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Trailer Review: Inside Job - Wall Street World

I'm a junkie for true stories of financial catastrophe, but since the great crisis, there's been such an overkill of analysis as to why it happened that I've declared bankruptcy on interest in the subject.

Now comes Charles Ferguson's doc on what happened. He's the one-time successful entrepreneur who turned his money into filmmaking with his first doc "No End in Sight" about the Iraq war. It's full of smart people talking about toxic assets and explaining how they knew it was coming which is nothing new. News clips of CEOs testifying before Congress saying it wasn't their fault has been repeated on cable like sports highlights. We finally get some insiders to reveal they knew things were going down.

Those are the money shots for a doc like this. Getting the rats to confess. Unfortunately, the one who wants to reveal all the secrets asks the camera be shut down. That's at the end of this trailer, and I wondered if the footage just continues with an audio track. I think I'm too burned out to want to know.

Opening October 8, 2010,Verdict: Wait for the Critics

Trailer Review: Casino Jack and the United States of Money - For Sale

I was surprised when reading the NY Times edition of its Summer Movies section this last Sunday how many documentaries are being released through August. But when you think about it again, it makes sense. We are so information driven that the format seems to complement our connected awareness of examining the facts around us. It's a visual form of internet search. A way to drill down into a subject. Also, the last decade was such a golden time of corruption in our country, it's not hard to find material.

Case in point is "Casino Jack and the United States of Money." This doc on Jack Abramoff and his lobbying through Washington is a classic profile of money and greed. The trailer is talking heads giving eyewitness tales to the deals Abramoff made with politicians. There's nothing surprising to what the trailer shows. It's point is that Washington is for sale. Really? I can't say I got excited about seeing this from the trailer since I read so much about it in the papers. Directed by Alex Gibney who's produced many well known documentaries, I'm sure it will become the definitive summary on Abramoff and a time capsule of Washington corruption. I hope it's popular, because there's opportunity for many sequels.

Opening May 7, 2010, Verdict: Wait for the Critics

Review: Crossing the Bridge - Movie Tourism

Last year, a German/Turkish film titled "Head On," was a critical hit on the film festival and independant theater circuit. The story was about the volcanic relationship between a young Turkish couple in Istanbul. Their charged relationship was powered not just by each other, but seemed also plugged into the restless culture of the city. Istanbul is historically known to be the fulcrum between the East and West, and it was the perfect metaphor for their kinetic affair. Another lasting memory was the music. The film was anchored by a traditional Turkish orchestra playing on the banks of the Bosphorus. This contrasted with scenes of the couple listening and sometimes dancing to the modern punk and electronic beats in the city's clubs. The soundtrack was an electrifying mix.

Now the director, Fatih Akin, has made a documentary about the sounds of that city. The trailer shows a quick succession of the artists performing. Punk, rock, hip-hop, muslim, and traditional Turkish music are the highlights of this tour through Istanbul's music scene. The guide is a bass player, Alexander Hacke, who looks like the main character from the director's previous film with his particular long hair and beard. It's not a great trailer, but it promises the sights and sounds of Istanbul. When traveling, a good way to get to know a place is to catch the scenery and try the local cuisine. Another way is to sample the music. "Crossing the Bridge" offers a nice vacation off the beaten path.

Opening June 9, 2006, Verdict: Matinee Fun