Sam Pollard, who directed “MLK/FBI” and “Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta’ Be Me,” has teamed with Rex Miller— listed as both the Director and Cinematographer—to produce an informative 96-minute documentary entitled “Citizen Ashe.” The film traces Arthur Ashe’s career as the first and best Black male tennis player. Ashe was … [Read More]
“The Beta Test” is both a slick satire and a confusing and muddled thriller. Writer/director/actor Jim Cummings (“Thunder Road,” “The Wolf of Snow Hollow”) plays the lead, Jordan Hine, and he makes Christian Bale’s slick Patrick Bateman of “American Psycho” seem chill. In a film that has great snarky dialogue, … [Read More]
Director Sergei Loznitsa (“State Funeral,” “Donbass,” “Maidan”) has compiled a staggering amount of vintage 80-year-old footage of World War II action in Kiev and Lemberg (Lvov)in the “Babi Yar. Context” documentary. It is 1941; the opening scene is of black smoke billowing over the countryside while firing on a bridge … [Read More]
The Chicago International Film Festival concludes tomorrow night, Sunday, October 24th, with a screening of Will Smith’s new film “King Richard” at the Music Box Theater. There have been plenty of Chicago documentaries screening at the festival, one of which, “Punch 9 for Harold Washington” had its World Premiere during … [Read More]