Hallee Adelman Turning the Camera on Our American Family By Jay S. Jacobs Drug addiction has been ripping families apart for generations. Particularly in the modern world, where the opioid epidemic has led to destroyed lives and ravaged families. One such family is the Caltabiano clan of Philadelphia. The new documentary Our American Family takes … Continue reading
The Titans That Built America The Complete Series (2021) (Lionsgate-2021) The ubiquity of cable and streaming services like The History Channel and Discovery+ has led to the need for tons of content like this highly entertaining hybrid mini-series. It is not quite a historical drama – although most of the main characters are played by … Continue reading
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson The Revolution Will Finally Be Televised By Jay S. Jacobs “The revolution will not be televised.” When recording artist and poet Gil Scott-Heron first wrote that line in 1970, he probably wasn’t thinking of the Harlem Cultural Festival, which had been run the summer before. Or perhaps he was, as he was … Continue reading
SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED) (2021) Featuring Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., Mavis Staples, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Chris Rock, Sal Masakela, Sheila E., Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Denise Oliver-Velez and archival footage of Nina Simone, BB King, David Ruffin, The Fifth Dimension, Mahalia Jackson, Moms Mabley, Abbey Lincoln, … Continue reading
MARY J. BLIGE’S MY LIFE (2021) Featuring Mary J. Blige, Sean Combs, Taraji P. Henson, Alicia Keys, Tyler Perry, Method Man, Nas, Andre Harrell, Big Bub, Chucky Thompson, Anita Baker, LaTonya Blige-DaCosta and Jeff Redd. Directed by Vanessa Roth. Distributed by Amazon Studios. 82 minutes. Rated R. This documentary pretty much specifically focuses on Blige’s … Continue reading
RITA MORENO: JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT (2021) Featuring Rita Moreno, Eva Longoria, George Chakiris, Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Héctor Elizondo, Karen Olivo, Justina Machado, Sonia Manzano, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mitzi Gaynor, Chita Rivera, Morgan Freeman, Norman Lear, Terrence McNally, Steven Spielberg, Todd Grinnell, Rep. Jackie Speier, Sonia Sotomayer, Tom Fontana, Frances … Continue reading
THE SPARKS BROTHERS (2021) Featuring Ron Mael, Russell Mael, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Beck, Flea, Jonathan Ross, Patton Oswalt, Scott Aukerman, Jason Schwartzman, Tony Visconti, Mike Myers, Giorgio Moroder, Fred Armisen, Neil Gaiman, Earle Mankey, Harley Feinstein, Todd Rundgren, Nick Heyward, Steve Jones, John Hewlett, Christi Haydon, Leslie Bohem, Björk, Alex Kapranos, Stephen Morris, Gillian Gilbert, … Continue reading
Sergio Mendes More than Nothing By Jay S. Jacobs With a musical career spanning about 60 years now, Sergio Mendes is as responsible as just about anyone (with the possible exception of Antonio Carlos Jobim) for bringing Brazilian music to the world. Many of the highs of his fascinating career are explored in the new … Continue reading
J Balvin You Can’t Take Medellín Out of the Boy By Jay S. Jacobs In recent years, Reggaetón has become the world music of Latin America. Perhaps the greatest ambassador for the musical style is international superstar José Álvaro Osorio Balvin, better known by his stage name of J Balvin. Balvin has sold over 35 … Continue reading
TINY TIM: KING FOR A DAY Featuring Jonas Mekas, Richard Barone, Susan M. Khaury Wellman, Johnny Pineapple, Justin A. Martell, Eddie Rabin, Bernie Stein, Bobby Gonsalves, DA Pennebaker, Wavy Gravy, Harve Mann, Ron De Blasio, Tommy James, Richard Perry, Artie Butler, George Schlatter, Pat Barreat, Sherrye Weinstein, Rita Ritz, Tulip Stewart, Will Friedwald and archival … Continue reading
