Hal

Mar 28, 2019

1h 30m

★ 6.5

Believe In Cinema.

Overview

Hal Ashby's obsessive genius led to an unprecedented string of Oscar®-winning classics, including Harold and Maude, Shampoo and Being There. But as contemporaries Coppola, Scorsese and Spielberg rose to blockbuster stardom in the 1980s, Ashby's uncompromising nature played out as a cautionary tale of art versus commerce.

Genres

Documentary

Production Companies

Oscilloscope

Hal Trailers

Cast

Self (archive footage)

Hal Ashby

Self

Jane Fonda

Self

Jon Voight

Self

Lee Grant

Self

Dustin Hoffman

Self

Rosanna Arquette

Self

Jeff Bridges

Self

Allison Anders

Self

John C. Reilly

Self

Judd Apatow

Self

David O. Russell

Self

Adam McKay

How the cinema industry does not respect the author's work as it was conceived, how manipulates the motion pictures in order to make them easier to watch by an undemanding audience or even how mutilates them to adapt the original formats and runtimes to the restrictive frame of the television screen and the abusive requirements of advertising. (Followed by “Filmmakers in Action.”)

6.5

Back in Time

Oct 20, 2015

Cast, crew and fans explore the 'Back to the Future' time-travel trilogy's resonance throughout our culture—30 years after Marty McFly went back in time.

7.0

Visions of Light

Sep 17, 1992

Cameramen and women discuss the craft and art of cinematography and of the "DP" (the director of photography), illustrating their points with clips from 100 films, from Birth of a Nation to Do the Right Thing. Themes: the DP tells people where to look; changes in movies (the arrival of sound, color, and wide screens) required creative responses from DPs; and, these artisans constantly invent new equipment and try new things, with wonderful results. The narration takes us through the identifiable studio styles of the 30s, the emergence of noir, the New York look, and the impact of Europeans. Citizen Kane, The Conformist, and Gordon Willis get special attention.

6.7

American Grindhouse

Feb 4, 2011

This documentary explores the hidden history of the American Exploitation Film. The movie digs deep into this often overlooked category of U.S. cinema and unearths the shameless and occasionally shocking origins of this popular entertainment.

6.8

Children of 'Giant'

Apr 17, 2015

"Children of 'Giant'" is a documentary film that unearths deeply wrought emotions in the small West Texas town of Marfa, before, during and after the month-long production of George Stevens' 1956 feature film, "Giant." Based on the controversial Edna Ferber novel of the same name, the film, "Giant" did not shy from strong social-issue themes experienced throughout post-WWII America. George Stevens, its producer and director, purposely gravitated to the drought-ridden community of Marfa for most all of the exterior scenes.

0.0

Brand Bollywood Downunder

Nov 2, 2023

When most people think about Australia, they picture massive sandy beaches, singlet-clad locals drinking beer, and kangaroos bounding through the dusty red outback. Saris, musical numbers, and masala are the furthest from anyone's mind - unless of course, you're one of the millions of Bollywood fans from around the world.

6.0

Our Time, Our Story

Oct 25, 2002

Richly illustrated with film clips and interviews, OUR TIME, OUR STORY tells the still-evolving story of the Taiwanese "new wave," from its rise in the early 1980s, as the island was democratizing after decades under martial law, through growing international recognition and domestic debate in the 1990s. Spearheaded in its early years by such filmmakers as Edward Yang, Ko I-cheng, Hou Hsiao-hsien and Wan Jen, the movement revitalized Taiwan cinema through low-budget experiments that emphasized personal stories, political reflection and stylistic invention. Said filmmakers, writers and actors like Wu Nien-jen and Sylvia Chang, even "second wave" directors Tsai Ming-liang and Lin Cheng-sheng provide fond reminiscences and retrospective insights in this compelling account of one of the most distinctive national cinemas of the last quarter-century.

7.4

Imagining Zootopia

Apr 5, 2016

Fusion spent two years with the production team of Disney's smash hit film. In 'Imagining Zootopia,' you will travel with the team to Africa to explore the animals in their natural habitat and find out how the storytellers and animators dealt with the very real themes of prejudice and bias.

7.0

Yakuza Eiga, une histoire du cinéma yakuza

Feb 12, 2009

The history of the Yakuza Eiga at the TOEI studio is roughly outlined. Real Yakuza and also their connections to the movie business are discussed, and many important actors and directors of the genres are interviewed. Former real yakuza boss turned actor Noboru Ando, Takashi Miike, Sonny Chiba and many more get a chance to speak.

7.1

Score: A Film Music Documentary

Mar 16, 2017

Music is an integral part of most films, adding emotion and nuance while often remaining invisible to audiences. Matt Schrader shines a spotlight on the overlooked craft of film composing, gathering many of the art form’s most influential practitioners, from Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman to Quincy Jones and Randy Newman, to uncover their creative process. Tracing key developments in the evolution of music in film, and exploring some of cinema’s most iconic soundtracks, 'Score' is an aural valentine for film lovers.

0.0

What is an Ocean… Reconnecting the Cast and Crew of Cloud Atlas

Dec 23, 2025

A unique feature-length retrospective documentary bringing together the directors, author David Mitchell, and key cast and crew - including Tom Hanks, Hugh Grant, and Susan Sarandon - to share new reflections and untold stories from the making of Cloud Atlas. The film celebrates the artistry, collaboration, and enduring impact of the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer's visionary production.

6.5

The Making of an Epic: Mohammad, Messenger of God

Jan 1, 1976

An in-depth look at the making of ‘The Message’, featuring interviews with key figures such as Moustapha Akkad, the film's producer, who shares his personal connection to the project. The documentary covers various aspects of the production, including the construction of the massive historical Mecca set, the creation of costumes, and the challenges of shooting in the desert. It also discusses the decision to shoot the film in two different languages (Arabic and English) and the unique issues that arose from this choice.

5.3

Sunset over Mulholland Drive

May 23, 2019

Hidden away at the end of Mulholland Drive, just north of Los Angeles, lies the Motion Picture & Television Fund. Its residents were once the backbone of American showbiz. The Fund gives them a home and new meaning in their old age. Still going strong in their own studio, they produce short films and pursue other creative projects. This documentary follows one such project from the first brainstorming session all the way to the premiere, revealing enduring dreams and hopes beyond the limelight — and lessons in life and love.

0.0

Ducktators

Jan 1, 1997

Documentary about WWII propaganda cartoons.

7.0

Capturing Avatar

Nov 16, 2010

Capturing Avatar is a feature length behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of Avatar. It uses footage from the film's development, as well as stock footage from as far back as the production of Titanic in 1995. Also included are numerous interviews with cast, artists, and other crew members. The documentary was released as a bonus feature on the extended collector's edition of Avatar.