AMY || The clear front-runner, “Amy” has swept the awards season so far and will likely keep sweeping until the very end. Offering an unprecedented look into the life of deceased jazz singer Amy Winehouse, the film chronicles her life from a teenager to pop star, with in depth interviews with all those that knew and cared for her and endless footage of her … Read More 2016 Oscars Challenge: Best Documentary Feature
AMY Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees Never has a documentary, in my opinion, given such an in depth look at one particular figure than that of “Amy.” Following Amy Winehouse from her teenage years to her breakout as a jazz/pop artist to her eventual downfall, there is so much footage and so many personal interviews with those that knew her best and even recorded … Read More 2016 Oscars Challenge: [9] “Amy” – Best Documentary Feature
THE LOOK OF SILENCE Joshua Oppenheimer and Signe Byrge Sørensen In 2012, Joshua Oppenheimer brought us the wholly original documentary, “The Act Of Killing,” in which he interviewed, showed footage to, and even had reenactments from Indonesian death squad leaders. Throughout the course of that documentary, you felt the remorse coming from one of the main leaders and there was always a sense that … Read More 2016 Oscars Challenge: [8] “The Look Of Silence” – Best Documentary Feature
CARTEL LAND Matthew Heineman and Tom Yellin With El Chapo in the news as well as Donald Trump’s continued talk of closing off the border, it’s not a surprise “Cartel Land” shows up in the Best Documentary Feature category. It’s timely. Unfortunately, it also feels unfinished and lacking in both the regards mentioned. The film work is impressive and the complete access to people … Read More 2016 Oscars Challenge: [7] “Cartel Land” – Best Documentary Feature
WINTER ON FIRE: UKRAINE’S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM Evgeny Afineevsky and Den Tolmor Two years ago, a Netflix documentary titled “The Square,” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary. The film was about Egypt’s passive fight to win back their freedom, which was being encroached on by the imposing government. It was gritty, in your face, on the street, with the people involved, … Read More 2016 Oscars Challenge: [1] “Winter On Fire: Ukraine’s Fight For Freedom” – Best Documentary Feature
Documentary Features have gone from a pool of 124 down to 15, now with a much clearer vision of what could come down as the winner. The odds-on favorite, in my opinion, is still the documentary about Amy Winehouse, simply titled “Amy,” which has had tons of support since its release and was just recognized as the National Board Of Review’s Best Documentary of … Read More Oscars Shortlist: 15 Documentary Features Shortlisted for 88th Academy Awards
For a documentary that I had absolutely no interest in seeing back in May, I’ve heard enough about it and seen it pop up in enough places to where my interest is peaked. Sarah Polley investigating her family to find truth to their stories, the film is a personal look into a creative woman’s family. Polley is also no stranger to the Oscars, having … Read More For Your Consideration 2013: Stories We Tell
[32 OUT OF 46 FILMS REMAINING]-[25 DAYS TO OSCARS] During last year’s Academy Awards, “Restrepo” was my pick for Best Documentary Feature and even though it was beat out by “The Inside Job”, I still consider “Restrepo” one of the best documentaries of last year. “Restrepo” was personally one of the first times I felt like I was seeing something I couldn’t possibly see … Read More 2012 Oscars Challenge: [14] Hell And Back Again & Documentary Feature
[40 OUT OF 46 FILMS REMAINING]-[30 DAYS TO OSCARS] A week before the announcements of the Academy Award nominations, I was jonesing for some Academy fodder, but was avoiding films I thought would definitely be nominated as to not have to watch them immediately again in a couple weeks. So, I picked some films that were being considered but that I didn’t think could … Read More 2012 Oscars Challenge: [6] If A Tree Falls & Documentary
“Raw Faith” is a documentary about a woman of God and her struggles with faith. I am unsure whether or not this film is still being considered, as it did not make the documentary short list of contenders, but the film does contain an original song by Sheryl Crow, so I am speculating that perhaps it is still in contention for that category. As … Read More For Your Consideration 2011: “Raw Faith”
2011 Oscar Challenge: “Restrepo” (2010)
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2011 Oscar Challenge: “Exit Through The Gift Shop” (2010)
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