ALEX VS AROD (2025)

November 5, 2025

HBO Documentary 3-episode mini-series

Greetings again from the darkness. Over 3000 hits. Almost 700 Home Runs (696). 3 MVP awards. A 14 time All-Star. A World Series champion. There is no debate that Alex Rodriguez was one of the greatest baseball players of all time. It’s just that every other aspect of ARod’s life is up for animated debate, and that’s what this 3-part series from co-directors Gotham Chopra (numerous sports documentaries) and Erik LeDrew attempts to explore.

The three episodes are not clearly defined by time or segments of ARod’s life or career, yet by the end, it feels like most every aspect has been covered – although, outside of his marriage to Cynthia Scurtis, his infamous love life is skimmed over (Cameron Diaz, Torre Wilson, Anne Wojcicki, Jennifer Lopez). The focus here is on baseball and, as the title infers, the two personalities of Alex “ARod” Rodriguez. One of the first clips shown is Rodriguez being questioned about his PED (Performance Enhancement Drugs) suspension. He immediately responds by telling the interviewer he will give two answers and to use the one he thinks is best. So, from the opening pitch, we see the two sides of the man.

The first episode relays the good … the youngest player to 500 home runs … and the bad … the record 211 game suspension for PED. His former manager, Lou Pinella (now 82) delivers a brief scouting report recalling the prodigal talent of the number one overall draft pick of the Mariners in 1993. ARod made his major league debut in 1994 at the age of eighteen. We hear from his brother who says Alex was a baseball junkie at an early age and spent a great deal of time talking baseball with their dad. The childhood was unusual in that the family moved from New York to the Dominican Republic when Alex was four and then to Miami a few years later. Dad left the family when Alex was ten, and only ever saw him play four MLB games in person. Instead, it was Mom’s ‘tough love’ that helped raise Alex. In this episode, we also hear from Alex’s first wife, Cynthia, and the segment ends with ARod becoming a Free Agent in 2000 and signing a massive $252 million deal thanks to is agent, Scott Boras, and the owner of the Texas Rangers, Tom Hicks.

It’s commonplace for celebrities to have a public persona that’s a bit different than their private persona, yet in the second episode, Alex’s brother claims there are two distinct personalities present … even Alex admits that ‘ARod’ took over when the pressure of ‘$252’ got to him. Of course, that pressure jumped quickly when the Rangers traded him to the New York Yankees. Ego comes up frequently when discussing ARod, but he did agree to move from SS to 3B in order to fit in with the Yankees, allowing their captain, Derek Jeter, to remain at his position. The trade took place in 2004, which is also the year Alex’s daughter Natasha was born. The personal joy contrasted with the professional challenge of meeting Jeter’s relentless playoff mentality and the rivalry against the Red Sox. One of the film’s most fascinating segments occurs when Katie Couric recounts her meeting with ARod. She uses the term “Gatsbyesque” when describing him. This second episode also includes the relief ARod felt when the Yanks won the 2009 world series … justifying his recent $275 million contract extension. His hip surgery is mentioned, and we get the lead into the third episode – an into to the PED report.

Stressed in episode three is ARod’s lifelong love of the game. He hit home run number 600 in 2010, two years after his divorce from Cynthia. It’s in this episode where his relationship with therapist Dr David Snarch in Colorado and the BioGenesis PED scandal with Tony Bosch becomes clear. Although ARod was an aging player who had been hit with a few injuries, the rules in baseball were clear … PEDs were not allowed. It’s around this time when the nicknames began: A-Droid, A-Fraud, A-Hole, etc. After missing the entire 2014 season, he returned to the field in 2015 … this time as a full-time DH, and retired after the 2016 season.

Throughout the series, we hear insight from a number of folks, including ARod’s brother, former manager Lou Pinella, former teammates Derek Jeter and Ken Griffey Jr., his ex-wife Cynthia, Yankees announcer Michael Kay, and sportswriter Mike Francesa. And Alex Rodriguez sits for multiple interviews as well, bits and pieces of which are included. It should be noted that after all the talk regarding ARod’s love of the game, when his playing days ended, he transitioned into a key piece of an Emmy winning sports broadcasting team. There is probably less actual baseball in this series than you’d expect, as it’s more of a character study … of quite a character. As one of the sport’s greatest ever players, he remains one of its most polarizing figures .. yet he’s also one of the most knowledgeable and experienced. He’s described as a Shakespearean figure -one responsible for his own fall from grace.

The Three episodes will air on HBO and then be available for streaming on HBO Max

Episode 1: November 6, 2025 9:00pm ET

Episode 2: November 13, 2025 9:00pm ET

Episode 3: November 20, 2025 9:00pm ET

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Posted by David Ferguson

COUNTRY DOCTOR (2025, doc short)

October 27, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. With healthcare in the headlines most every day, this 37 minute documentary short film from co-directors Shari Cookson and Nick Doob couldn’t be more timely, nor more important. Rather than present a general overview of the crisis in rural America, the filmmakers present one specific real world case study from tiny Fairfax, Oklahoma, with a focus on the local doctor and the foundering hospital.

Dr. James Graham (not ‘Moonlight’ for you FIELD OF DREAMS fans) has practiced in the area for 41 years and has treated multiple generations of residents. Despite growing up poor and having had two kidney transplants himself, Dr. Graham is one of two doctors at the Fairfax hospital. He’s also the only doctor providing service to the local nursing home and three clinics … and he makes house calls and gives out hugs and philosophy (hope) to patients in need. It’s not unusual for his patients to pay him with fresh produce from their own gardens … sometimes secretly delivering these to the back end of his truck. This community knows how fortunate they are to have Dr. Graham, and it’s obvious he cares deeply about providing care to these neighbors – many he’s known since they were born.

Filming of this story dates back to pre-pandemic, and Dr. Graham mentions how many patients were lost due to COVID and the limitations brought on by the struggling hospital. It was a hosptial run by a group/individual who committed fraud and apparently put little effort toward medical care, the efficient running of the hospital, or the proper management of staff. Dr. Graham went as far as to speak directly with state politicians to explain the situation. He was met with, “Let us know if we can help …”, the infamous empty words politicians have become known for. The hospital was put up for auction, and the film covers the fascinating process. When a group run by Newport Beach (California) physician Dr. Elizabeth Pusey won the bid, skepticism was noted by Dr. Graham, the community, and the local newspaper. Capital improvements and infrastructure expansion began, yet communication from Dr. Pusey’s group was minimal.

What makes this documentary so powerful is that it’s a real-world example of what’s occurring around the country. So many citizens are at risk. More than 140 rural hospitals have closed since 2010, and more than 600 others remain at risk. It’s a travesty that the elected officials don’t share the humanity displayed on a daily basis by Dr. James Graham.

This documentary short premieres on HBO beginning October 28, 2025

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Posted by David Ferguson

LUV YA’, BUM! (2025, doc)

October 23, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. It’s unusual for a documentary to credit three directors, but these three have been involved with some of the best Texas-based documentaries. Sam Wainwright Douglas, David Hartstein, and Andrew Alden Miller have each worked on at least one of these: HONKY TONK HEAVEN: THE LEGEND OF THE BROKEN SPOKE (2016), TOWER (2016), FADERS UP: THE JOHN AIELLI EXPERIENCE (2024), and ALONG CAME KINKY … TEXAS JEWBOY FOR GOVERNOR (2009). This time, their collaboration gives us a history lesson on legendary football coach O.A. “Bum” Phillips.

The film opens with a stream of acclamations for Bum from a lineup of folks who would know: former opponents, former players, league coaches, and even an owner. The raving compliments in the opening and throughout the runtime are delivered by such football luminaries as Terry Bradshaw, Dan Pastorini, Earl Campbell, Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips, Wes Phillips, JJ Watt, Archie and Peyton Manning, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, Elvin Bethea, Mike Barber, Mike Renfro, Gary Kubiak, and Von Miller. Dennis Quaid serves as the narrator.

The title would lead us to believe that this is a documentary on Bum Phillips, and while he and his career are profiled, this is every bit as much about the Houston Oilers, the rabid fan base, and Bum’s influence on players and coaches, and his son and grandson. It’s clear that Nederland High School football coach Bum Phillips learned a great deal from then A&M coach Bear Bryant, and the impressive thing about Bum’s career is how he took the knowledge from Bryant and Bum’s other coaching gigs and turned it into his own style … and a successful professional coaching career.

Archival footage captures the excitement of the ‘Luv ya Blue’ period in Houston, as Bum guided the Oilers into prominence. During Bum’s tenure (1975-1980), the Oilers fans were the envy of the league as they waved their banners from a sea of blue in the Astrodome. They even had a Houston Oilers anthem (surely annoying for fans of any other team). The Oilers rivalry with the dominant Steelers is discussed, and numerous players offer insight into what it was like to play for Bum. There is even a full segment on former Longhorn and all-time Oiler great, Earl Campbell. We hear from Earl and see footage of some of his amazing runs. Bum’s famous quote about Earl, “I don’t know if he’s in a class by himself, but I do know that when the class gets together, it sure don’t take long to call the roll.” And of course, the Mike Renfro catch/non-catch is shown.

With his familiar Stetson and Texas drawl, Bum Phillips was a popular icon. Clips of interviews with his son Wade and grandson Wes, both successful NFL coaches (and each with a Super Bowl ring) demonstrate just what an influence Bum was for them … even after he retired to his ranch. While we leave this viewing understanding that Bum was an excellent coach and well-respected, we also are confident he was a class act. For a man who had nearly as many memorable quotes as Yogi Berra (although Bum’s made a bit more sense), the film leaves us with this one: “Winning is only half of it … having fun is the other half.”

Winner of the 2025 SXSW Documentary Spotlight Audience Award, the film is set to premiere in select theaters across the country on October 24, 2025, followed by a digital release on November 25 

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Posted by David Ferguson

WISDOM OF HAPPINESS (2025, doc)

October 16, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. Co-directors Philip Delaquis and Barbara Miller opt against an on-camera Q&A session with the Dalai Lama and instead allow His Holiness (the 14th Dalai Lama) to speak directly to the camera on topics pertinent to what’s happening in the 21st century. This approach allows the film and his words to wash over us like a meditative event … calm and soothing. His words not only guide us on ways to chill out, but also inspire us to pay close attention to the current situation.

He opens by stating that “everyone wants peace and happiness”. While logically, we believe this, yet the actions of some, leave us doubtful. Still, going with that premise, the Dalai Lama proceeds to stress the importance of finding a peaceful mind through deep breathing, compassion, education, and the power of nature. The filmmakers include some amazing archival footage dating back to his childhood and the upheaval in China that led him (and so many others) to be refugees to India, where he remains today at age 90.

Obviously, this isn’t a ‘normal’ movie, or even a typical documentary. More than anything it’s a reminder … a recommendation to reset our approach. We are so caught up in what he terms “busy, busy, busy” that it causes us stress and concern, leading to unhappiness. He says peace is the way to happiness, which is our purpose in life. By peace, he refers to a peaceful mind as well as a lack of war/conflict (resolved through dialogue) and a caring approach to our planet and environment.

What a different world this would be if global leaders took the Dalai Lama’s approach of compassion and kindness into their governing of nations.

Opening in select theaters nationwide on October 17, 2025

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Posted by David Ferguson

ARE WE GOOD? (2025, doc)

October 3, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. Marc Maron is the rare comedian who can make you laugh and make you think, while also making you feel beat down … and often sad for him. Maron has done stand-up comedy. He’s acted in TV series (“GLOW”) and even had his own series (2013-16). You might have seen him acting in movies (THE ORDER, 2024) or perhaps heard his voice acting (THE BAD GUYS franchise). And beyond that, he may be best known as a trailblazer in the world of podcasts – his “WTF” launched in 2009 at a time when few even knew what a podcast was.

Director Steven Feinartz has quite a track record with comedy specials (Bill Burr, Eddie Pepitone, Steve Byrne, etc.), but this documentary is something a bit different. The film kicks off in 2020 as Maron (along with everyone else) is trying to figure out the new rules that go with COVID. It’s also the year Maron’s romantic partner and soul mate, director Lynn Shelton died. Ms. Shelton directed numerous TV shows as well as some movies (SWORD OF TRUST, 2019, which also starred Maron). The camera catches Maron’s emotional response to her death and then follows as that grief sticks with him.

Much of what we see on screen is Maron using comedy and his work to process his grief. Directly to the camera he questions whether this is proper or not – is it an abuse of her memory? Maron’s podcast has featured many guests over the years, including Paul McCartney and Robin Williams … even Barack Obama showed up to tape a show in Maron’s garage studio. Not surprisingly, Lynn Shelton was a podcast guest back in 2015. But this is something different. We are watching a guy dealing with loss. It all seems real, yet how are we to know for sure. That ending certainly catches us off guard – not that we don’t wish him happiness.

It’s quite interesting to watch as Maron goes back on stage in 2021. One 2022 segment features actor/comedian Patton Oswalt recounting the loss of his wife and sharing the emotions of grief with Maron. It’s a powerful segment that ends too quickly. Fellow comedians John Mulaney, Nate Bargatze, and David Cross contribute, and Maron discloses some personal baggage: his love of cats, his use of cocaine in the 1980’s, being sober since 1999, and having ex-wives. One of my favorite parts involves his dad jokes – jokes specifically for his dad, who was in the audience for a show. Maron’s 60th birthday party wraps things up, and though we aren’t exactly sure what we’ve watched – it’s certainly more personal than most celebrities would accept.

Utopia will release the film in theaters in NY and LA on October 3rd and nationwide theatrical events on October 5th & 8th.

The theatrical releasee will coincide with the end of Maron’s enormously popular podcast WTF. 16 years in, WTF is one of the most streamed and longest running podcasts of all time.

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Posted by David Ferguson

CHAIN REACTIONS (2025, doc)

September 24, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. OK, so this tribute to the 50th anniversary of THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE may seem a year late, but it was actually an award winner at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. This documentary has now gained distribution and will finally show for an audience that remains so loyal and respectful of that original film from director Tobe Hooper (who passed away in 2017). Documentarian Alexandre O Phillippe has a nice track record of exploring popular films, including his superb 78/52 (2017), which surgically analyzed the iconic shower scene in Hitchcock’s masterpiece, PSYCHO.

Fittingly, this documentary opens on a clip of Hooper’s original film from 1974. It then takes a unique approach by dividing this into five chapters, each with insight and observations from one particular person of interest.

Chapter One features comedian-actor Patton Oswalt describing his first viewing of the film. With his rare brand of humor, Oswalt provides a surprisingly in-depth perspective on the film, while making some spot-on comparisons to the original NOSFERATU, and the Bulgarian classic, MAN BITES DOG. He even opens our eyes to some similarities to the staircase scene in GONE WITH THE WIND … the first time I’ve ever heard “Chain Saw” and GWTW mentioned in the same sentence. Especially worth noting is Oswalt emphasizing the importance of the fantastic Art Direction from the late Robert Burns’.

Chapter Two puts Japanese filmmaker Takashi Mike in the spotlight. Best known for his films, ICHI THE KILLER (2001) and 13 ASSASSINS (2010), he explains how his younger self was a huge fan of Bruce Lee, which developed his interest in cinema. He then recalls a fascinating tale of showing up to a sold-out screening of Chaplin’s CITY LIGHTS, and how fate took him around the block to his first-ever viewing of “Chain Saw”. This opened his eyes to how movies could be dangerous … and then he details the technical aspects of shooting on 16mm and blowing it up for the big screen to achieve the ‘grainy’ look.

Chapter Three brings us Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, a renowned film critic from Australia. She provides a bit of a history lesson, recalling the “Chain Saw” was banned for years in Australia, and when she finally saw it, the source was a well worn and yellowed version which she compared to the heat of the Outback. In her discussion, she mentions Peter Weir’s fantastic classic PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK (1975). Both can be labeled a bit avant-garde as films that make you FEEL something.

Chapter Four could have been the most entertaining section, but unfortunately, the great horror writer Stephen King spent entirely too much time talking about other films. Rather than focus on THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, Mr. King rattles off other great film titles like THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, THE SHINING, THE HAUNTING, THE INNOCENTS, and POLTERGEIST. Fortunately, he does bring Edgar Allan Poe into the conversation.

Chapter Five, the final section, finds filmmaker Karyn Kusama (GIRLFIGHT, 2000; DESTROYER, 2018) focusing on the primal nature of Tobe Hooper’s film, while also educating us on the landscape of myth. Ms. Kusama makes an excellent observation about the opening crawl in “Chain Saw” … it really does plant the seed of “a true story” in our mind.

In 1974, director Tobe Hooper released what would shockingly become an American Masterpiece, THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE. All these years later, the film still frightens viewers and continues to influence new generations of filmmakers. With an unusual approach, documentarian Alexandre O Phillippe pays tribute to the filmmaker and his work by giving artists a platform to explain what the film means to them. Good stuff … except for that meat hook (gets me every time)!

This documentary opened in New York and Los Angeles on September 19, 2025 and expands nationwide on September 26, 2025

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Posted by David Ferguson

NAKED AMBITION (2025, doc)

September 11, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. Most of us scoot through life never being labeled as “the prettiest” anything. That’s fine. We accept it. Still, we apply the label periodically and it was Bunny Yeager who was known as “the world’s prettiest photographer”. Not many would argue with the designation as Ms. Yeager was an incredibly talented photographer, while also being described as a bombshell … a pinup model and actress herself.

Co-directors Dennis Scholl and Kareem Tabsch previously collaborated on THE LAST RESORT (2018), and both are known for their focus on unconventional subjects. Bunny is no exception as she made her name in a male-dominated field after moving behind the camera from in front of it. If you are unfamiliar with Bunny, she was a popular pinup model who became famous for her work as a pinup photographer. You might ask how. Not only did she photograph multiple Playboy magazine centerfolds, her most well-known and popular subject was the very famous and immensely popular Bettie Page. Oh yes, Bunny also appeared in the magazine as a model herself.

Whether you are a connoisseur of Bettie Page’s poses or not, you likely know another of Bunny’s most well-known photographs … that of Ursula Andress emerging from the sea in DR. NO (1962), the first James Bond movie. It’s truly an iconic cinematic shot. In keeping with this particular shot, Bunny is also linked to the increasing popularity of bikinis for women … both in design and in mainstreaming. Bunny became a master of outdoor photography by defeating the confounding issue of natural lighting – giving her photographs a distinct look and feel.

The filmmakers include some archival interviews (including Bunny and Page), and we see commentary from Larry King, Dita Von Teese, Bruce Weber, and even Hugh Hefner. However, what kicks this documentary up a notch (in addition to the dozens of photographs) is the input from Bunny’s two daughters. It’s fascinating to hear the two very different viewpoints from the women who were raised by Bunny. One finds her mother’s work demeaning and exploitive of women, while the other has acted to preserve her mother’s legacy, and is quite proud of mom’s career.

‘Career’ feels like underselling what Bunny accomplished. Sure, she was an in-demand model. Yes, she was a famous photographer. However, she also had an acting career, and authored numerous books that have influenced photographers (including Diane Arbus), even to this day. Bunny Yeager’s ambition and dedication deserve to be celebrated along with her technical proficiency and artistic eye. It should also be noted that as tastes careened towards the extreme in the 1970’s, Bunny refused to transition into the pornography world, despite the promise of big paydays. This was a territory that held no interest to her. Bunny Yeager, the world’s prettiest photographer, deserves to be remembered.

Opens in theaters on September 12, 2025

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Posted by David Ferguson

RIEFENSTAHL (2025, doc)

September 5, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. Having one’s name or work associated Hitler typically (but somehow not always these days) marks one as a pariah or persona non grata. For artists, the rules can be a bit blurred, and filmmaker Andres Veiel takes on the story of Leni Riefenstahl, in hopes of removing some of the blur.

Leni Riefenstahl was a former actress who became the Reich’s preeminent filmmaker best known as the director of TRIUMPH OF THE WILL (1935), the ultimate propaganda film for the Nazi party, and OLYMPIA (1938), her version of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Having access to her private family archives, filmmaker Veiel takes the deepest dive yet into her life and approach. He opens with her appearance on a 1978 talk show where she is asked if she now considers her association with Hitler to have been a mistake. She bows her head and the clip is cut before we hear the answer (if there was one), though the remainder of the documentary uses her own words and actions to pretty much answer the question.

There have been other films about Leni. The most well-known is probably Ray Muller’s THE WONDERFUL, HORRIBLE LIFE OF LENI RIEFENSTAHL (1993), which Veiel references here. Still, nothing previous feeds us the wealth of photos and video clips served up by Veiel, offering such a full profile of one of the most controversial people from the WWII era. It should be noted that Leni died in 2003 at age 101, so she lived many decades of facing scrutiny and scorn. During her interviews and appearances on talk shows, very little attention was paid to the innovative filmmaking techniques she used in her work, but rather the attention was on her affiliation with Nazis, especially her ‘friendly’ relationship with Hitler.

Photos of her with Hitler and Goebbels are shown, and the backlash from Goebbels’ diaries are discussed. There is also a segment on Albert Speer, part of Hitler’s inner circle and one of the war criminals sentenced at the Nuremburg trials. What we notice is that Leni was no wallflower. She often spoke her mind, and continued to hang her hat on the “art” label … going so far as to state (in 1980) that ‘art is the opposite of politics.’ This defense likely eased her conscience a bit, but we can’t help but be stunned when she claims “Peace” was the theme of her TRIUMPH OF THE WILL. It’s a word that only she would associate with that film.

In her defense, Leni states that most Germans supported the efforts and that things didn’t end well for dissidents of the Reich. Mostly we find Leni in the George Costanza corner – ‘it’s not a lie if you believe it.’ She was a smart and talented and strong woman who was calculating in everything she did or said. She discusses her long relationship (business and personal) with Horst Kettner, and we see the lovely home they shared. We also learn that it took Leni ten years to write her memoirs, and we are left wondering how much guilt she experienced – despite claiming that she knew nothing of the Holocaust (a topic Veiel  addresses). We have all seen her extraordinary camera work on Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics, yet no amount of filmmaking genius or creativity can overshadow her work for Hitler. Was she the first ‘cancelled’ artist? In fact, regardless of the pain, she must be remembered … something this project from Andres Veiel ensures.

IN THEATERS

September 5 – NY (Lincoln Center, Quad Cinema)

September 12 – LA (Laemmle Royal, Laemmle Town Center 5)

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Posted by David Ferguson

THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST (2025, doc)

September 5, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. Ben Masters’ follow-up to his outstanding documentary, DEEP IN THE HEART: A TEXAS WILDLIFE STORY (2022) is even more stunning, more remarkable, and more important. Narrated by environmentalist, model, and actress Quannah Chasinghorse, the breathtaking photography is complemented by a history lesson and cautionary warnings about where things are headed.

The film traces the mighty Colorado River and is highlighted by rare clips of animals in their habitat … scenes we infrequently, if ever, have the opportunity to see.  Some of the videos include bull elk, beaver, fish, the California condor, and the area’s apex predator – the gorgeous jaguar. These videos are spectacular and show the beauty of the animals and the area. There is even a segment featuring desert-adapted rattlesnakes in their den, followed by 13 newborns.

Ben Masters’ documentary is so much more than beautiful images of this stunning setting. It’s also a lesson in cultural history and a reminder of the crucial role the Colorado River plays in modern day society. The river spans nearly 1500 miles in length and 25% of the water goes to California farmland – crops that feed millions of people. It’s described as the blood that pumps life into much of the United States. We see the humble pond which starts the river, as well as the dried-out delta wasteland at the end. In between, we see the mountains, eleven national parks, the Mojave Desert (temperatures as high as 134 degrees), Lake Powell and Lake Mead, and the border wall, the latter which now deters the north-south migration of many species. The river runs through seven states.

The Colorado River is responsible for carving through 277 miles of the Grand Canyon, and now its fragile ecosystem is a call to action for us to save this stunning natural habitat of various animals, as well as the lifeline for so many people. It’s mentioned that the river’s health mirrors that of our own health … in other words, healing is crucial to sustain life. That should be enough to get folks to listen and act.

THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST is set for a theatrical release on September 5, 2025 across seven states: Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, California, Texas, and Colorado

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Posted by David Ferguson

ANGELHEADED HIPSTER: THE SONGS OF MARC BOLAN & T. REX (2025, doc)

August 12, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. Is it possible to be a rock star that no one has heard of? Well, in a way, that’s what happened to Marc Bolan. In Great Brittain, Bolan and his band T. Rex drew huge crowds and had a massive fan base, whereas in the United States, they had only a small cult following (which meant very little record sales or radio airtime). Ethan Silverman (he of previous short films and music videos) conceived of this record album/documentary combination, and in 2020 set out to make the project come to life.

This may be the only ‘making of an album’ documentary that doesn’t feature a single complete song being recorded. Instead, Silverman treats us to a revolving studio door of musicians who have come to pay tribute to the influential Bolan by recording one of his songs. The lineup includes such artists as U2, Nick Cave, Joan Jett, Beth Orton, Maria McKee, The Orwells, Macy Gray, Snarky Puppy, Lucinda Williams, Kesha, and the multi-talented John Cameron Mitchell. Unfortunately, missing from the action is David Johansen (passed away earlier this year), whose version of “Bang a Gong” is an album highlight, and whose band New York Dolls were assuredly influenced by Marc Bolan.

What really makes this a gift for us Marc Bolan fans is the stream of archival interviews and concert clips, many of which we’ve never seen before. Glitter band, glam-rock, or androgyny – however you choose to describe it, there is no denying Marc Bolan was a pioneer. He, along with David Bowie, brought a new look and feel to music … turning rock concerts into theatrical productions. Bolan and Bowie were colleagues, friends, and rivals and Silverman plays clips of each discussing the complicated relationship and respect the two shared. They set the stage for acts like Alice Cooper, KISS, Queen, Def Leppard, and even R.E.M. It’s also mentioned how Bolan’s understanding of production led him to take full advantage of color TV, which was then entering mainstream.

The concert clips are undeniable proof of Marc Bolan’s charisma, showmanship, and talent. The feedback and tributes from other artists make his songwriting excellence clear to the rest of us. We even get a concert clip of young Elton John playing keyboard with T. Rex, and Ringo Starr discussing Bolan’s influence on “Back Off Boogaloo”, Ringo’s 1972 hit single. Bolan’s partner, singer Gloria Jones, is the mother of his son Rolan. She provides some memories, while Rolan sings backup on some recordings prior to showing us his family photo album. There is a terrific clip of Marc Bolan (as TV host) introducing a hot new band, Generation X featuring Billy Idol, who also contributes his own recollection of Bolan.

The 25-song album was produced by Hal Willner, whose career touched so many artists (Marianne Faithful, Lou Reed, Lucinda Williams). Willner passed away in 2022, and he’s a steady studio presence throughout the film. A musical highlight here is Nick Cave’s moving version of “Cosmic Dance”, allowing his haunting voice to capture those lyrics. Marc Bolan died in a car crash in 1977 at age 29. The album has been available, and Silverman’s documentary is now beginning a rolling theatrical run.

A tiered theatrical release begins August 8, 2025, opening in various cities each week through September 13, 2025. It will become available on Digital beginning September 5, 2025.

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Posted by David Ferguson

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