WIZKID: LONG LIVE LAGOS (2025, doc)

December 10, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. There may be no more effective way to change the outside world’s perspective of a culture or country than through music. That’s the path Wizkid is taking to re-introduce the world to his home country of Nigeria and transform the image. Documentarian Karam Gill continues his focus on those in the music industry who have loftier goals than just hit records.

The globalization of music has made it possible for just about anyone to listen to music from most any country and from most any artist. Wizkid, Nigerian born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, certainly looks the part … fancy clothes, plenty of bling, and fashion shades. More importantly, he’s a talented performer who connects with an audience through his Afrobeats. He’s been a star for about 15 years and broke through in the United States about five years ago.

Director Gill uses a scheduled concert at Tutenham Hotspur Stadium as structure for the film. The countdown to the big show includes Wizkid’s preparations as well as the challenge his mother faces with a cancer diagnosis. We see Wizkid as an Ambassador for Nigeria and begin to understand why he is held as a beacon of hope. The payoff for the build-up is that we see him in concert and watch as his fans groove en masse. The question is asked, “What do you stand for?”. It seems clear Wizkid is working to change the perception of Nigeria.

Premieres on HBO on December 11, 2025 as part of the Music Box Series

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Posted by David Ferguson

IT’S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY (2025, doc)

December 3, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. The Music Box series at HBO brings us this documentary from Amy Berg (Oscar nominated for DELIVER US FROM EVIL, 2006), who profiles the tragic tale of the immensely talented Jeff Buckley. When he died in 1997 at age 30, Buckley had only released one album, “Grace”. Many musicians and critics call it one of the best albums ever. This film tells us how he reached that level.

Throughout the film we hear stories and memories from Jeff’s mother, Mary Guibert, and his ex-girlfriends, Rebecca Moore and Joan Wasser. Mom recalls baby Jeff ‘vocalizing’ to the radio from his bassinet. She also explains how Jeff’s father, Tim, left to pursue his own career rather than stick around to be part of a family. Yes, you might recognize the name Tim Buckley. He was a popular musician who died at age 28 from a heroin overdose. Seventeen-year-old single mom, Mary, and Jeff ‘raised each other’ and Jeff always had a close bond with mom. Young Jeff even got to see his dad perform once, and ultimately sang at his dad’s funeral.

Much of the film is dedicated to detailing how Jeff honed the skills to sync with his other-worldly singing voice. He was a poetic songwriter in the vein of Bob Dylan and Morrissey, while Soundgarden and Led Zeppelin influenced his musical style. Just to highlight his uniqueness, Jeff also covered Nina Simone, and is best remembered for his haunting cover of Leonard Cohen’s iconic “Hallelujah”. Singer Aimee Mann (‘Til Tuesday) also provides some perspective from a musician’s viewpoint.

One of my favorite nuggets here is how Jeff found a good (re)use for Michael Bolton cassettes, but a key point is how his tremendous debut album was so unique that it proved to be an uneasy fit for radio play. Director Berg includes a great deal of archival footage that I’d never seen – both concerts and interviews. Jeff was a young man who suffered from depression, and would likely receive better treatment these days. His death in Wolf River in Memphis still seems a bit confusing in light of how he had spent the previous couple of weeks. We hear the final voicemail he left for his mother, and it’s heartbreaking. Music was Jeff’s entire being, and a reminder that some souls simply burn too hot to last long.

Premieres on HBO on December 4, 2025

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Posted by David Ferguson

PAUL ANKA: HIS WAY (2025, doc)

December 2, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. “The needle in the arm.” That’s how Paul Anka describes the will and the need to carry on after all of these years. How many years, you ask … well, he’s the only singer/songwriter to have a Billboard charting song in seven consecutive decades. Paul Anka is now 84 years old and documentarian John Maggio shows us that Anka is still going strong, still touring, still writing songs, and still loving what he does.

The Canadian born Anka came to the United States with $100 in his pocket and almost immediately signed a recording contract. Not long after, he had his first number one hit, “Diana”, and became part of the new wave of teen idols with Pat Boone, Frankie Avalon, and Bobby Darin. This was on the heels of the legendary Rat Pack – Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, and Dean Martin. Musical tastes were evolving, and one thing that stands out in this documentary is Paul Anka’s ability and desire to evolve. When the British Invasion hit (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, etc), Anka transitioned from teen idol to renowned songwriter, actor, and international entertainer.

Director Maggio chooses wisely in putting Paul Anka front and center and walk us through this fabulous and unique career that began in the 1950’s and continues today. Anka is direct and charismatic and honest as he walks us through the various phases. How fascinating that one man has written over 900 songs, recorded more than 130 albums and sold more than 90 million units. How many songwriters can say they have had their songs recorded by Frank Sinatra, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Linda Ronstadt, Michael Jackson, and even Doja Cat, Justin Timberlake, and Drake? And that’s just naming a few and leaves out the highly familiar theme song to “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”.

What’s truly remarkable is that Paul Anka’s career would be documentary-worthy if it only covered his personal career (which began at age 15) of performing on stage (which he still does). Sure, he’s the guy who wrote “My Way” (at age 25), but hearing Anka tell the story behind the song is a thrill. Anka is matter-of-fact when discussing his first divorce, as well as the challenges of balancing family life with the career. He seems humble when discussing his accomplishments with Frankie Avalon, and serious when informing us of his commitment to health all these years. This remarkable man continues to live a remarkable life … and he’s done it ‘his way’.

Premieres on HBO on December 1, 2025

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Posted by David Ferguson

YOU GOT GOLD: A CELEBRATION OF JOHN PRINE (2025, doc)

November 25, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. “Celebration” is the best description and an apt title for this film from Michael John Warren. It’s not a profile of the great songwriter, John Prine; however, it’s most certainly a celebration of his immense and unique talent. And who better to celebrate and pay tribute than some of the musicians and songwriters who have been so influenced by his work?

In October 2022, a couple of years after Prine passed away from COVID complications, a two-night concert event was held at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. More than seventy performers lined up to go on stage and pay tribute to the legendary songwriter. Most performed Prine’s songs, while some performed their own originals which they didn’t hesitate to mention were influenced by Prine’s astounding style of telling stories grounded in reality. His was true Americana music, and these performers were proud of their connection – whether it was decades long like Bonnie Raitt, or more recent like Kacey Musgraves.

A steady stream of well-known performers take their turn on stage to pay their respect through music. Just a partial list includes: Bonnie Raitt, Lyle Lovitt, Brandi Carlile, Steve Earle, Bob Weir, Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakim, and Jason Isbell. One of the surprising highlights was I’m With Her performing “Unwed Father”, but of course my favorite moments were clips of John Prime himself. We see archival footage from 1978 Austin City Limits, and then a clip from 1980 where Prine performs the touching “Hello in There”. And don’t worry, we are treated to Bonnie Raitt (with help from Carlisle) singing “Angel From Montgomery”.

Many of the performers, including son Tommy Prine, gather on stage for a finale which smoothly transitions to a clip of John Prine singing “Paradise”. Someone states John Prine’s music is “good for the soul and the ear”, and it’s clear we “miss you in the morning light like roses miss the dew.” Balloon drop.

Opens in NYC on November 28, followed by a nationwide release.

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Posted by David Ferguson

THE SHUFFLE (2025, doc)

November 25, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. Which pro football team had a hit song that reached number 41 on the pop charts and was awarded a gold record? Well, if you were around in 1985, you probably know it was the Chicago Bears and their song, “The Super Bowl Shuffle”. Director Jeff Cameron (“Hard Knocks”) in partnership with NFL Films proceeds to tell us more than we ever cared to know about the team, the song, and the video.

The film opens with the 12-0 Bears headed to Miami to play on Monday Night Football. As Jim McMahon says, that “was not our night”. The perfect season was no longer possible after Dan Marino and the Dolphins won 38-24. The nugget of information that makes this interesting is that it was the day after this game when the Bears were scheduled to film their music video. You can imagine the mood of the team had changed. Willie Gault knew linebacker Mike Singletary was key to uniting the guys and keeping to the commitment.

Mix Engineer Fred Breitberg is interviewed and spills a bit of trivia when he lets us know that the song was adapted from “The Kingfish Shuffle”, part of “The Amos ‘n Andy Show” (from the 1950’s). It was Jovan CEO Dick Meyer who had the brainstorm for the music video, and his surviving spouse lets us know that was her in the referee uniform blowing the whistle in the video (another bit of trivia). Sportswriter Rick Telander provides some perspective on the times and the impact of the Bears and video … they were media stars.

We do get to go behind the scenes (on set) as the video is filmed, and it’s pretty funny to watch these sports giants struggle to get the dance steps down. Poor Leslie Frazier is crowned the team’s worst dancer and takes a bit of grief from his teammates, as you would expect. Then we see Walter Payton and Jim McMahon superimposed over the team portion, as they both skipped the initial filming. Was the team challenging karma by recording the video prior to qualifying for the Super Bowl? Or were they just confident? Either way, Singletary firmly believes the project led to a deep bonding with teammates that never would have happened without the video.

This was the MTV era and the video (VHS) and record (45 rpm) went viral – well what was considered viral in the pre-internet days. The team raised over $300,000 for Chicago Community Trust (a charity) and ultimately lost the Grammy to a fellow from Minneapolis that went by the name Prince. After the Bears trounced the Patriots in the Super Bowl, it left us wondering if the lyrics were misleading … it certainly seemed like this team really was there to start some trouble. A final piece of buried trivia that the film uncovers is that the Patriots actually responded with a video of their own. No one seemed to notice.

Debuts November 25, 2025 on HBO

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Posted by David Ferguson

THE SESSION MAN (2025, doc)

November 20, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. This sounds less like a music trivia question and more like a trick question: Who played with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, Jefferson Airplane, Harry Nilsson, Joe Cocker, Jeff Beck, Badfinger, Art Garfunkel, Graham Parker, and on solo albums by all four Beatles? Of course, if you are a fan of music from the 1960’s and 1970’s, you likely know it’s not a trick and the answer is the amazing and talented keyboardist, Nicky Hopkins.

First time director Michael Treen provides a platform for musicians and performers to pay tribute to “the legendary Nicky Hopkins.” And what they do is gush over Hopkins’ talent. Perhaps the best compliment given is that Hopkins was never the star – he just made the song better. And by ‘the song’, it refers to the fact that he played on more than 250 albums by various bands and musicians. Hopkins was the studio musician extraordinaire. He even periodically played live shows, and Treen includes some clips of Hopkins performing on stage.

As a child prodigy, Nicky studied classical music and later transitioned those remarkable skills into other genres. Treen includes various clips of a 1991 interview with Hopkins, so that viewers better understand the reserved personality of this keyboard genius. Beyond the input from the musicians who worshipped his ability, we hear from his widow who clearly adored him. It’s here where we learn of his drug abuse, alcoholism, and subsequent rehab. And by this time, we are quite aware of the lifelong health issues accentuated by Nicky’s early onset Crohn’s disease … the complications of which contributed to his too-soon death at age 50.

Hopkins may be best remembered for his contributions to fourteen albums by The Rolling Stones, and I always think of him when I hear “Revolution” by The Beatles. Only this year was Nicky Hopkins finally inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. He can now forever be remembered as the musician who just made the song better. In fact, it’s mentioned that Hopkins believed he was Frederic Chopin reincarnated … who are we to argue?

In UK cinemas beginning November 21, 2025

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Posted by David Ferguson

THOUGHTS & PRAYERS (2025, doc)

November 16, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. Why do 95% of schools have lockdown drills? Why are active shooter defense products a $3 billion industry? Why do thirty states allow teachers to carry firearms? Well, the answer is pretty simple and is clearly stated by one of the students interviewed: because more of us care more about our gun rights than the safety of children. That’s one of the heartbreaking points that comes from this documentary by co-directors Zackary Canepari and Jessica Dimmock.

We see shelter shutters designed to block visibility on classroom windows. There are robotic dogs meant to sound the alert and keep students safe. A demonstration shows how a table turns into a bullet proof body shield – meant for those without access to the mobile type. Gun violence has become so normalized and expected that we now run drills for students as early as kindergarten … leaving teachers and parents to explain to kids that can’t yet read why they need to be quiet and take cover.

How to survive an active shooter in America means teachers go through gun training and run drills on how to protect themselves and students. And you thought Algebra was stressful. Some of this is incredibly realistic and all of it is quite serious and focused – we can tell by the facial expressions, both young and old. The stated goal is to create muscle memory in case action is ever needed. One of the students mentions that the drills for shooting are similar to what one might do for tornadoes or hurricanes (and we note how those are natural disasters as contrasted with human-induced).

Archival footage of previous school shootings is shown, and we never adjust to the looks of panic during these clips. We even get a glimpse of the Edge video game, produced by the Department of Homeland Security … yet another way to reach kids and instill the importance of preparation. It’s unlikely any drill of video game can replace the shock and terror of a real shooter event. At least we hope not. While all of this is painful and heartbreaking to watch, the real world is such that these products, tools, and drills play an important role. “Thoughts and Prayers” may be one of the most overused phrases these days, but this documentary is a sobering reminder of what our society has become, and what our teachers and students must endure.

Premieres on HBO this Tuesday, November 18, 2025

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Posted by David Ferguson

THE MERCHANTS OF JOY (2025, doc)

November 15, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. The thing I love about documentaries is that so many tell stories that might otherwise not be told. Quite often, we don’t even realize there is a story to be told, which is the case with this latest from Celia Aniskovich about selling Christmas trees. If you’ve ever strolled the streets of Manhattan in December, then you know there’s no place like NYC at Christmas. Maneuvering through the mass of people becomes more challenging thanks to the street vendors lining the sidewalks selling Christmas trees. And there’s the story.

It turns out there are groups that own the tree stands. They are referred to as “the Five Families”, and each has found their own path to the sidewalk. The film introduces us to the five groups … well technically to four of them, as one (the largest), only appears via phone recordings instead of an on-camera interview. Each of these ‘frenemies’ recounts their own story: NYC Trees, Uptown Christmas Trees, the NY Tree Lady, and Greg’s Trees.

Aniskovich allows these stories to unfold in a naturalistic way (leading us to believe that quite a bit was edited out of the final version). Big Greg started his business at age 21, and now his son, Little Greg, has joined him. They also operate stands for roses and pumpkins in order to have business year-round. George (NYC Trees) was previously employed by Big Greg, and is quite a hustler in his own right – adding a carnival to his bag of tricks. Jane and George are from Vermont and have run Uptown Christmas Trees for 49 years. They are transitioning the business to their daughter Ciree, and have quite a colorful business motto! Heather is known as the NY Tree Lady, and despite a periodic show of nerves, she seems successful and quite charitable in her treatment of others.

These folks and their stories are so interesting that we don’t even feel a void with the refusal of big time Kevin Hammer (100 lots) to join in the documentary festivities. We hear about trade secrets and turf wars and mafia involvement, but mostly we hear from real people doing real work. It’s a bit surprising to learn of the emotional stress, but they each seem aware that they are selling moments in time and Christmas spirit … one tree at a time. Aniskovich was inspired by Owen Long’s article “Secrets of the Christmas Tree Trade” (The Epic Magazine & New York Magazine), and leaves us with Jane’s motto, ‘Sell the %^&&*(# tree!

Premieres at DOC NYC on November 14, 2025 and will stream on Prime Video beginning December 1, 2025

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Posted by David Ferguson

STEVE SCHAPIRO: BEING EVERYWHERE (2025, doc)

November 14, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. Historians record events for future generations. We tend to think of history as what we read on the page in books, yet it’s the photographers who often bring those words to life – delivering visuals that hit home and make the past so memorable. Few photographers have done it better or for a longer period of time or across a more diverse cross-section than photojournalist Steve Schapiro.

Maura Smith, Schapiro’s wife of 40 years (until his death in 2022 at age 87) has crafted a loving documentary and tribute to him, while also conveying what an incredibly interesting life he led. She put her charming husband on camera and let him tell the stories associated with his photographs. This is a man entrenched in movie stills, movie posters, celebrity and VIP portraits, and the Civil Rights Movement … including the March on Washington and the Selma to Montgomery march. His photographs were published in all the major magazines (often on the cover) of the times, and his movie work included such films as MIDNIGHT COWBOY, THE GODFATHER, CHINATOWN, and TAXI DRIVER (to name a few). Schapiro even sits on the white sofa that was used for sessions during RISKY BUSINESS and FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF.

Many of the faces from his work are easily recognizable: James Baldwin, Andy Warhol, David Bowie, Barbara Streisand, Muhammad Ali – plus musicians such as Frank Zappa, The Velvet Underground, Ike and Tina Turner, Ray Charles, and Frank Sinatra. It’s fascinating to listen as Schapiro recounts some of his freelance assignments, and his time with Bobby Kennedy is especially detailed and interesting … in fact his memories about the Civil Rights Movement are what elevate his work. His after-the-tragedy recollections of going through the Lorraine Hotel after Martin Luther King’s assassination are gut-wrenching. Schapiro states that the perfect photograph is a blend of emotion, design, and information … much like his life.

Opens in NYC on November 14, 2025 and then rolls out nationwide

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Posted by David Ferguson

THE SIEGE OF APE CANYON (2025, doc)

November 12, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. According to one of those interviewed, this isn’t just a Bigfoot story … it’s THE Bigfoot story! The film is directed by Eli Watson (not his first Bigfoot project) and produced by Seth Breedlove, the founder of Small Town Monsters – a production company with projects in the vein of the old “In Search of …” series.

It was 1924, in the shadows of Mount Saint Helens in Washington state, when a group of gold prospectors led by a man named Fred Beck claimed to be attacked by a bunch of large, hairy, ape-like creatures. The men were under siege in a cabin near the mine as they fired their guns at the rock-throwing creatures … creatures henceforth referred to as Mountain Devils. This encounter, or stories of this encounter, created one of the most infamous Bigfoot stories of all time. Director Watson includes a black & white reenactment of this ‘siege in Ape Canyon.

We meet Marc Myrsell, an avid researcher who, 50 years after the attack, began looking into the story to determine if any evidence might exist to shift the legend into local history. The search initially focused on proving the existence of the cabin, and then of the gold mine. Mr. Myrsell admits, ‘no good research project is ever done”, and after 100 years have passed, he remains diligent in his quest to discover any shreds of evidence.

Some relatives of the mining team from 1924 are located, and discussions and revelations occur. Of course, for anyone seeking proof of Bigfoot, Sasquatch, or Mountain Devils, the search continues. At a minimum, we meet some interesting and dedicated folks and see some breathtaking views.

Available on VOD (including Prime Video) beginning November 11, 2025

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Posted by David Ferguson

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