Alan Douglas Movies
- 2005
- Add Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream to QueueAdd Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream to top of Queue
Stuart Samuels's popular documentary Midnight Movies: From Margin to Mainstream grounds itself in the thesis that six revolutionary American motion pictures - Night of the Living Dead (1968), El Topo (1970), Pink Flamingoes (1972), The Harder they Come (1972), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and Eraserhead (1976) - invented the concept of "midnight movies" and thus permanently reshaped the American film industry per se and the composition of the average U.S. film audience, creating a new "brand" of viewer. Samuels and his team tell the story of this odd subgenre as it evolved, peaked in popularity, and then faded gradually from view. The bulk of the picture consists of a myriad of interviews with the directors of these films per se (John Waters, Alejandro Jodorowsky, David Lynch, Perry Henzel, George Romero - Jim Sharman appears in archive footage only), cast members, theater owners who found their business reinvigorated by this trend, critics such as Roger Ebert who reflect on the era, and of course the films' fans. The documentary also features extended clips from the movies and period news footage about the rise in popularity of the said titles. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
In this two-part cable miniseries based on a novel by Frederick Forsyth (hence the proprietary title), a post-Communist Russia is mired in chaos and confusion. Emerging from the crowd to lead his fellow Russians out of the darkness and into the light is the fabulously popular presidential candidate Igor Komarov (Patrick Bergin). What virtually no one suspects is that Komarov is a ruthlessly dedicated "old liner," who intends to return his homeland to a repressive military dictatorship, using brutal former KGB officer Anotoly Grishin (Annika Peterson) as his "hatchet woman." The only person savvy to what Komarov is up to is former CIA operative Jason Monk (Patrick Swayze), who takes it upon himself to save the new Russia from a horrendous fate -- and, incidentally, to settle a personal score with the beautiful but deadly Grishin. Produced for the Hallmark channel, Frederick Forsyth's Icon debuted on May 30, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Swayze, Ben Cross, (more)
- 2004
- Add Eric Clapton: Sessions for Robert J. to QueueAdd Eric Clapton: Sessions for Robert J. to top of Queue
Eric Clapton pays homage to one of his greatest influences -- the rural blues musician Robert Johnson, who left behind a legacy of remarkable songs and recordings following his death in 1938 -- in this special DVD-CD release. The DVD in Eric Clapton: Sessions for Robert J. features footage of Clapton and his band rehearing for the tour which followed the release of Clapton's album Me and Mr. Johnson, as well as performing an acoustic set in the Dallas warehouse where Johnson's final recording session was held; the CD features music drawn from the same sessions. Selections include "Love in Vain," "If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day," "Stop Breaking Down Blues," "Hellhound on My Trail," "From Four Until Late," and many more. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Clapton
Filmmaker DeZ Vylenz presents a portrait of the artist as a contemporary shaman with this documentary delving into the fascinating world of acclaimed writer, graphic novelist, and performer Alan Moore. Beginning with a detailed exploration of the artist's childhood, Moore himself guides the viewer though the evolution of his career as he transforms public preconceptions about the common comic book while highlighting how spirituality, science, and society are all part of the same spectacular universe. Through careful manipulation of language, symbols, and images, Moore strives for nothing less than a complete metamorphosis of public consciousness. For anyone who has ever read his work or seen his art, this documentary offers riveting insight into the mind of the influential author who gave us The Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Moore
- 1998
Thirteen won the Don Quixote Prize from the FICC at the 1998 Berlin Film Festival, and earned Virginia-based painter turned filmmaker David Williams the Movado Someone to Watch Award at the 1999 Independent Spirit Awards. This was more than a year after the completion of Thirteen, his second feature. Williams' film blurs the line between documentary and fiction. He cast neighbor Lillian Folley and her daughter, Nina Dickens (the title refers to her age), as the mother and daughter leads in the film. The two had previously appeared in Lillian, Williams' first feature, which dealt with Lillian's adoption of Nina. The dialogue in Thirteen was unscripted. Williams started filming with a few basic story ideas and hoped the film would find its own path. Shortly after the film opens, we learn from Lillian's laconic narration that the quiet, moody Nina has run away from home. Williams cuts back and forth between the outpouring of concern Lillian gets from friends and family and Nina's low-key adventures on the road. Just as the social workers are about to begin their investigation in earnest, Nina nonchalantly comes home. Lillian is so relieved that her anger immediately dissipates. The automobile-obsessed Nina then decides to do everything she can to earn money to buy a car. At first Lillian thinks this is a passing fancy, like many of Nina's interests, but it soon becomes clear that Nina's determination is very strong. Soon she's earning money posing for a local artist, and looking after neighborhood children and pets. She even (unsuccessfully) applies for a job as a real estate agent. Lillian is proud of her daughter's industriousness, despite her obvious inability to drive. Things don't go quite according to Nina's plans, but the bond between her and Lillian grows stronger. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nina Dickens, Lillian Folley, (more)
- 1996
An agoraphobic woman has to put her fear to the test in this British made-for-television movie. Katrin Cartidge stars as Robin, a woman who lives in Scotland near a dangerous park. Afraid to leave her home, Robin spends her days and nights locked inside her home, taking photos of the passersby outside. She develops an obsession with one man in particular, and when she witnesses him in danger one evening, she is forced to confront her fear. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
This music documentary is produced and directed by the same filmmaker who brought Monterrey Pop to the screen. It features performances from a 1969 Toronto rock 'n roll festival. The film shows performers Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Eric Clapton, Bo Diddley, Alan White, Klaus Voorman and John Lennon and Yoko Ono with the Plastic Ono Band. Although many other people appeared in the 12-hour-long festival, the filmmaker chose to record the whole performances of these few, rather than give highlights of the entire festival. Festival-goers booed and walked out on a performance by Yoko Ono and her brand new Plastic Ono Band. Film reviewers at the time were similarly affected. Latterly, though, both her performance and this film have grown in interest and watchability, particularly given the rarity of such thorough documentation of these key performers' work in concert. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1979
- R
In this drama, a good-hearted, courageous boy from a poor New York neighborhood tries to rally his neighborhood together to stop the terrifying reign of the neighborhood street gang, the Savage Warlocks. He succeeds and begins planning to move uptown to live with his lady love. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joey Travolta, John Lansing, (more)
- 1974
- NR
When Muhammad Ali and George Foreman staged their heavyweight title fight in Zaire in 1974, a three-day music festival was held in tandem with the bout, and headliner B.B. King proved why he's regarded as the world's premier blues guitarist with this dynamic concert performed for an audience of 80,000 African fans (look carefully to spot Ali enjoying the show). Songs include "The Thrill Is Gone," "I Like to Live the Love I Sing About," "Why I Sing the Blues," and "Sweet Sixteen." ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Jimi Hendrix was one of the most prodigiously gifted electric guitarists in rock music history, leaving behind a remarkable body of work after his death in 1970. Jimi Hendrix combines live footage of Hendrix in concert with interviews with Hendrix's friends and contemporaries. Also known as A Film About Jimi Hendrix. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1969
The 1969 Toronto Peace Festival featured sets by some of the most popular rock acts of the day including John Lennon, Chuck Berry, and The Doors. This documentary captures Little Richard's performance at the festival, a nine-song set that includes renditions of classics like "Good Golly, Miss Molly," "Tutti-Frutti," "Hound Dog," and "Long Tall Sally." ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Directed by D.A. Pennebaker (Monterey Pop), this pivotal concert film offers the only footage ever recorded of John Lennon performing with the Plastic Ono Band. With the release of Abbey Road just around the corner, Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Eric Clapton descended upon the Toronto Rock N' Roll Revival Festival, joining a line-up already stacked high with American rock heroes, including Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard. Pennebaker's remarkable documentary captures Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band playing "Dizzy Miss Lizzy," "Give Peace a Chance," and a killer rendition of "Blue Suede Shoes". ~ All Movie Guide
