ReelPolitik

Where is Jafar Panahi's "The White Ballo ...

A blog about film and politics, and the politics of filmmaking.

Anthony Kaufman is a film journalist and critic, who has written for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Village Voice and Slate, and contributes regularly to Variety, indieWIRE, the Wall Street Journal Online and the Utne Reader.
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Articles

Strong Sundance Docs Raise Specter of Racism in U.S. and Abroad

By Anthony Kaufman
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January 23, 2012 4:04 PM
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0 Comments

News

I haven't yet seen "Slavery by Another Name," a new documentary that's premiering in Sundance this week, but the title evokes a theme I've seen running through a number of docs at this year's festival: the prevalence of racism in the histories of America and other countries. While economic-themed docs drew headlines prior to the festival, strong nonfiction films such as "Searching for Sugar Man," "Under African Skies," "The House I Live In" and "The Law In These Parts" suggest darker, and more disturbing undercurrents about discrimination in societies--as well as, in some cases, the power to counteract it.

By Anthony Kaufman
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November 30, 2011 4:37 PM
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2 Comments

News

With the announcement of the Sundance competition on Wednesday, the documentary program -- as usual -- is newsworthy: 16 nonfiction films representing some of the most respected filmmakers of the form. As with past Sundance docs, there is a real chance to influence the national discussion on important topics, ranging from American healthcare to nuclear power. I'll never forget trailing Al Gore through the snowy parking lot at the Library before the premiere of "An Inconvenient Truth" some years back. Docs can make a difference, and nowhere is that more apparent than at Sundance.

By Anthony Kaufman
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November 14, 2011 9:21 PM
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2 Comments

News

Right-wing doc-maker Steven Bannon is apparently at it again. After his Sarah Palin doc "The Undefeated" stirred up talk everywhere about the former Alaska governor's popularity (or not) as a viable political contender, Real Clear Politics reports that Bannon is planning on making a new film based on Palin adviser Peter Schweizer's forthcoming book, "Throw Them All Out," which details allegations of ethically dubious insider trading and conflicts of interest among members of Congress.

By Anthony Kaufman
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November 14, 2011 10:06 AM
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2 Comments

News

So far, Occupy Wall Street has inspired a dozen prominent filmmakers, from Haskell Wexler to Jonathan Demme to Jem Cohen, to document the rising protest movement. And a handful of Hollywood and indie films, produced after the rebellion's rise, from "Margin Call" to "Tower Heist," have capitalized on the coincidental timeliness of their stories. But is there a definitive #OWS movie out there? And what would it look like?

By Anthony Kaufman
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November 10, 2011 7:56 PM
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0 Comments

Reviews

Much has already been written about "Into the Abyss," Werner Herzog's humanistic gaze into the dark heart of capital punishment in a Texas town. But let me join in the chorus of effusive praise.

By Anthony Kaufman
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November 10, 2011 9:17 AM
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0 Comments

News

By anthony
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November 3, 2011 3:06 AM
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1 Comment

By anthony
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October 28, 2011 2:10 AM
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1 Comment

By Anthony Kaufman
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October 27, 2011 1:38 AM
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2 Comments

By Anthony Kaufman
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October 26, 2011 4:37 AM
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0 Comments

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@x7o Yes, that is why I included the link to the annotation in my tweet.
Posted 6 hours ago
@antkaufman Please update with our response for extra credibility http://t.co/WoxKkuRH53 + http://t.co/YOShV6iFVM #wikileaks
Posted 8 hours ago
@antkaufman This, of course, contradicts your claim that it is "impressively researched" - it is either negligent or malicious.
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@antkaufman See here: http://t.co/EkQOpKipi5 There are glaring factual inaccuracies. Just ask @carwinb
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