The Man We Want to Hang: a subjective if not very experimental homage to Aleister Crowley
Kenneth Anger, “The Man We Want to Hang” (2002) After over 20 years in which he made no films, the American cult underground film director Kenneth…
Propaganda Films
Films made with an obvious bias to serve a larger agenda or to mitigate a controversial topic and make it safe for general public consumption.
British Films, North American Films
The Imitation Game: another simplistic cog in the propaganda war aiming to demonise Russia
Morten Tyldum, “The Imitation Game” (2014) One of a slew of historical films from the UK depicting hitherto unknown or unfamiliar aspects of Britain’s role in…
North American Films, Russian and Soviet Films
No Russian troops but plenty of Donetsk determination and pluck in “Donetsk: An American Glance”
Miguel Francis Santiago and Alexander Panov, “Donetsk: An American Glance” (RT Documentary, 2014) Cheerful LA film graduate and investigative journalist Miguel Francis Santiago, fresh from filming…
North American Films, Russian and Soviet Films
Crimea for Dummies: entertaining travelogue, history lesson and Western media propaganda critique rolled into one
Miguel Francis Santiago, “Crimea for Dummies” (RT Documentary, 2014) A unique and interesting film by Los Angeles film school graduate Miguel Francis Santiago, “Crimea for Dummies”…
A snapshot of society on the verge of rewiring its history in “Crimea: Unmasking Revolution”
Artyom Somov, Pavel Burnatov, “Crimea: Unmasking Revolution” (RT.com, 2014) Powered entirely by interviews with Crimean Russians in the street and following people about as they rouse…
Exposing Browder: a glimpse into a sordid world of tax fraud and undermining a sovereign country
“Exposing Browder / Spisok Braudera” (Rassledovaniye, 2014) At last this Russian documentary exposing the shady activities of the investment fund manager Bill Browder has an English-language…
British Films, Multi-media Presentations
5 Biggest No Campaign Economics Scare Stories Debunked: cherry-picking easy targets to attack so as to look good
Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp / Business For Scotland, “5 Biggest No Campaign Economics Scare Stories Debunked” (September 2014) At this time of writing, there remain just a few…
Fascism As It Is: snapshot film of the Ukrainian crisis that indicts mainstream Western news reporting
Andrey Karaulov, “Fascism As It Is” (2014) Looking hastily made, this documentary is a snapshot of the chaotic situation in Ukraine after the massacre of left-wing…
Thought-provoking and entertaining inquiry into animal rights in “Speciesism: the Movie”
Mark Devries, “Speciesism: the Movie” (2013) As home movies go, few possibly extend very far into the realms of journeys of self-discovery and self-awakening as this…
North American Films, Northern European Films
Manderlay: a not entirely satisfactory study of slavery in American society
Lars von Trier, “Manderlay” (2005) The sequel to “Dogville” is an interesting philosophical if rather slower and less action-packed inquiry on the nature of freedom and democracy…