The Perfect Neighbor (2025) Film Review

A seemingly minor neighbourhood dispute in Florida escalates into deadly violence. Police bodycam footage and investigative interviews expose the consequences of Florida’s “stand your ground” laws.

The Perfect Neighbor is directed by Geeta Gandnhir who previously directed I Am Evidence (2017), Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power (2022) and a few others. This documentary is about the killing of Ajike Owens which happened on June 2, 2023 by Susan Louise Lorincz in Ocala, Florida.

The Perfect Neighbor is a very different documentary, some might quickly write this off as another true crime documentary. However what makes this one stand out is simply the way Gandnhir approaches it, a majority of the documentary is police body-cam footage it’s almost like it was done in this found footage like style. Except what you are seeing is incredibly real, gut wrenching and even at times disturbing.

The way the footage is put together is quite an accomplishment on its own, the editing from Viridiana Lieberman is brilliant and captures the absolute sadness of this crime. Owens was loved by her neighborhood and her children, just seeing all of their reactions to her being murdered is devastating on its own. The footage displays all of this in great detail and as the documentary leads up to Owens’s murder we see Lorincz’s behavior get more and more unhinged.

Lorincz called the cops on the neighborhood children (including Owens’s kids) for playing outside, claiming “they can’t be over there” when in reality they could. Lorincz used racial slurs at them, threw objects at them, she even said “This isn’t the Underground Railroad slave” the racism got progressively worse and worse as time went on. Each and every time that Lorincz called the cops, the cops would side with the kids and parents. Lorincz kept insisting that she was a victim but then at the same time continued to escalate her behavior.

One particular moment during this documentary that stood out was when one of Owens’s young sons was asked if he was hurt and after he is informed of his mother’s death, his response was “No, but my heart is broken.” To hear and see this in body-cam footage is heart shattering, no child should ever have to say these words. It’s something that just sticks with you, the reality is now that Owens’s children will grow up without a mother and be forever scarred by their mother’s murder. It’s an incredibly devastating moment that really does sum up the whole documentary.

Overall The Perfect Neighbor is a fantastic documentary that is put together incredibly well. There is not much more to say here as the documentary’s footage really does speak for itself. It’s a powerful one that I highly recommend.

The Perfect Neighbor is available on Netflix.

9/10 A

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024) Film Review!

Actor Christopher Reeve rises to stardom when he lands the role of Superman in the 1970s. When a horse-riding accident leaves him paralyzed in 1995, Reeve spends the rest of his life searching for a cure for spinal cord injuries.

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui both of which directed McQueen (2018) and Rising Phoenix (2020). Bonhôte directed Alleycats (2016) by himself.

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is a documentary about the life of Christopher Reeve after the horse riding accident that left him paralyzed and his work as an activist for disability rights.

This is one that really made me tear up, Christopher Reeve’s story is already sad enough but this documentary really shows the viewer how much of a fighter Reeve was despite his situation. He had a heart of gold that really did seem like he wanted to make the world a better place, not only did he perfectly capture Superman as a character but even when he wasn’t acting he was by definition someone you could consider a hero.

His activism for disability rights was truly beautiful and I’m truly happy the documentary made sure to talk about it, his legacy will always be that he was a good person. How much he fought for disability rights, he looked at his situation and thought of how he can help then proceed to do just that, it’s absolutely inspiring and after viewing it really does make you want to go out there and make change. Even if it’s the smallest thing, the documentary shows that anyone can be a hero and make a difference in the world.

There interviews are of course spectacular, there’s Reeve’s family, actors such as Jeff Daniels, Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close and Whoopi Goldberg. To my surprise there’s also politician John Kerry. All the interviews are great and powerful, truly bringing home the point of just how incredible Reeve was as a person, the documentary also discusses the friendship between Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams which was honestly some of the film’s biggest highlights.

A lot of this might be common knowledge but what helps this documentary mainly is how sincere it really feels, it never once feels like a celebrity documentary made by some PR team or that it’s trying to advertise something. It’s a documentary that really comes from the heart and is telling you Reeve’s legacy and why he is so celebrated, it’s an inspiring documentary that really touches the heart and will absolutely make you shed some tears.

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is available on all VOD platforms.

9/10 A

Piece By Piece (2024) Film Review!

LEGO bricks tell the life story of singer/songwriter and record producer Pharrell Williams — from his childhood in Virginia to his success in the music and fashion industry.

Piece By Piece is directed by Morgan Neville director of Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018), They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead (2018), Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021), Mickey: The Story Of A Mouse (2022) and a lot of others.

Piece By Piece is a documentary about the life and career of Pharrell Williams, going into this documentary I had very little knowledge of Williams. Of course I knew he sung Happy but I really did not know his early career or his early life. Walking out of this documentary I feel like I know so much about him and part of that is the very clever move Pharrell Williams and director Morgan Neville chose…tell it all in LEGOs.

I’ve always found LEGO animation charming and that’s no exception here, to put it simply the use of LEGOs here is absolutely beautiful and leads to some really neat visuals and very creative sequences that really make the documentary that much more fun. The LEGO animation reflecting the certain moods such as happy and sad is also quite solid, the use of color along with having this investing energy makes it all the more worth it.

Piece By Piece is also not your traditional documentary, while yes there are interviews (mostly from Williams’s family and peers) there’s also biopic like elements that are used quite uniquely. It’s a balance of a documentary and a music biopic that is told incredibly well, part of that is due to Pharrell Williams actually doing a really good job when it comes to storytelling. There’s so many moments where you feel connected to his story and completely get yourself drawn in, this is something I most certainly was not expecting going into the documentary.

Director Morgan Neville continues to show how his documentaries not only can be really good documentaries but they tell a story and bring the viewer in as quickly as possible. We see the rise of Williams, the bumps in the road he had to get through to achieve his dream and how he’s doing now. It’s a journey that Neville and Williams do such a fantastic job of making as creative and interesting as possible.

Overall Piece By Piece is incredibly creative and stands out among a lot of music documentaries, anyone who’s a fan of Pharrell Williams or LEGO will love this one.

Piece By Piece is available on all VOD platforms.

8/10 B+

Music By John Williams (2024) Film Review

An exploration of composer John Williams’ story, with insights from filmmakers, musicians, and others he has inspired, along with rare behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of cinematic history.

Music By John Williams is directed by Laurent Bouzereau who’s directed documentaries such as Faye (2024), Mama’s Boy (2022), Five Come Back (2017), Steven Spielberg & John Williams: The Adventure Continues (2017) and a few others.

John Williams is a name that really does not need an introduction, he’s one of the greatest and most recognizable film composers of all time. From Star Wars to Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, ET, Superman, Schindler’s List and many others ( I do love that Born On The Fourth Of July was mentioned.) His music is very recognizable and Music By John Williams serves as a tribute to this legendary composer.

There might not be anything new being said here, but the documentary isn’t simply just a run down of his career. In between all that the documentary explores Williams’s role in popularizing classical music, his influence, just how much he inspired people and the joy he brought. The documentary also discusses the friendship between John Williams and Steven Spielberg. Which leads to some great moments of Williams and Spielberg discussing the work they have done together and how proud of each other they really are.

We get tons of interviews including his family, Spielberg, George Lucas, Ron Howard, Chris Columbus, JJ Abrams and a few others. Chris Martin from Coldplay is also here and Seth MacFarlane. Each of which share their experiences with Williams or how he inspired them, it’s truly neat to see so many people with great careers share their experiences some of which are truly powerful and investing to listen to.

Overall there really isn’t much else more to say, Music By John Williams is a beautiful tribute to a legendary composer and just an incredibly solid documentary. As I said before there might not exactly be anything new here but I do have to give it credit for not being just a run down of his career. Any fan of John Williams will appreciate this one!

Music By John Williams is available on Disney+

7/10 B

Will & Harper (2024) Film Review!

When Will Ferrell finds out his close friend of 30 years is coming out as a trans woman, the two decide to embark on a cross-country road trip to process this new stage of their relationship in an intimate portrait of friendship and transition.

Will & Harper is directed by Josh Greenbaum director of The Short Game (2013), Becoming Bond (2017), Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar (2021) and Strays (2023).

Will & Harper is a tough one to review, it’s a documentary that is very much a personal story about Will Farrell and his life long friend Harper Steele who didn’t start her transition until her 60s. The two travel around the United States together on a 17 day road trip, this is a journey that’s both beautiful and incredibly compelling.

What’s noticeable almost immediately is how natural this feels, the movie acts a road trip buddy movie that doesn’t have a script and shows two friends who have known each other for years just having a good time and enjoying each others company. The conversations the two have are downright beautiful and show that they quite clearly care for each other, Farrell and Harper sharing their thoughts to each other in this natural way really keeps the film grounded and quickly gets to the viewer.

A lot of the film is Harper being on the path to finally live at peace, you can tell she’s on this journey throughout the film and even by the end really shows how far she has come. It’s truly a beautiful film that really captures this incredible bond and talks about trans issues in such a beautiful and touching way, Harper isn’t afraid to show vulnerability and honesty she shares her experiences so candidly that you really do feel like she’s having a conversation with you the viewer.

Even with the technical aspects such as the cinematography from Zoë White who does such a great job of capturing many beautiful shots across the country and the music in particular a song by Kristen Wiig called “Harper and Will Go West” although it’s at the end credits it’s a beautiful song that really does sum up this film as whole as well as their bond. I definitely think this is going to be a competitor for Best Song at the Oscars!

Overall Will & Harper is a really beautiful documentary that I’m happy exists. I’m glad Harper Steele got to share her story as well as Will Farrell for really being so supportive and pushing for this film. Definitely give this one a watch if you haven’t already.

Will & Harper is available on Netflix!

8/10 B+

Child Star (2024) Film Review!

Examining how some of the most well-known former child stars, such as Lovato, deconstruct the highs and lows of growing up in the spotlight and how their ascension to fame, riches, and power affects their futures.

Child Star is directed by Demi Lovato and Nicola Marsh, the documentary is the former’s directional debut.

Earlier this year we had Quiet On Set a documentary series about the dark side of Nickelodeon and the abuse that many of the child stars went through. Child Star follows the same sort of idea only it’s more broad you have Drew Barrymore, Christina Ricci, Raven Symoné, Alyson Stoner, Kenan Thompson, JoJo Siwa and of course Demi Lovato. You also have director Chris Columbus (director of Home Alone, the first two Harry Potter movies and a lot of others) in the conversation as well.

I think as a conversation starter Child Star does pretty okay, there’s a lot of information here that’s been common knowledge for years now particularly with Lovato and Barrymore, however it doesn’t hurt to really share these stories for people who are just hearing them for the first time. The topic is handled with care and it’s clear Lovato is passionate about it, I definitely think the documentary could have used a bit more focused. A little less on Lovato and more on the child stars, having that said Lovato does make some interesting connections between her story of when she nearly died to the child stars. I’m not entirely sure if all of those connections completely work but they are worth thinking about and there is something meaningful there.

As far as filmmaking goes it’s competently made, it’s not anything that’s going to blow your mind. It’s nothing stylish or is going to make it pop, but it really does not have to be. It’s a straightforward documentary about an important topic that all it really has to do is let everyone speak for themselves.

Speaking of which the interviews are interesting, I am glad the topic of kids getting mega popular on YouTube was mentioned even if it wasn’t for very long. It’s a topic that I definitely think needs to be talked about a lot more, I also do like that everyone connected with each other incredibly well, it makes the documentary much stronger and quite sad as well.

Overall Child Star might not blow you away, but it’s still a strong enough documentary about an important topic that definitely should be talked about.

Child Star is available on Hulu!

6/10 C+

Jim Henson Idea Man (2024) Review

A look at interviews of fans of Jim Henson, interspersed with footage from his works, including Wilkins and Wontkins Commercials that were previously lost.

Jim Henson Idea Man is directed by Ron Howard who has directed A Beautiful Mind (2001), Rush (2013), Apollo 13 (1995), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), Cinderella Man (2005) and many others.

Jim Henson Idea Man is a documentary that talks about the career of Jim Henson the man who created The Muppets, Sesame Street, Dark Crystal and many other incredible pieces of work that have gone on to be beloved to this day. The documentary mostly focuses on Henson’s early career and does go over some works that aren’t as popular which is always nice to see.

Ron Howard’s style works quite well here with even some very nice experimental nods to Henson’s creative energy, the use of footage that was previously lost such as some of the Wilkins Coffee ads was a nice touch. The documentary also manages to capture the spirit of Jim Henson, what really makes this special is the editing incorporates the style and art that Henson really liked to use in his work, which really does give this documentary the extra push to standout.

The documentary isn’t really saying anything groundbreaking but it really does not need to, it focuses more on celebrating Jim Henson’s life, his impact on art in general and the many people interviewed (family members and collaborators) such as Frank Oz.

There really isn’t much else to be said, if your a fan of Jim Henson and his work you will definitely appreciate this very straight to the point documentary that isn’t trying to be complex it’s a tribute to such a beloved artist.

Jim Henson Idea Man is available on Disney+

7/10 B

Girls State (2024) Film Review

A look at what American democracy would look like in the hands of teenage girls. Young female leaders from wildly different backgrounds navigate an immersive experiment to build a government from the ground up.

Girls State is directed by Jess Moss and Amanda McBlaine directors of Boys State (2020) and The Mission (2023). Jess Moss has also directed Mayor Pete (2021), The Overnighters (2014) and a few others.

Girls State follows the exact same sort of idea as Boys State did. A bunch of teenage girls go through a week long mock government experiment, which helps them learn how to build a government from the ground up.

Much like in Boys State, seeing the girls interact with each other and sharing ideas between one another is truly fascinating, it’s worth noting that right as this week began the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade was leaked. Which in turns brings a lot of interesting discussion to the documentary, seeing the reactions to the news felt incredibly powerful as well.

The girls of course give speeches which are genuinely fantastic, truly touching moments that are some of the documentary’s best moments. Jess Moss and Amanda McBlaine do such a fantastic job once again, they let everything play out without interfering which leads to every reaction and speech feeling much more powerful and raw.

Girls State and Boys State are two very interesting films that work incredibly well together, they definitely have their differences. But what they both show is young people having a genuine interest in politics and wanting to change the future.

I may slightly prefer Boys State mainly due to the idea of it being more fresh, having that said Girls State is still a really great documentary that I do recommend watching!

Girls State is available on Apple TV+

8/10 B+

The YouTube Effect is a surface level documentary about the popular platform.

In this eye-opening documentary, Alex Winter presents a thoughtful, troubling look at YouTube, a site with humble origins that has gone on to change how we experience the world.

Anyone who has at least heard of YouTube’s history is going to know everything that’s in this documentary. The YouTube Effect basically covers the brief history of the platform, it’s influence and impact, plus it briefly talks about the alt-right pipeline that was especially kicking around during Gamergate and 2016.

The first bit is definitely the strongest you have some popular Youtubers such as Anthony Padilla (one of the faces of Smosh), the parents of Ryan from Ryan’s Toy Reviews, Natalie Wynn (Contrapoints) and a few others. It’s nice to see their perspective of how the site has changed since then and their reactions to their careers being as big as they are now.

The first chunk of The Youtube Effect is the basic history of the site, a few of the controversies such as the whole Google+ YouTube comment situation and a few others. But then the documentary switches to talking about GamerGate, 2016, the alt-right and BLM, which there is nothing wrong discussing these topics it’s that the documentary feels like it doesn’t really care for these topics.

They are brought up, talked about for a few minutes and then quickly discarded. Plus the information the documentary leaves the viewer about these subjects is very surface level and something that the average person will already know, there’s tons of videos on YouTube already about these topics that go in great detail about their origins, goals and what they are/were about.

As far as filmmaking goes this is fine enough, there isn’t anything too crazy or to write home about but it’s competently made and decent enough to look at, overall if you at least know what YouTube is you are not going to get much out of this one. It’s not a bad documentary just a very forgettable one that really doesn’t have a whole lot to it.

The YouTube Effect is available on all VOD platforms.

5/10 C

Sharksplotation explores the Shark subgenre

In the wake of blockbuster classic Jaws, a new subgenre was born. This new documentary explores the weird, wild cinematic legacy of sharks on film and the world’s undying fascination.

Sharksplotation is about the Shark movie subgenre and how it blew up in popularity after Jaws was released. It also does go over some of the earliest examples from the 1930s as well as the movies that came out after Jaws released.

The documentary has a lot of directors, actors and more who worked on these films and share their thoughts about the genre and their own movies as well. Which actually leads to some genuinely funny bits that got a few laughs out of me, the even get the guys behind SyFy and The Asylum’s slate of many shark movies and some oceanographers as well. So when it comes to interviews this documentary absolutely nails it and gets many conversations going.

As expected the documentary spends quite a huge amount of time on Jaws and rightfully so, Jaws is the movie that made this subgenre popular in the first place. So it’s only natural to spend a huge amount of time on this important film that inspired many directors, writers and so on, even if the movies that came after it ranged in quality often times being on the terrible end.

There really isn’t anything new to be learned here maybe outside of learning some weird shark movies exist, but a lot of what is being said here is very well know especially when they talk about Jaws. However the documentary is a well put together piece that celebrates the subgenre and it’s always nice to see a bunch of filmmakers, actors and many others come together to talk about their thoughts and experiences.

Sharksplotation is available on Shudder.

7/10 B