ONE FOR ALL: THE DJ CHRIS VILLA STORY

   Groupthink doesn't live here, critical thought does.

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As pedestrian as it gets, this amateurish documentary confirms the idea that DJing represents the antithesis of musicianship.

You could argue that DJs ruin songs by altering their original production with endless scratching, clipping, and mechanical manipulation. Oh, and endless fooling around with headphone placement comes with the territory.

Talk to any working musician about the live work they lose to DJs, and you'll get an ear full.

Curating a cool song list used to be the province of Jones Generation music lovers who would make endless mix tapes (cassettes) to impress their friends. That was cool.

For as much of a nice guy as "One For All" paints its subject, Chris Villa's personal story comes across as mundane.

Villa's effort at winning the Red Bull 3Style World Championship, sets the movie's minimal narrative arc.

Clearly, there is a closed community of people who make the rules and harvest money for Red Bull, but we don't get any behind-the-scenes dirt.

Would-be DJs out there might get a whiff of inspiration from watching Chris Villa's story, but you won't learn any craft. That is if you consider rhythmically fiddling with faders and dials much of a craft.

Personally, I say get an instrument, like a guitar, and learn how to play it.

Music doesn't come from DJs.

Not Rated. 110 mins.

WILDCAT

        Welcome!

Groupthink doesn't live here, critical thought does.

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More Direct Cinema than documentary, "Wildcat" takes an invisible approach to capturing its unfolding narrative.

Melissa Lesh and co-director Trevor Beck Frost spent several years working in the Peruvian rainforest with American wildlife rehabilitation specialist Samantha Zwicker and British Afghanistan war veteran Harry Turner.

Samantha and Harry have what it takes to handle living in the middle of the jungle. They make for a badass team. Naturally, carnal romance enters their entwined lives.

Both Samantha and Harry do battle with personal demons, his from war experiences, hers from growing up with an abusive alcoholic father.

Harry struggles with depression.

Samantha is more of a trooper. She doesn't wallow in the past.

Raising a lost ocelot cub for the 18 months it takes for the fierce creature to be released into the wild, allows for a similar trajectory for our complex leading characters, Samantha and Harry.

This is the first time such a rescue and release has ever been attempted.

No rule book for this shit.

Suffice it to say "Wildcat" is a deeply personal film that makes a transparent comparison between the jungles of Peru, and the jungle of society that we all traverse.

Challenging, thought-provoking, and suspenseful, "Wildcat" is a lot of movie.

Hearts will be broken.

Hearts will be healed.

Long live the wildcat.

Rated R. 106 mins.

IS THAT BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU ?!?

       Groupthink doesn't live here, critical thought does.

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Thorough as it is lean, Elvis Mitchell's telling of Black American Cinema is an essential documentary.

Straight up cinematic text book.

Mitchell's pitch-perfect narration takes the viewer on a heartfelt journey of Black film that volleys between personal interviews with Black Cinema artists, and neatly subtle editorializing.

You have to read between Mitchell's lines, and if you do, you'll find more treasure there.

This ex-film critic for the New York Times, knows his stuff inside out.

Elvis Mitchell's kind vocal delivery is silky smooth, a delight to hear.

It's great that this amazing film is released on Netflix, because it means that so many audiences have access to it.

You might want to keep a notepad handy to jot down a list of Black films you want to track down when this one's over.

Superbly written and edited, "Is That Black Enough For You ?!?" is about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on.

Thanks to its cool funk heavy soundtrack, you can feel the funk long after the movie ends.

Cheers baby, cheers.

Rated R. 135 mins.