Could there possibly be a more apt time for a documentary about John Lewis, the civil rights pioneer and longtime Georgia congressman, than now? In this singular moment of protest and cultural shift, documentarian Dawn Porter is hoping that her new film “John Lewis: Good Trouble” will be a part of the conversation. “Despite some evidence to the contrary, I count myself as an optimistic person. ... more >
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INTERVIEW: Dawn Porter, filmmaker (“John Lewis: Good Trouble”)
"He wanted to get back out and keep on marching "(Porter commenting on John Lewis's determination)
INTERVIEW: Jon Shenk & Bonni Cohen,”Athlete A”
A perfect storm of indignation and concerted efforts brings one of America's greatest sexual predators to his knees
The disgraced gymnastics team physician Larry Nassar is in prison for the rest of his natural life, which is a just fate considering the estimated hundreds of young female gymnasts he abused over many years. That was scandal enough, but as we also learned, not only had USA Gymnastics fielded many reports from young athletes about his sexual abuse, but they were summarily ignored and/or the ... more >
AFI Docs | Four documentary films worth noticing
The best from AFI Docs 2020 (final chapter)
(This article closes out Eric Althoff's coverage of this year's AFI Docs festival) "Blood on the Wall' Filmmakers Sebastian Junger and Nick Quested trace the long, long path of Central American migrants “caravaning” to the United States through treacherous areas of Mexico run by the cartels and narcotraffickers. This intriguing doc examines the issue from all sides, from the poverty endemic ... more >
AFI Docs | “Belly of the Beast”
Modern-day eugenics in California's prisons
(during all of this week, Screen Comment’s Eric Althoff gives readers his take on the choicest films from the 2020 crop of AFI Docs, the world’s premier documentary film festival which took place online this year due to the coronavirus) Incredibly, California didn’t rescind its eugenics laws until 1979. If that weren’t shocking enough, then “Belly of the Beast” will surely raise eyebrows as ... more >
AFI DOCS | 9TO5: THE STORY OF A MOVEMENT
The gender parity movement wouldn't have been the same without them
(during all of this week, Screen Comment’s Eric Althoff gives readers his take on the choicest films from the 2020 crop of AFI Docs, the world’s premier documentary film festival which took place online this year due to the coronavirus) Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar, who won last year’s Oscar for best documentary for their film “American Factory,” are back to shine their cameras on a largely ... more >
AFI Docs Series | Jimmy Carter rock & roll president
A music-loving President, bonding with America's greatest musicians
(during all of this week, Screen Comment’s Eric Althoff gives readers his take on the choicest films from the 2020 crop of AFI Docs, the world’s premier documentary film festival which took place online this year due to the coronavirus) Now 95 and the longest-lived of any former president, Jimmy Carter is seen in the opening moments of Marc Wharton’s doc at home in Plains, Georgia, spinning a ... more >
“Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn” (REVIEW)
America's most notorious fixer laid bare
(during all of this week, Screen Comment’s Eric Althoff gives readers his take on the choicest films from the 2020 crop of AFI Docs, the world’s premier documentary film festival which took place online this year due to the coronavirus) He was one of the most famous fixers of the last century, he rubbed elbows with everyone from Joseph McCarthy to then-real estate tycoon Donald Trump. But Roy ... more >