A Chinese martial artist in the 1930s during the Sino-Japanese War must fight his way out of Japanese oppression, and attempt to protect his family and friends, in the shocking biographical film, Ip Man.
Tag Archives: Biography
Lee (2023)
Currently in US cinemas
The story of Lee Miller, American photographer, through her time in Europe before, during, and after World War II, showing her working during the war, on the front and visiting concentration camps after the war.
Last Man Standing: The Chronicles of Myron Sugerman (2023)
Director Jonny Caplan’s documentary is probably one of the most outstanding and entertaining crime documentaries of the year. Despite its short run time, he manages to unfold the story of a real underdog hero and anti-establishment mobster whose entire life was spent virtually kicking societal status quos in the ass. “Last Man Standing” is a True Crime Feature Documentary on the life of Myron Sugerman, son of Barney Sugerman, a partner of leading US mobster Meyer Lansky.
The Darkside of Society (2024) [Popcorn Frights 2024]
There’s nothing I love more than a documentary about the conception of one of the most notorious cult classics ever made. Brian Yuzna’s 1989 horror satire is a gross, vile look at the amorality of the affluent. What I don’t like is a documentary that paints itself as a look at the making of a movie and is in reality conspiracy claptrap garbage sexual abuse, ritual child abuse, and sexual violence that has about two percent to do with Brian Yuzna’s movie.
Beast Fighter: Karate Bullfighter (aka Champion of Death) (1975) [Eureka Entertainment]
Available from Eureka Entertainment as a 2-disc set with Beast Fighter: Karate Bearfighter.
Inspired by the life of Choi Bae-dal who was later known as Masutatsu Oyama, a Korean martial artist who founded Kyokushin Karate in Japan.
How I Roll (2023) [Dances with Films 2024]
Brianne Berkson & Miguel Gluckster’s short documentary and biography is a charming little look at the life of Robin Cohen. Cohen spent most of her living with a sense of awareness, and once she gains MS and battles losing function of her legs, she learns how to really live her life. There’s not a ton of argument for Robin Cohen should have been spotlighted for a documentary, even a short one.
Graphic Sexual Horror (2009) [Blu-Ray]
Now Available from Synapse Films.
One of the bigger surprises of 2009 was “Graphic Sexual Horror” a documentary that pegs itself as this extreme movie about sexuality. In actuality, Barbara Bell and Anna Lorentzon’s film ends up as this very complex and interesting study on fetishes, S&M and torture. The whole concept of “Graphic Sexual Horror” came at an interesting time when America was still reeling from the Abu Ghraib incident, prompting us to take a good look at the darker side of our sadistic tendencies and personal accountability.