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The Conversation
Good 66 Points 1974

The Conversation was one of Francis Ford Coppola’s celebrated early Seventies movies, nominated for Best Picture and winner of the Palme d’Or. Deeply accomplished, occasionally fascinating, a time capsule of San Francisco from 1973, it nonetheless disappoints all these decades later.

The min…

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WikChip Video Coppola talks 'The Conversation' in 1974
Lambert & Stamp
Really Great 66 Points 2014

The Who get deconstructed in the cheeky documentary Lambert & Stamp, about Kit Lambert & Chris Stamp, the fifth & sixth members of the band. Whimsy, rockstar excess, sex and drugs and money, lots of money, inform the stories that get exuberantly recounted by Pete Townshend, Roger Daltry, Chris …

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WikChip Video Kit accuses Pete of vanity.
The Last Waltz
Perfect 66 Points 1978

Turn it up! I’d done just that right before an opening title card instructed “This film should be played loud!” You don’t say. Clapton, Van Morrison, Dylan, Muddy Waters, Neil Young, the Band: Of course turn it up.

The Last Waltz has been lauded as a landmark concert film since it appeared i…

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WikChip Video There is a song of dream comfort.
Keith Richards:...
Great 66 Points 2015

Less a concert film than a rockstar biography, Keith Richards: Under the Influence uses the structure of the old bluesman’s 2015 solo album as inspiration for a look back at his half-century career atop the pops.

“I ain’t a popstar anymore”, he says ironically if accurately. But he’s hardly …

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WikChip Video Keith @ the Press Conference, 9:20 in
Glen Campbell: ...
Great 66 Points 2014

Excuse me while I dry my eyes, Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me caused them to well-up on multiple occasions, when it wasn’t triggering deep nostalgia for a beloved entertainer. This loving documentary was made by the Rhinestone Cowboy’s family to share his struggles with Alzheimer’s before and during…

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WikChip Video Damn, he was some kinda great.
I'm Not There
OK 66 Points 2007

Faux Dylan for extreme Dylanologists, I’m Not The-Her-Here-There revels in tragic hipness. Unapologetic and willfully – aggressively – nostalgic, it rambles through distorted fields of Dylanology. Non fanatics should steer clear.

While the characters and storyline are takeoffs from the rea…

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WikChip Image Cate Plays Bob Best
What Happened, ...
Great 66 Points 2015

Nina Simone’s name and presence had occasionally penetrated my consciousness and always piqued my interest. Happily, this well done documentary finally brought her consequential music and politics alive.

Dubbed the High Priestess of Soul, she was a unique and uniquely transfixing artist, fusin…

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WikChip Video Liz Garbus on her Nina Simone doc
Miles Ahead
Very Good 66 Points 2015

A moviestar who directs himself playing an iconic figure in a dramatic biopic has a fool for a leading-man. Don Cheadle provides proof of this as Miles Davis in Miles Ahead, following in the footsteps of Kevin Spacey, who stubbed his toe directing himself as Bobby Darin in the similarly flawe…

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WikChip Video Kind of Blue is Kind of Perfect
The Lady in the...
Pretty Bad 66 Points 2015

Even the great Maggie Smith can’t save The Lady in the Van. Let’s repeat: Dame Maggie can’t save it! Perhaps that’s because she plays an angry old woman who’s beyond saving, sad as that common sight is.

Disclosure: I saw The Lady in the Van on the little tilt-down screens of a 737. It kind…

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WikChip Image Dame Maggie gets wasted.
Harry and Tonto
Great 66 Points 1974

Art Carney reached late career nirvana as Harry the cat lover in Harry and Tonto. Tonto? His ginger tabby. I prefer gray tabbies, so kinda understand his ardor. Carney won his sole Oscar as a gray-haired Best Actor.

Paul Mazursky’s second big directorial hit after “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice”…

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WikChip Video Art Carney peaks as Harry the cat lover.