious subject in American politics over the last five years. Today, proponents argue that a ticking-time bomb scenario easily rationalizes the use of techniques that violate the Geneva Convention, while critics argue that torturing detainees radicalizes the innocent and gives terrorists fodder for propaganda.

However, this wasn't always the argument.

Reviewer Rating: 
5.00Stars

Jesus Camp

8/1/2009
Lindsey Weedston
Jesus Christ!

This documentary, by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, follows three children, all of whom attend the "Kids on Fire School of Ministry," an evangelical Christian summer camp. The camp, located in Devils Lake, North Dakota, focuses on raising children to be part of the "army of God."

Levi, the son of a preacher, desires to follow in his dad's footsteps. "Jesus Camp" shows the boy giving sermons at the Rock of Ages Church. Little Rachel spends a lot of her free time passing out pamphlets containing "Christian tracts" to people on the street.

Reviewer Rating: 
4.00Stars
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