RBG (2018)

Betsy West and Julie Cohen's documentary RBG is about the awesome Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It traces her early achievements, fighting against a male-led system, advocating for gender equality in law, her relationship with her husband Martin Ginsburg — who seemed to compliment her perfectly — and her rise to stardom, being appointed to the court by President Clinton in 1993 and finally becoming a pop culture icon ("The Notorious RBG"). While it could have dug deeper, and been more personal, that seems unlikely given the all-business nature of Ms. Ginsberg. And, either way, it's still wonderfully entertaining and informative. It's heartening to learn of the friendship between the liberal-leaning RBG and the late, conservative-leaning justice Antonin Scalia; if only friendships like those were more common today. read more...

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California Typewriter (2017)

When the documentary California Typewriter was over, I went to my closet and dug out my grandfather's old manual typewriter, stuck in its box for the past several years. I was struck by a new appreciation for this beautiful old Underwood, and now it sits on my desk, ready for notes or stories, or what have you. I'm not sure anyone can ask much more from a documentary, to leave the film and be moved to immediately act upon what you've seen. I do wish the film had gone a little farther in its structure, been a little bit more playful, rather than a bunch of fairly typical interviews and "B" roll, but otherwise, I love it. read more...

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• Realism ▶ Magical, Futuristic, Fantastic
• How Things Happen ▶ By cause and effect, mechanics, rules or facts

[email protected] (2007)

In the wonderful new documentary Young @ Heart, a group of seventy, eighty and ninety-year olds get together and perform songs by Sonic Youth, Coldplay, James Brown, the Clash, David Bowie, the Ramones and other contemporary bands. It sounds dubious and cutesy, but within minutes it reveals itself as the real thing and doubt gives way to unbridled enthusiasm. It's the type of film that sometimes becomes a word-of-mouth hit, although converts won't want to talk too much about what happens; as you may guess, some of the singers don't have long to live and one or two of them don't make it to the end of the film. Several characters become fascinating in their own right, but none more so than troupe director Bob Cilman, who does not pander to his singers because of their age. He's a tough, brutal drill sergeant, but he can open his heart when it matters most. The film's director Stephen Walker adds his own narration and occasionally enters into the film, which somehow makes it feel less like a documentary; Walker is just as caught up in the moment as we are. Walker's wife, the producer Sally George, directed several funny music videos featuring the group, but the film's highlight has to be a truly emotionally overwhelming concert at a prison. (As of today, the group has a following in Europe and has a CD available.) read more...

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• Sympathetic ▶ I want to know or care about the characters

Jingle Bell Rocks! (2013)

The documentary Jingle Bell Rocks! chronicles the obsessive collecting of Christmas music, but not just the usual stuff by Bing Crosby or Elvis or Brenda Lee. We're talking very weird stuff, kicking off with Nat King Cole's "The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot," Miles Davis' "Blue Xmas," and even more obscure stuff. The movie can seem off-putting if your'e a fan of the traditional stuff, but it may make you open your eyes to more alternative tunes and the impulses behind them. read more...

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To Be Takei (2014)

I settled down to Jennifer M. Kroot's To Be Takei as a longtime Star Trek fan, though not quite a "trekkie," who prefers the original series and the original cast to anything else. I was hoping for at least a fun fan documentary about actor George Takei, who played Sulu. But what I got instead was an often profound documentary about racism, forgiveness, bigotry, empathy, and love. The movie tackles its issues with strength, but without rage. read more...

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