REVIEW DATE: 03/04/06

Theatre Release: 05/13/05
DVD Release: 10/18/05

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UNFORTUNATELY, Mad Hot Ballroom misses its potential.  Not only is this documentary way too long, but it is way too uninvolved.  The premise is interesting enough: NYC public schools place otherwise disadvantaged grade school children in a ballroom dancing classes in order to expose them to an artistic, physical education while providing a structure not otherwise provided for them.  What the film needs to do is invest more time and energy in the lives of the students and the manner in which such a class benefits and impacts theses "less than fortunate" kids.  It would also be beneficial to examine the psychological draw and inner-workings of both the students and teachers involved.  Instead, we get an extremely long--too long!--dragging, monotonous, and boring exposé of the eight-week course and the finale of a competition between the the public schools.  The documentary needs to be more invasive in the lives of the characters; investigating, probing, and revealing the dynamics of the children, their families, and socio-political and economic places in the world and how such a class affects them in their situation and setting.

REVIEW DATE: 02/12/06

DVD Release: 06/28/05

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EGO maniacal, self-destructive, alcoholic, addictive, manic depressive, and delusional all paint the picture of this rising and falling star, Troy Duffy, who is given opportunities few have, yet squanders them and his future by means of self-inflicting masochism.  A bartender from the rags of the Boston streets is discovered by Miramax big-wigs in order to produce and direct his own movie script, The Boondock Saints, as well as cover the soundtrack with his own band.  Originally offered a fifteen million dollar budget, Duffy's narcissism and delusional perceptions of himself and everyone else damn himself, his movie, and his band.  Through his antics, the anti-social detached and self-loathing Troy destroys himself and everyone around him by committing career suicide by means of his interactions with those working with him.  Overnight is a depressing documentary with characteristics of witnessing a car wreck from its inevitable pre-accident awareness to the twisted metal and carnage in the aftermath.  You know this car is going to collide with an immovable force and make a mess, but you cannot keep your eyes off it.  And as much as the aftermath is disturbing, all you can do is stare intensely with awe and wonder.  This film is a wonderful psychological profile of a mentally disturbed individual.  As this rags-to-riches story unfolds into a rags-to-riches-to-rags, you cannot help but feel despair in the pit of your stomach as Duffy ruins his life and pisses away every chance and opportunity he has.  Overnight is a true tragedy.

REVIEW DATE: 02/02/06

Theatre Release: 06/24/05
DVD Release: 11/29/05

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BEAUTY and brutality, sanctity and sacrifice, love and life, these are the amazing themes and portraits painted by the filmmakers of March of the Penguins as they present creation as it has rarely been seen.  This stupendous miniature epic of the life of the Ambassador Penguin is a glimpse into the most intricate details of nature that surrounds us all.  Watching this movie is following the hopes, dreams, despairs, and disappointments of the propagation of the species.  Amazingly, at the age of four/five, the penguins begin an annual 300-plus mile, eight-month expedition of finding a mate, breeding, protecting the egg and chick, and surviving the elements against seemingly insurmountable odds.  These creatures face a world of unimaginable fortitude and viciousness in the Antarctic continent.  In the midst of the most barren and cruel world, we get to see the delicate love of a personified man and woman risking everything in order to create and sustain children for whom they are willing to sacrifice and endure every hardship the vast winter-wasteland possesses.  This is simply an amazing story with which the whole family will fall in love.  You are moved to mourn and rejoice in a powerful way with these simple creatures.  It is a must see.

REVIEW DATE: 01/30/06

Theatre Release: Unknown
DVD Release: 12/26/05

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GRIZZLY Man is a documentary revealing the human nature of a disturbed man.  In the wilderness of Grizzly Maze in the Alaskan Peninsula, Timothy Treadwell lived with the frighteningly beautiful, majestic, and powerful Grizzly Bears for thirteen summers before he and his girlfriend (who I'm not sure wanted to be with the bears) finally became the object of one beast's anger and hunger.  The director and narrator, Werner Herzog, uses footage from more than 100 hours of film shot by Treadwell, as well as new footage and interviews from people such as the pilot who found Treadwell's remains and the bear in which the rest of Treadwell was found, Treadwell's previous girlfriend (who possesses Treadwell's camcorder on which the sound of the attack, killing, and eating of Treadwell and his girlfriend were captured), the medical examiner who examined the remains, and various other people from Treadwell's life.  Though the footage of and interaction with the grizzlies is truly amazing, the true tale told is that of the troubled and mentally ill Treadwell.  The true tragedy is not his death, but his life.  Herzog amazingly studies the pitfalls in Treadwell's philosophy, as well as the inevitable mistakes and assumptions that would be the demise of the delusional Treadwell.  This is an amazing anthropological film.  It is also an unbelievable glimpse into the interaction of a human with the untamed wild beasts of the Alaskan wilderness.  It is a must see.

REVIEW DATE: 01/29/06

Theatre Release: 07/29/05
DVD Release: 01/24/06

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MY wife became ill while listening to the infamous joke being told over and over again by dozens upon dozens of comedians.  She had to leave the room.   The Aristocrats is a documentary on one of the most vile, disgusting, and traditional jokes within the comedic world.  This documentary does provide insight into the various and most influential comedians alive to date, which is always an interesting sociological and cultural study.  The joke reveals that, like in the art of singing, which is more about the singer than the song, so is comedy more about the comedian than the comedy.  In other words, the manner in which the joke is told by the various comedians reveals much about their psychology, philosophy, and approach to the art of comedy.  Also, listening to the comedic commentary and interpretation of the joke is quite telling; revealing much about the inside world of comedy.  However, the movie became quickly repetitive and long-winded.  I have a strong constitution, but the language, vulgarity, and continuous telling of the single joke slowly grew on my nerves.  This documentary receives an 'Unrated' rating and for good reason!  You will blush if you watch this movie.  The only salvageable aspects of the film is the inside-track of the comedic world and various non-Aristocrat jokes.

REVIEW DATE: 01/20/06

Theatre Release: 04/22/05
DVD Release: 01/17/06

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ENRON: The Smartest Guys in the Room is poignantly summed up in two sentences from the film's introduction.  "The fatal flaw at Enron, if there was one, you say it was pride."  And, "I think the Enron story is so fascinating because people perceive it as a story about numbers, that it is somehow about all these complicated transactions.  But in reality the story is about people, and it's really a human tragedy."  In this brilliant hindsight exposé, interpretation, and explanation of the history, background, and development of Enron and its creators & sustainers, one truly gets a feel for the sin of pride, arrogance, greed, and the lust for power and money.  This documentary would not let me out of its clutches.  The movie's agenda is educating people on the history of Enron by examining the lives and people who created and sustained it.  There is some political ideology as it briefly attacks a certain political family from Texas, who also happen to be in the energy business, but it is neither fanatic, nor anywhere near a substantial cornerstone in its interpretation of  history.  In other words, die-hard Republicans should not think Michael Moore filmed this movie.  It is a simple tale of human sinfulness and the secular view of the psychology which perpetuates such sinfulness.  It shows what the love of money can do to those who love it, and those who are surrounded by people who love it.  This film charts the conceptions, growth, and eventual death of the company and its moguls.  It is truly riveting, informative, educational, and eye-opening.  Meet the men who are behind the World's corporation domination, and see the links to which they go so they can rule over all mankind in order to make a few hundred million dollars.  For your information, there is some language as well as nudity, but it is a must see regardless.

REVIEW DATE: 01/07/06

Theatre Release: 08/05/05
DVD Release: 11/22/05 & 01/03/06

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MY Date with Drew is an offbeat comedic documentary.  The premise is simple: thirty days, $1,100.00, a camera from Circuit City (which they plan on fully using and returning prior to the thirty-day return policy), and the goal of getting a date with Drew Barrymore.  This sweet, fun-loving, New Jersey raised Jew who has been "in love" with Drew since he first saw the movie E.T. is determined to spend a romantic evening with the seemingly unattainable object of his desire.  Can this "average guy" approach the untouchable starlit, Drew Barrymore?  That is the question and the quest.  It is an extremely entertaining and simple plot following an absolutely adorable man with a school-boy crush.  At first, you wonder if this man is a stalker in the making, but it is evident his intentions are anything but malicious, perverted, or distorted.  This film follows him through his endeavors and ploys in attaining this infamous "date with Drew."  It is truly warm and funny.  You cheer for him on his journey, and you laugh at his interpretation of it and incidents during it.  He is a man on a mission, which is a mission worth watching.  The movie is rated PG and is absolutely appropriate for people of all ages.  It is a delightful ninety minutes.