DOC NYC 2018: Family in Transition

Family in Transition profiles the Tzuk family’s experience in northern Israel as Amit Tzuk undergoes a gender transition. Transitioning is not a decision that is made lightly.  Some of us transition at a young age while others hold out for as long as possible.  Transitioning isn’t without risks.  There’s the people we care about and transitioning means possibly losing them.  Losing her wife is a risk that Amit makes by coming out as a woman. …

"DOC NYC 2018: Family in Transition"

DOC NYC 2018: Little Miss Westie profiles Trans Siblings

Little Miss Westie profiles the McCarthy family during one of the most troubling times for families with transgender children. Chris and Shelley McCarthy are parents to not one but two transgender children, Ren and Luca.  The film takes its title from the Little Miss Westie pageant, where Ren hopes to compete as the first transgender girl.  Besides this, the film focuses on the family at a time when they are dealing with so many changes. …

"DOC NYC 2018: Little Miss Westie profiles Trans Siblings"

DOC NYC 2018: The Ghost of Peter Sellers

The Ghost of Peter Sellers takes director Peter Medak back in time to heal from the wounds of the disastrous production of Ghost in the Noonday Sun in 1973. Even though it’s been some 40+ years since Peter Medak directed the film, there’s still some hurt.  Nobody could blame him with the way that Peter Sellers treated those involved with the film.  Sellers is a legendary name in the world of comedy.  This was the guy…

"DOC NYC 2018: The Ghost of Peter Sellers"

The Long Dumb Road

Led by Jason Mantzoukas and Tony Revolori, The Long Dumb Road is able to bring back the road trip comedy with a fun and unique vision. Incoming college freshman Nat (Tony Revolori) and 30-something mechanic Richard (Jason Mantzoukas) are at two very different points in their life.  Both of them are at different points in their life when they first meet.  Together, the two of them go on quite the journey–no pun intended.  The summer before heading to…

"The Long Dumb Road"

DOC NYC 2018: Inside Lehman Brothers

Inside Lehman Brothers examines the events that led to the collapse of the banking firm during the 2008 financial crisis. Ten years ago, the United States was undergoing the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression.  The impact would be felt for many years even when people claimed the recession was over.  What happened to everyone who enabled the collapse of the banks? Banks were too big to fail.  This is what everyone was saying…

"DOC NYC 2018: Inside Lehman Brothers"

DOC NYC 2018: Beyond the Bolex

Filmmaker Alyssa Bolsey takes us Beyond the Bolex to share the story of her great-grandfather, Jacques Bolsey. When Emil Bolsey died in 2004, he left behind a vast archive belonging to his late father, Jacques Bolsey.  Until this point, filmmaker Alyssa Bolsey thought she was the only one in her family.  As fate would have it, her great-grandfather was one of the early Swiss pioneers in filmmaking.  This is because he was the creator of the Bolex…

"DOC NYC 2018: Beyond the Bolex"

Disney’s Robin Hood at 45

Disney’s Robin Hood holds up quite well as the animated classic celebrates 45 years since hitting the big screen in 1973.  It’s not a perfect film by any means as the film has its faults.  In the time since it’s release, we’ve seen a number of incarnations of the hooded Sherwood Forest outlaw.  This includes another film here in the next few weeks. Disney modeled their version of Robin Hood after Reynard the fox as they…

"Disney’s Robin Hood at 45"

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch: Bah Humbug

After an 18 year gap, Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch gets its first animated big-screen adaptation of the 1957 classic book without much to enjoy. Because the story is one that airs as a television special every year, I’m not going to discuss much of the plot.  The biggest difference from the book appears to be the larger role for Cindy-Lou Who (Cameron Seely).  This goes back to the Ron Howard-directed film in 2000.  With regards to the…

"Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch: Bah Humbug"

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs: Another Coen Classic

Taking us back to the days of the Old West, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is another classic from the minds of the Coen Brothers. The Western is one of the oldest genres in the book but it always makes for interesting material.  Even when we think that every possible scenario has been exhausted, someone comes about with a fresh take.  This is what the Coens do and they do it so well, I must…

"The Ballad of Buster Scruggs: Another Coen Classic"

Lez Bomb: The Dysfunctional Comedy We Need

Focused on a lesbian woman coming home for the Thanksgiving holiday, Lez Bomb is the dysfunctional family comedy that we need right now. The holidays are generally not the best time to announce to your parents that you’re a member of the LGBTQ community.  Regardless of which, there’s never a great time to come out and the experience can be terrifying.  Even after coming out, the holidays still make for some added stress especially when…

"Lez Bomb: The Dysfunctional Comedy We Need"