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 Shadows off the beaten pathIndies, foreign, docs and shorts...
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HOW TO BUILD A TRUTH ENGINE |
LIL NAS X: LONG LIVE MONTERO |
SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY
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| See also: SHADOWS FILM FESTIVAL | Last update 12.Nov.24 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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How to Build a Truth Engine Review by Rich Cline | 
LEEDS FILM FEST Now streaming...
|  Packed with fascinating research and detailed observations, this documentary explores the way the human brain can be literally rewired by false narratives. This is nothing new, as it has been happening throughout history, but social media has been weaponised to create seriously dangerous situations such as Russia's denial of war crimes in Ukraine, China's rejection of pandemic data and America's far-right being manipulated to overthrow the government. This is an unusually well-produced doc, with beautiful new footage assembled in very clever ways that use the knowing words of experts to narrate the story. Some of this feels a bit academic, going into neuroscientific detail about brain chemistry. This includes cool but strangely baffling cluster diagrams that track the effects of false narratives, or something. But as the film darts around the world, it constructs a remarkably astute picture of how information is being deployed politically, the first wave of a cyber war that has the potential to destabilise the entire world. It's chilling to see how easy it is to convince someone of something previously unthinkable. The film avoids politics even if it can't avoid touching on the most obvious example of this, namely that devout Christians who blithely vote in favour of Donald Trump's racist rhetoric and immoral, unlawful behaviour. Instead, the film is looking at the systems involved, both in computer networks and the human brain. Essentially, the filmmakers use these brilliant experts to present a grim situation and then limply ask us not to lose all hope. Oddly, with a title like this, we expect much more in the way of hopeful solutions than this film can muster. Instead, the best thing on screen, and worthy of a doc on their own, is the New York Times team (Browne, Willis and Koettl) that debunks fake news using an astonishing range of visual evidence collected through social media, news footage and satellite cameras. If their diligent, inspiring work can cut through false narratives, they may show a path to the future.
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| Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero Review by Rich Cline | 
|  dir Carlos Lopez Estrada, Zac Manuel prd Dave Sirulnick, Caryn Capotosto, Adam Leber, Gee Roberson, Adriana Arce with Lil Nas X, Saul Levitz, Adam Leber, Hodo Musa, Sean Bankhead, Christian Owens, Margot Rada, Aaron Idelson, Lamarco Hill, Tramon Hill, Mia Stafford, Madonna release US 27.Jan.24, UK Mar.24 flare 23/US Universal 1h35 TORONTO FILM FEST  Now streaming...
|  Opening as the rapper Lil Nas X begins his first tour, this colourfully artistic documentary profiles the singular musician, whose real name is Montero Hill, with open-handed interviews and lots of on-stage grandstanding. Like him, the film is relentlessly positive and hopeful, with a side of snark. It perhaps pushes the butterfly metaphor a bit forcefully, but the point is valid when profiling an artist who crushes barriers. "I like a little bit of chaos," Montero says, taking the camera crew into his home. He feels like a kid who has entered into a whole new world. And because he now feels sure of himself, he knows that he needs to keep pushing himself. He also says that, as part of his spiritual journey, he knew he had to come out as gay and live as his true self. He loves that his religious family is now accepting him, but he also can't help but wonder how deep that actually runs. Because there were so few role models for him growing up, Montero is still discovering what it means to be a gay Black man. Or a Black country artist who also raps. He uses his playful, sometimes goofy persona to deal with any negative vibes, confiding in the camera throughout this film. And clips of his friends and family, including old home movies, provide terrific context for his larger-than-life presence on-stage and in music videos. Montero says that he is still overwhelmed by the trajectory of his life, three years after his debut single Old Town Road went viral and he dropped out of university. The film includes a fantastic range of on-stage performances, backstage antics and archival clips, edited together in a brisk, high-energy style. It reveals him as an articulate, observational, unapologetic young man who is working to become his best self. And he's also having a lot of fun, aware that this business could turn on him at any time. So he knows that another version of himself will show up soon.
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| Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story Review by Rich Cline |
SUNDANCE FILM FEST  Now streaming...
|  Hugely emotive, this documentary is an engaging look at the actor indelibly known for his role as Superman in four films from 1978-1987. And the film argues that he should be equally remembered for his groundbreaking research and activism on behalf of people with spinal injuries. With a terrific range of friends and family members talking about him, and a thoroughly detailed narrative, it's both fascinating and very moving. Christopher Reeve was working Off-Broadway when he was asked to audition for Superman in London. And his life changed overnight, becoming one of the biggest stars in the world. With his partner Gae he had two children, Alexandra and Matthew, in London before moving back to New York, where he met Dana and welcomed his youngest son Will. Then in 1995 a horse-riding accident left him paralysed from the neck down. He went on to do more acting and directing, and became a key advocate for paralysis issues. He died in 2004 at age 52. Without lionising Reeve unduly, the film creates a properly rounded portrait of a man who loved life and battled the traumas of both his harsh upbringing and his injury. The filmmakers beautifully capture the camaraderie between him and his family and friends, which emerges in both interviews and extensive footage over the years. Archival interviews also let Reeve speak as well. Most moving is Reeve's particularly close long-time bond with Robin Williams, as the film offers some lovely details of their sparky friendship. And comments from his children carry a very strong kick, especially as they narrate Dana's terminal cancer diagnosis less than a year after Reeve's death. Some of the iconic images created specifically for this doc feel a bit overstated, such as the heroic statue floating in space as it's infected with kryptonite, or something. But the wide range of clips and interviews allow this to be undercut with warm humour and Reeve's own unusually balanced self-image. It's clear that Reeve's strength was his willingness to confront his weaknesses head-on, never afraid to go against the grain. He also refused to play the usual Hollywood fame game. So his impact on the industry reverberates. And his focus on helping others with spinal injuries will be his most important legacy.
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See also: SHADOWS FILM FESTIVAL © 2024 by Rich Cline, Shadows
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