Herb and Dorothy Vogel, art collectors extraordinaire.By Hap ErsteinUnassuming and wildly unlikely, Herbie and Dorothy Vogel would not seem out of place in a South Florida condo, whiling away their retirement years with a hot game of gin rummy or mah-jongg. Instead, as the affectionate documentary Herb & Dorothy recounts, they are the toast of the New York art scene as … [Read more...]
Film review: Disturbing ‘Cove’ a bold plea for dolphins, whales
Dolphins leap near boats in a scene from The Cove.By John ThomasonIf Man on Wire brought the mechanics of a suspense thriller to the structure of a documentary, The Cove goes one step further: Marrying Michael Moore activism to that film’s docu-thriller aesthetic.Just as the suspense in Man on Wire hinged on wire walker Philippe Petit’s attempts to not get caught in an … [Read more...]
Film review: ‘Outrage’ aims fire at closeted anti-gay lawmakers
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., is one of the lawmakers interviewed in Kirby Dick's documentary Outrage.By Hap ErsteinIt’s not the sexual orientation of so many gay politicians that bothers documentary filmmaker Kirby Dick, it’s the hypocrisy.His partisan movie Outrage rehashes the outing of such well-publicized gay elected officials as New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey and Idaho … [Read more...]
Film review: ‘Food, Inc.’ a disturbing look at the industry of eating
Among the chickens, in Food, Inc.By Hap ErsteinMovies are a very effective medium for entertainment, but can they fundamentally change the way we think about the food that we eat?That is the task that director Robert Kenner gives himself in Food Inc., a look at what has happened to the livestock, poultry and produce we consume ever since the corporate world took over farming … [Read more...]