Oscars: Read THR’s Reviews of the Shortlisted Documentary Features

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences last week revealed the features that were shortlisted for the 98th Academy . Out of 201 eligible films, 15 advanced in the category, which will be voted on by members of the Documentary Branch to determine the nominees. Read The Hollywood Reporter’s reviews of the films below (and check out Scott Feinberg’s Oscar predictions here). The Alabama Solution Powerful New Doc From ‘The Jinx’ Duo Investigates Injustices in Alabama Prisons Related Stories Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman chronicle financial mismanagement, abuses of power and general inhumanities in a system allegedly designed for rehabilitation. THE BOTTOM LINE: Urgent, unsettling and empathetic. Read the review. Apocalypse in the Tropics A Riveting Account of How Evangelism Became a Major Threat to Brazilian Democracy The latest documentary by Oscar-nominated director Petra Costa (‘The End of Democracy’), premiering out of competition in Venice, was executive produced by Brad Pitt. THE BOTTOM LINE: A must-see for anyone interested in the intersection of politics and religion. Read the review. Coexistence, My Ass! Israeli Comedian Makes for a Compelling Guide to the Middle East Mess in Engaging Doc Amber Fares’ doc follows Israeli comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi as she grapples with the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. THE BOTTOM LINE: Mazel tough. Read the review. Come See Me in the Good Light Doc Tenderly Traces Poet Andrea Gibson’s Final Year of Life and Love Chronicling the Colorado poet laureate’s relationship, work and battle with cancer, Ryan White’s Sundance-premiering film is available to stream on Apple TV. THE BOTTOM LINE: Earns your tears. Read the review. Cover-Up Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus’ Sharp, Sensitive Doc Brings Relentless Truth-Seeker Seymour Hersh Into Focus In their out-of-competition Venice entry, the filmmakers profile the prominent investigative reporter, who’s still going strong at 88. THE BOTTOM LINE: An exhilarating portrait of an American hero. Read the review. Cutting Through Rocks Review unavailable. Folktales ‘Jesus Camp’ Directors Head to Norway for a Frigid, Furry and Very Sweet Coming-of-Age Doc Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady follow three students at a Norwegian “folk school,” where students learn survival skills and dog sledding. THE BOTTOM LINE: Who’s a good doc? You are. Yes, you are. Read the review. Holding Liat Emotional Darren Aronofsky-Produced Israeli Hostage Doc Doesn’t Shy Away From a Complex Situation Brandon Kramer’s Berlin-bowing film is a bracing account of an Israeli-American family whose lives were upended when two of them were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th, 2023. THE BOTTOM LINE: Both poignant and political. Read the review. Mr. Nobody Against Putin Review unavailable. Mistress Dispeller An Extramarital Affair Is Dismantled Via Stealth Psychology in a Riveting Documentary Elizabeth Lo’s second feature-length film looks at a relatively new segment of China’s “love industries,” one that takes a personalized approach to combating climbing adultery rates. THE BOTTOM LINE: Provocative and quietly electric. Read the review. My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 – Last Air in Moscow Julia Loktev’s Piercing Chronicle of Russian Journalists Targeted by Their Own Government The 324-minute documentary, the first in a two-part series, follows a handful of female reporters in the months leading up to the invasion of Ukraine. THE BOTTOM LINE: It could happen here. Read the review. The Perfect Neighbor A Devastating Doc Observes the Chilling Consequences of Stand-Your-Ground Laws In her latest feature, Geeta Gandbhir (‘Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power’) uses police body cam footage to explore disputes in a Florida community that take a fatal turn. THE BOTTOM LINE: Harrowing and heartbreaking. Read the review. Seeds A Quietly Stunning Doc Contemplates the Present and Future of Black Farmers Brittany Shyne constructs an empathetic portrait of Black agrarian life while also revealing threats to its survival in her Sundance-premiering directorial debut. THE BOTTOM LINE: A beautiful meditation. Read the review. 2000 Meters to Andriivka Latest Ukraine Doc From ‘20 Days in Mariupol’ Helmer Packs a Visceral, Existential Punch Mstyslav Chernov returns to Sundance with a new story of the Ukrainian counteroffensive and the slow, deadly effort to liberate a tiny village. THE BOTTOM LINE: An immediate yet contemplative look at modern warfare. Read the review. Yanuni Review unavailable.

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