Jon Kamen Movies
- 2011
- NR
On the 25th anniversary of Paul Simon's Graceland, acclaimed documentary filmmaker Joe Berlinger offers a glimpse at the controversy surrounding the decision to record the album in South Africa despite a UN boycott of the nation, which was aimed at ending apartheid. In the run-up to an eagerly anticipated reunion concert, Simon, Quincy Jones, Peter Gabriel, David Byrne, Harry Belafonte, Paul McCartney and others reflect on the decision to record with local artists in South Africa, and the cultural impact of the album that delivered such hits as "I Know What I Know" and "You Can Call Me Al." ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
The story behind the world's largest oil-related environmental lawsuit comes to the screen as award-winning documentary filmmaker Joe Berlinger (Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster) investigates the facts in the case of the so-called "Amazon Chernobyl," a disaster that occurred deep in the rain forests of Ecuador. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- 2008
This musical release from legendary rock band Bon Jovi captures a performance recorded live in Madison Square Garden. Some of the tracks featured in the concert include "Bed of Roses", "Blood on Blood", "You Give Love a Bad Name", and many more. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
A group of East Village bohemians struggle to live their lives and pay the rent on time in this filmed performance of Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer and Tony award-winning Broadway musical. With success and acceptance always just out of reach, these starving artists must do their best to remain optimistic about the future while contending with such formidable obstacles as poverty and the growing AIDS epidemic. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Will Chase, Rodney Hicks, (more)
- 2008
On the brink of a comeback with her 2008 album Circus, Britnet Spears sits down for a series of candid interviews in this documentary about the public relations disaster that the pop star suffered during the previous few years. With the ever present eye of an obsessed media watching her every move, Spears became a figure of tragedy and ridicule as she dealt with a divorce from Kevin Federline, the pain of losing custody of her two sons, and speculation by the media about drug use and psychological disorders. Now, with the madness of that period behind her, Spears talks about what it was like to endure an emotional crisis in front of the world, and reflects on how the experiences have shaped her. Additionally, cameras follow the singer through scenes at home with her family, and on the set of her video for the song "Circus." ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
A writer attempting to finish her first novel seeks the wisdom of her mentor and ex-lover in hopes of overcoming a crippling case of writer's block in writer/director Kurt Gunn's enigmatic thriller. Marian (Carrie Preston) is writing an absurdist novel about a par of brothers living in a landlocked boat when the ideas simply stop coming. Advised that she could overcome her problem by simply killing off the protagonist, Marian discovers that task is easier said than done when the willful character escapes the pages of her book and begins wrecking havoc in her personal life. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Carrie Preston
Visually minded filmmaker Tarsem Singh returns to the director's chair for the first time since The Cell (2000) with this psychologically complex tale of a hospitalized paraplegic with a curious knack for storytelling. Unable to free himself from his sterile confines, the immobile patient's deepest fears form the basis of a dark story that he shares with his young companion -- a little girl who visits his room as she recovers from a nasty fall. As the eerie tale unfolds, reality and fantasy gradually merge to form a strange world in which anything is possible. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lee Pace, Catinca Untaru, (more)
In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the world gained a new appreciation of the courage of New York City's firefighters and the importance of their work. However, at the same time, the tragedy also decimated the ranks of many fire companies in New York, changing (perhaps forever) the hierarchy and seniority system that was long an integral part of their way of life, as well as the familial atmosphere of life at the firehouse. Add to that budget cuts which have necessitated the closing of several New York City fire stations and the new duties firefighters have assumed in dealing with terrorist attacks, and consequently, many believe the firefighting system as we know it may soon be a thing of the past. Brotherhood is a documentary which offers a cinéma vérité look at life at three New York firehouses, exploring the daily lives of the men who risk their safety to protect others while trying to maintain their ideals in a changing world. Brotherhood was screened as part of the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Follow acclaimed documentarian Joe Berlinger (Paradise Lost, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster) as he explores one of the darkest wartime atrocities in recorded history in this affecting look at the children who suffered unspeakable horrors in the brutal first act of the Holocaust. In the Spring of 2002, Berlinger learned that the preserved brains of over 700 handicapped children who had been murdered as part of a Nazi eugenics program were finally set to be laid to rest in Vienna. Traveling to Austria to witness the historical event and put the atrocity into an historical perspective, Berlinger soon came in contact with Dr. Heinrich Gross -- the very man allegedly responsible for the brutal experiments. In addition to a conversation with the man nicknamed "The Austrian Dr. Mengele," Berlinger also comes into contact with survivors of the "euthanasia" clinic while asking the question of why it has taken so long to bury these brains, and delving into the moral implications of utilizing scientific knowledge gleaned through such nefarious means. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
One of the biggest artists in hip-hop, rapper Jay-Z surprised fans in 2003 when he announced he would retire following the release of his hotly anticipated collection The Black Album. In November of 2003, not long after the album hit stores, Jay-Z staged a special show at New York City's Madison Square Garden, in which he performed alongside some of the most popular and influential acts in hip-hop and R&B, including R. Kelly, Beyoncé Knowles, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, ?uestlove, Pharrell Williams, P. Diddy, and more. Billed as Jay-Z's final solo performance (though he would stage a collaborative tour with R. Kelly in the fall of 2004), Fade to Black is a concert documentary that captures both the action on-stage and the celebration behind the scenes; the film also features an inside look at the making of The Black Album. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jay-Z
Former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara is the sole focus of documentarian Errol Morris' The Fog of War, a film that not only analyzes McNamara's controversial decisions during the first half of the Vietnam War, but also his childhood upbringing, his education at Berkeley and Harvard, his involvement in World War II, and his later years as president of the World Bank. Culling footage from almost 20 hours of interviews with the Secretary, Morris details key moments from McNamara's career, including the 1945 bombing of Tokyo, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and President Kennedy's suggestions to the Secretary that the U.S. remove itself from Vietnam. Throughout the film, the 85-year-old McNamara expounds his philosophies on international conflict, and shows regret and pride in equal measure for, respectively, his mistakes and accomplishments. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
Both as a member of the Beatles and as a solo artist, George Harrison was one of the best loved and most influential musicians of his generation, and when he died November 29, 2001, after a long battle with cancer, it was a tremendous blow to the many great artists who were his friends and collaborators. A year to the day after his passing, a handful of pop music royalty who had known and worked with Harrison staged a special concert at London's Royal Albert Hall to play his music and honor his art and memory. Concert for George is a documentary which presents highlights from the Harrison memorial concert, featuring performances by Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Tom Petty and the Heartberakers, Jeff Lynne, Billy Preston, Jools Holland, Sam Brown, and Joe Brown. A portion of the profits from the film's release will be donated to The Material World Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Harrison. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Joe Brown, Eric Clapton, (more)
- 2003
- NR
- Add Metallica: Some Kind of Monster to Queue Add Metallica: Some Kind of Monster to top of Queue
Award-winning filmmakers Bruce Sinofsky and Joe Berlinger (of the Paradise Lost films on HBO) direct Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, a documentary about rock stars in therapy. After 20 years of heavy metal, a few members of Metallica decide to hire psychologist Phil Towle to work out some group tensions during the making of their album St. Anger. Most of the therapy sessions involve drummer Lars Ulrich and singer/guitarist James Hetfield, with some input from guitarist Kirk Hammett. Also included are former band members Dave Mustaine of Megadeth and ex-bassist Jason Newsted. The band works through difficulties in group dynamics, personal demons, and relationship issues. The film shows recording sessions as well as therapy sessions, including the recruitment of bassist Robert Trujillo. The much-publicized controversies of Internet file-sharing and Hetfield's drug rehabilitation are also discussed. In 2003, Metallica released the album St. Anger on Elektra Records. Metallica: Some Kind of Monster was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004 as part of the American Spectrum competition. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- Starring:
- Metallica, James Hetfield, (more)
- 1999
Australian director Alan White creates this bleak but gorgeously photographed urban drama about life in Sydney's seedy inner suburbs. Hoping to escape his dad's drunken and abusive behavior, Barky runs away from home to cut cane in the north of the country. Two years later, he returns to his down-and-out hometown to attend the funeral of his father and to make amends with his brother Wace, with whom he had a falling-out. As he meets up with old friends and his ex-girlfriend Lanny, Barky reveals more and more about the enigmatic workings of his mind and the grim circumstances of his upbringing. Shot on a very low budget, the film nonetheless creates a compelling portrait of this gritty, oppressive land. Erskineville Kings was screened at the 1999 Montreal Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- Starring:
- Hugh Jackman, Anik Chooney, (more)
- 1998
Frank Todaro scripted and made his directorial debut with this low-budget comedy about NYC flower-shop wholesaler Artie (Mike O'Malley) who swaps one-liners with co-workers at a refrigerated warehouse. Artie can't seem to make a commitment to his live-in girlfriend Jane (Jill Tracy), whose ex (Scott Bryce) is a car salesman with mob connections. A floral customer (J.K. Simmons) becomes a captive audience for talkative Artie when the two get locked in the warehouse freezer. This film was the first runner-up for the most popular film award at the 1998 Seattle Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mike O'Malley, Jill Tracy, (more)
Rating Systems
Blockbuster
BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C.
2013 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. 2013 Rovi Corporation.