Tag Archives: documentary

“I have already been accused of trying to drown a boatload of wild Irishmen on Aran!” — Robert Flaherty

Posted on February 16, 2026 by sheila

Today is the birthday of the so-called “father of documentary film” Robert Flaherty, a man whose accomplishments cannot be ignored, and yet these same accomplishments are still, rightfully, debated to this day. Known mostly for his two films about “primitive” … Continue reading →

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January 2026 Viewing Diary

Posted on February 9, 2026 by sheila

The Sound of Falling (2026; d. Mascha Schilinski) It took me a couple of days to shake off the effect of The Sound of Falling. I saw it at a screening room on 29th Street. I knew very little about … Continue reading →

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NYFCC essay: “My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow”

Posted on January 15, 2026 by sheila

All of the essays included in the program for the New York Film Circle Critics awards dinner, held a week ago on January 6, are now online. I wrote on the film we voted as the winner of Best Non-Fiction … Continue reading →

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NYFCC: Best Non-Fiction Film: My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow

Posted on January 7, 2026 by sheila

This year, the NYFCC awarded Julia Loktev’s five-and-a-half-hour documentary My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow Best Documentary. There were many good docs this year, it was a very strong year, but this one was undeniable. For … Continue reading →

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2025 National Society of Film Critics Awards

Posted on January 3, 2026 by sheila

It’s the 60th year of the National Society of Film Critics. We met up in New York / Los Angeles / Zoom to vote today. We also have a couple of fun categories – like Best Experimental Film – and … Continue reading →

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“The vote means nothing to women. We should be armed.” — Edna O’Brien

Posted on December 15, 2025 by sheila

Today is the birthday of the great Irish writer Edna O’Brien, who just died this past summer at the age of 93. I came to her Country Girls trilogy fairly young. I was in college. I think that might be … Continue reading →

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August-November 2025 Viewing Diary

Posted on December 9, 2025 by sheila

I haven’t watched much this year, beyond what I was assigned to review. Of course at end of year I have to scramble to catch up, which I am still doing. Instead I watched a lot of true crime, re-watched … Continue reading →

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“You can’t dance in a long dress.” — Tina Turner

Posted on November 26, 2025 by sheila

I pretty much said what I needed to say about Tina Turner in my review of this year’s documentary Tina. I saw her in concert. I was there, I was present for her rise to total dominance in the culture, … Continue reading →

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Review: Zodiac Killer Project (2025)

Posted on November 21, 2025 by sheila

Charlie Shackleton’s documentary showing us the movie he wasn’t allowed to make might be too slight and/or irritating to certain kinds of viewers, but this is very much my kind of thing. I liked it. I reviewed for Ebert.

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Review: The Man Who Saves the World? (2025)

Posted on October 17, 2025 by sheila

I have quietly been looking out for director Gabe Polsky ever since I saw – and LOVED – his feature film directorial debut (a credit he shared with his brother Alan), Motel Life (I reviewed for Ebert – and then … Continue reading →

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