By Jason Rugaard | Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
2 1/2 Stars
This very one-sided yet entertaining documentary chronicles the notorious Australian surf gang of the same name and the Abberton brothers involvement in a messy murder case. The Bra Boys rule Maroubra beach sometimes with a thugs tendency for violence, this is a documentary about local ism over anything else. The film veers toward propaganda on a few occasions, we are meant to believe this gang is a bunch of good guys protecting their beach from the upper class suburbanites who just as much see them displaced. It’s hard to root for these guys when a brawl with – Continue reading…
Terror in Mumbai (2009) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Monday, April 19th, 2010
4 Stars
This gripping documentary chronicles in merciless detail the harrowing events of Nov.26th and the 24hr terrorist siege on the city of Mumbai. Director Dan Reed the man responsible for the similarly unsettling 2003 documentary ‘Terror in Moscow’, turns his attention to the streets of Mumbai and specifically the historic Taj Hotel. Terrorist entered the hotel and systematically killed every person they could find. The fascinating aspect of this doc. is the intercepted cell phone conversations between the attackers and their ‘controller’, who informs them to kill all hostages ‘in the name of god’. Hotel security camera footage is – Continue reading…
Reclaiming the Blade (2009) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Sunday, February 28th, 2010
3 Stars
Daniel McNicoll’s exhaustively researched and often intriguing documentary examines the history of the sword and attempts to shed light on the overlooked world of Western Martial Arts. The film traces the lineage of the weapon through its various stages of importance to prominence on the silver screen. Stars Viggo Mortensen and Karl Urban pop up to deliver amusing and insightful anecdotes about legendary fight choreographer Bob Anderson (the guy inside the Darth Vader suit!). Detailed chronicling of the European fighting techniques and varying schools of thoughts are well handled and delivered clearly in the hands of McNicoll. A – Continue reading…
The English Surgeon (2007) – Review
By Trevor Anderson | Friday, February 26th, 2010
3 1/2 Stars
Following brain surgeon Henry Marsh through his desperate attempt to help those in need in the Ukraine, The English Surgeon paints an incredible picture of life and loss. This is the type of documentary that can bring a smile to your face and tears to your eyes without being preachy. Mr. Marsh is an entertaining character throughout the film. The movie builds up to an amazing brain surgery scene, in which Marsh operates on a fully awake man under cramped and poor conditions. On our journey towards this climactic scene we see how the poor Ukraine medical – Continue reading…
By Trevor Anderson | Monday, February 8th, 2010
3 Stars
Anat Baron (General Manager at Mike’s Hard Lemonade and a Hollywood Producer) explores how the big three beer makers, Anheuser-Busch, Miller and Coors have dominated the marketplace and hurt the small micro-breweries. The documentary follows several small beer companies and effectively shows how hard it is not only to break into this business, but how hard it is to stay in it. The last half of the film is mainly about how these large companies buy out the competition and how the laws after prohibition have actually created monopolies, rather than keep them in check. If you’re interested – Continue reading…
The Way We Get By (2009) – Review
By Trevor Anderson | Monday, February 1st, 2010
3 1/2 Stars
Current documentary filmmakers have a lot to learn from Aron Gaudet’s style. Instead of preaching and shoving a view point down its viewers’ throats, ‘The Way We Get By’ simply documents the story lines of several senior citizen troop greeters. This allows for a deep and compelling story to unfold before the audience, allowing them to get out of it what they will.
These senior citizen don’t sit around at the old folks home twiddling their thumbs. They are at the airport at all hours, whenever needed to extend an open hand or give a welcoming hug. These – Continue reading…
Rajan: i am sure a certain harrison ford will equal that record. Stallone becomes 1st Movie Star to Headline #1 Openings in last 5 Decades – News