Category: Documentary Films and Programs

‘The Beach Boys’ Review: How to Make Good Vibrations

This Disney documentary looks at the family ties and sweet harmonies that turned a California band into a popular treasure.
‘Queen of the Deuce’ Review: A Mother of Invention

This warm remembrance of a Times Square legend is too careful with its iconoclastic heroine.
‘Taking Venice’ Offers a Glimpse at Conspiracy Theories Around the 1964 Biennale

The documentary offers a glimpse of how the arts were treated very differently in midcentury America.
Yance Ford’s “Power” Documentary Argues That Policing and Politics Are Inextricable

Though Yance Ford’s new Netflix documentary takes on a much-explored topic, its mix of personal and polemic makes for a strong argument.
Bianca Giaever Tries to Help Strangers in New York With Her Project ‘Free Help’

Bianca Giaever wasn’t feeling very helpful in her daily life, so she tried to do small favors for passers-by in Union Square. It got complicated.
‘The Contestant’ on Hulu Offers a Glimpse of Reality TV Ethics

The documentary tells the strange story of a groundbreaking 1998 Japanese TV show but doesn’t go far enough in its examination.
‘Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg’ Review

Subtitled “The Story of Anita Pallenberg,” this documentary gives the life of the actress and model a thorough downer of a treatment.
Patagonia’s Documentary Wants Consumers to Think About Buying Less

Tactics to convince people to buy less aren’t working. A quirky new documentary by Patagonia takes a different approach.
Three Great Documentaries to Stream

This month’s streaming selections include one director’s look at a hometown ritual, the story of an improbable ruse and a celebration of student activism.
‘Uncropped’ Documentary Celebrates James Hamilton’s Photos

A documentary celebrates the work of the revered photographer James Hamilton.
Lourdes Portillo, Oscar-Nominated Documentary Filmmaker, Dies at 80

Her films centered on Latin American experiences and received wide acclaim.
‘Catfish,’ the TV Show That Predicted America’s Disorienting Digital Future

For 12 years, the MTV reality series “Catfish” has traveled the U.S., presenting hundreds of intimate snapshots of what can go wrong when the heart mixes with technology.