“Rhino Resurrected” Review

With the digital age in full swing giving an individual the ability to easily download music to their computer, smartphone, or MP3 device, record stores have been nearly decimated. Rhino Records, one of the most influential and iconic record stores on the West Coast, and the country, thrived despite the latest technological advances because of its ingenuity to reinvent the wheel whether it was by coming out with quirky box sets, calendars, novelty records or just plain simple having the most rare music available. A big corporation takeover was its demise but Rhino Record’s legacy and a recent “Rhino Records pop-up” record store in the store’s hometown of Los Angeles, served as the inspiration for Keith Shapiro’s documentary, “Rhino Resurrected.”

The film takes the viewer through the history of the much beloved record store and why it was so important to not only the community, but to the music industry beginning with Rhino Record’s founder, Richard Foos, opening the pop-up record store that aimed to re-create the “Rhino” vibe. “Rhino Resurrected” is a delight to “Rhino” fans everywhere as well as those that never walked through its doors before.

The completely independent 77 minute documentary features bizarre treasure trove of unearthed archive footage, blazing live performances, and funny and surprising new interviews from all the colorful record maniacs and musicians who made Rhino the special place it was.

A Q&A session followed the film. Keith Shapiro explained how creating this film wasn’t hard because the more the story developed, the crazier it got and the more fascinated he became with the project.

Recommended. Check out the Film Festival’s schedule for future screenings of “Rhino Resurrected.”

For more information about the film and its filmmakers you may check out the official website.

“Heist: Who Stole the American Dream” Review

With the current state of the economy, one has to wonder how in the world we got to this point. Millions have lost their jobs, their homes, and their American dream. “Heist” is a compelling documentary by filmmakers Donald Goldmacher and Frances Causey, that boldly looks at the past timeline of events in U.S. history that contributed to the “biggest heist in American history.”

At a time when many documentaries are done only to further some political agenda, “Heist” remains true to educating the public and offer solutions, resting the blame with the politicians on both sides of the aisle, large corporations and big banks that have contributed to the demise of the American economy; protecting the rich and leaving the poor to struggle, “sink or swim.”

The impressive stock file video used alongside riveting interviews and video shot of the Occupy Wall Street  Movement, move the viewer into a state of patriotism in which being American means doing something to stop the bleeding of personal, hard-earning dollars going straight into America’s richest social class even if the fight ahead is a hard and long one. “Heist” does offer solutions to end the massacre and abuse of the working class, and the steps one needs to take to achieve that is not an impossible goal.

For more information on the film, visit the official website at: http://www.heist-themovie.com/

And to check out the schedule of movies for this year’s Film Festival, check out http://sbiff.festivalgenius.com/2012/schedule/week

“My Life” Review

As the Santa Barbara International Film Festival draws to a close, it goes without saying that although there have been many great films, there are always those “sour apples” that seem to never reach their full potential. Youth CineMedia’s “My Life” is one of these.

Shot in high definition, this documentary is composed of several stories by incarcerated youth in Albuquerque, New Mexico at a correctional facility called Camino Nuevo. With a mix of popular songs, photo/video montages, and interviews, these youth give a brief summary of their lives before and after being incarcerated…right from their cell. With an interesting premise however, soon we find ourselves watching a documentary that has no story arch, no climax, no ending, no real plot. “My Life” seems to want to reach the surface for air but at the last second is pulled back down without even catching one single breath. It would have been better if after nearly 45 minutes of listening to these teens talk about themselves, we would at least get a purpose or some inspiring message to leave the audience with at the end.

“My Life” suffers from cheesy editing at times and aspect ratio issues. The aspect ratio changes at times without there being any motivation to do so. I will say this, the photography and lighting are really good. This documentary has a lot of potential that it unfortunately did not reach. Perhaps with a little bit more carefully crafted plotline this documentary could have been truly inspiring.

SCREENING AT SBIFF: Sunday February 6, 10AM at the Lobero Theater.