This Week In Documentary: 'One To One,' 'Coastal,' & 'The Dark Side Of Money'
Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - April 11-17, 2025
This week brings a few new music documentaries to our attention, with two of them focused on concerts starring rock icons of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Plus, the latest from Alex Gibney is here to make us more upset about current events, while another film offers a look at a lifestyle we might want to consider in our future. We also have an under-recognized director of classic documentaries hitting a milestone birthday this week.
Without further ado, below, you’ll find this week’s highlights, listings, and coming attractions, including our Pick of the Week. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future.
Nonfics Picks Of The Week: One To One: John & Yoko (2024)
Just when you think there’s nothing more to do with any of the Beatles, documentary-wise, Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald (One Day in September) and co-director Sam Rice-Edwards (Meet Me in the Bathroom) deliver one of the most interesting musician-based nonfiction films in years. This might be especially surprising considering Macdonald previously gave us the conventionally mediocre biographical music docs Marley and Whitney.
One to One: John & Yoko is an archival documentary chronicling the lead-up to John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s performance at the titular benefit show at Madison Square Garden in August 1972. While short on full-on concert footage, bits of which are sprinkled throughout the feature, the film’s conceit is that we’re transported back to Lennon and Ono’s Greenwich Village apartment and watching what they might have seen on their television in the months before the event.
For the most part, One to One succeeds in that premise. It’s not so much about the concert in question as the context that made that show the only extensive live performance from Lennon following the breakup of The Beatles. Telephone recordings and expository captions are also included to help explain shifts in the couple’s interests, relationships, and plans that year, as they’d intended to go on tour. Ultimately, the famous Geraldo Rivera-helmed documentary special Willowbrook: The Last Great Disgrace proved more inspiring than any other news or issues of the time.
Macdonald’s film reminded me a lot of Questlove’s Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) in the way it captures the spirit of the time in which a concert took place. Unlike that Oscar-winning documentary, though, One to One doesn’t capture the spirit of the concert in focus. It also doesn’t include any new interviews, either (the only new material involves an empty recreation of Lennon and Ono’s apartment with a TV prop). I can see fans being disappointed in having the concert clips seem like an afterthought, but in terms of a committed narrative concept, One to One is an effective work of historical composition.
One to One: John & Yoko opens on IMAX screens on Friday, April 11.
Other Documentary Highlights
Coastal (2025)
This week’s other concert-focused film follows Neil Young on his 2023 Coastal tour on the West Coast. Coastal is directed by Young’s wife, the actress Daryl Hannah, and is shot entirely in black and white. The result somehow feels like both an intimate home movie and a distant, impersonal capture of a show from an audience member, or worse, a surveillance camera. There is no story, and no clear point, really, to any of it.
The shots of Young on stage offer nothing of aesthetic value, but this is a nice film to listen to, as the rocker performs solo with lesser-known material. Other scenes are filmed in Young’s tour bus from two stationary points of view as he chats with his driver. There’s not much to these moments either. Coastal is as bare-bones as Young alone with just a guitar, a harmonica, and a piano. At least for the music, it’s enough.
Coastal screens in theaters on Thursday, April 17.
Count Me In (2021)
As a concert band drummer from elementary to high school who could never manage with a kit, I’ve always respected that typically least appreciated member of rock groups. Drummers are a special breed. I enjoy watching them more than any other part of a band. Yet it’s hard to find great documentaries that showcase their visual dynamic.
Count Me In is another that fails in that regard. This feature-length celebration of rock drummers and drumming could’ve been a podcast. It’s just a bunch of randomly available drummers talking about their art with randomly available archival footage of iconic drummers to pepper in.
There is one compelling aspect: the film partly chronicles the evolution of rock drumming from Ringo Starr through to the ‘90s with grunge, touching on ‘70s legends like Moon and Bonham, punk rock and its eventual embrace of reggae, and the appeal and inhumanity of drum machines in the ‘80s.
Otherwise, the interviewees mainly talk about the famous guys who inspired them to become drummers, and why those greats were great. Sometimes they focus too much on themselves, and their personal career stories are never that engrossing. Neither is the multi-drummer jam session at the end.
It’s fine for others in the profession to enjoy, but if you want a more interesting documentary about drummers, check out the Patty Schemel film Hit So Hard.
Count Me In will be released on VOD on Monday, April 14.
The Dark Money Game (2024)
If you aren’t feeling cynical enough the way American politics are going right this instant, with a clearly corrupt U.S. government on a mission to find corruption in the U.S. government, Alex Gibney’s The Dark Money Game will beat you down even further. The documentary, which consists of two very dissimilar yet uniformly depressing parts, is focused on the “dark money” of campaign finance in the era of the Citizens United decision. By even the halfway mark of the first feature-length episode, you’re likely to reach peak hopelessness.
The first installment, “Ohio Confidential,” tells a confined story of corruption in the Buckeye State, employing a pulpy detective fiction format to center around the death of a lobbyist. I appreciate the effort, but it works best when played straight, sans hardboiled narration (especially as it clashes with Gibney’s usual first-person narration, which suffices). Ultimately, it’s a relatively open and shut case and reminiscent of scandals pre-Citizens United (including Gibney’s Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room), so even though it’s concerning, it’s not too alarming, save for how it hints at Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration as being comparable.
The second installment, “Wealth of the Wicked,” is much broader in scope as it explores the history of the pro-life movement over the past 50 years and how gaming the current campaign finance laws led to the Supreme Court roster that overturned Roe v. Wade. I assume The Dark Money Game was already in production before this year, but it’s eerily relevant to the oligarchical ramp-up we’ve seen in recent months. Watching this film in sync with the news, I wonder if there’s anything left to do for anyone who isn’t a billionaire. The country has been bought. Gibney shows how it happened. “Wealth of the Wicked” is good, but it kicked my despair up a notch.
The Dark Money Game begins streaming on Max on Tuesday, April 15.
Final Vows (2024)
In times like these, monasteries look pretty appealing, whether in The White Lotus Season 3 or this new documentary about an abbey in Arizona celebrating its 50th anniversary amidst changing times, ideologically and environmentally. Final Vows gives viewers an inside look at the life of nuns at a Cistercian monastery, and the irony is that the film addresses how there aren’t enough young women answering the call of religious servitude. Sure, the religion part could be a turnoff, and the nuns on display in this film are some of the most boring documentary characters I’ve seen in a while. Still, if the order needs to recruit anyone, Final Vows is arriving at the right time.
Final Vows will be released digitally and on VOD on Tuesday, April 15.
Marcel Carrière Documentaries
Canadian documentary icon Marcel Carrière turns 90 this week, meaning it’s time to share our primer on Cinéma Direct films. Working for the National Film Board of Canada, Carrière became a pioneer of synchronous documentary sound recording and a founding member of a French-language Québecois production team alongside Michel Brault and Gilles Groulx. He’s the reason that sound design is such a significant element of Cinéma Direct classics like Les Raquetteurs and Pour la Suite du Monde. Both of these films are streaming for free on the NFB website, by the way.
On the same platform, you can find plenty of Carrière’s work as a director or directorial collaborator beyond his sound work. These include his 1961 directorial debut, Wrestling, and the ‘60s and ‘70s short films The Indian Speaks, 10 Miles/Hour, Ping-pong, The Battle of the Châteauguay, and the feature Games of the XXI Olympiad, which is also available on The Criterion Channel. I also recommend watching the six-minute clip of an interview with Carrière from Making Movie History: A Portrait in 61 Parts, also on the NFB site.
Documentary Release Calendar 4/11/25 - 4/17/25
Friday, April 11, 2025
Asog (2023) - A docufiction feature about a road trip to a drag pageant. (Digital/VOD)
Dogs Are People Too (2024) - A documentary about the movement to reclassify dogs as “non-human persons.” (VOD)
Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story (2024) - A documentary about the titular sport. (truTV)
From Ground Zero (2024) - An anthology film compiling 22 short documentaries made in Gaza. (OVID)
Just a Bit Outside: The Story of the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers (2024) - A feature-length documentary about the titular Major League Baseball team’s 1982 season. (Roku)
Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints Season 1, Episode 6: “Moses the Black” - The latest episode of this docuseries exploring the lives and sacrifices of historical saints focuses on the titular 4th-century escaped slave. (Fox Nation)
MGM Parade Show #25 (1955) - This installment of the Hollywood-focused docuseries showcases the MGM films The Firefly and Meet Me in Las Vegas. (TCM)
Mogwai: If the Stars Had a Sound (2024) - A feature documentary about the titular band. (VOD)
One to One: John & Yoko (2024) - A documentary by Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald (One Day in September) about John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s One to One charity concert for special needs children. You can find our review of One to One in the Pick of the Week section of this newsletter. (In IMAX Theaters)
Pets (2025) - A documentary directed by Bryce Dallas Howard about human-animal bonds. (Disney+)
Titanic: The Digital Resurrection (2025) - A feature documentary about the most detailed Titanic model yet. (National Geographic)
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up Season 2, Episode 6: “Baby Shower or Breakup” - The latest installment of this docuseries following Gypsy Rose Blanchard since her release from prison. (Lifetime)
New York Homicide Season 3, Episode 11: “Bronx Undercover” - The latest episode of this true-crime docuseries about recent murder cases in New York City is about a missing college student and a deadly conspiracy. (Oxygen)
Wildlife Rehab Episodes 5 & 6: “Building Confidence” & “Survival of the Fittest” - The latest two episodes of this docuseries about a wildlife rehabilitator in Saskatchewan and her team. (National Geographic WILD)
Sunday, April 13, 2025
The Americas Episode 10: “Patagonia” - The final episode of this 10-part nature docuseries narrated by Tom Hanks continues to showcase the flora and fauna of North and South America. Read our review of The Americas. (NBC)
Antarctic Voyage (2024) - A medium-length documentary about a biological research expedition to South Georgia to study the local wildlife. (In Theaters)
The Incarcerated Mass (2025) - A feature documentary about a survivor of violent crime and her therapeutic work with men sentenced to life in prison. (In Theaters)
Terrorbytes (2025) - A limited docuseries about horror video games. (VOD)
United States of Scandal Season 2, Episode 6: “Jack Abramoff” - The latest installment of this docuseries starring Jake Tapper about modern controversies focuses on the titular lobbyist. (CNN)
WWE Rivals Season 5, Episode 9: “Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins” - The latest episode of this docuseries about pro wrestling rivalries. (A&E)
Monday, April 14, 2025
Celtics City Chapter VII: “Not Again” - The seventh episode of this nine-part docuseries about the Boston Celtics focuses on the ‘90s and early ‘00s, Reggie Lewis, Paul Pierce, and new coach Rick Pitino. Read our review of Celtics City. (HBO and Max)
Confessions of Octomom Episode 6 - The latest installment of this six-part docuseries about Nadya Suleman, the mother of octuplets plus six other children. (Lifetime)
Count Me In (2021) - A feature documentary about legendary drummers. You can find our review of Count Me In in the highlights section of this week’s newsletter. (VOD)
Heroes at Leisure (1939) - A short documentary about lifeguards in the off-season. (TCM)
Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid Season 2, Episode 1: “Heaven and Hell” - The return of this docuseries about sacred relics premieres with an exploration of what happens to us after death. (History)
Light of the Setting Sun (2024) - A feature documentary about one family’s history since the 1949 Chinese Communist Revolution. (In Theaters)
Some of the Best (1944) - A documentary looking back at MGM’s films from 1924 through 1943. (TCM)
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
The Automat (2021) - A documentary about the history of automat restaurants. (TCM)
Behind the Curtain: Stranger Things the First Shadow (2025) - A documentary about the Stranger Things spinoff stage show. (Netflix)
The Carters: Hurts to Love You (2025) - A documentary directed by Soleil Moon Frye about Aaron Carter, Nick Carter, and their family. (Paramount+)
The Class Episode 5: “The Prize” - The latest installment of this six-part docuseries that follows six high school seniors as they plan for college during and after the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. Read our review of The Class. (PBS)
The Dark Money Game (2025) - A two-part documentary directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Alex Gibney about dark money in politics and campaign fundraising. You can find our review of The Dark Money Game in the highlights section of this week’s newsletter. (Max)
Final Vows (2024) - A feature documentary about nuns at a Cistercian monastery in Arizona. You can find our review of Final Vows in the highlights section of this week’s newsletter. (VOD)
The Kennedy Curse (2024) - A short documentary about the tragedies that have befallen the Kennedy family. (DVD)
King of Glory (2014) - An animated documentary about the stories of the Bible. (DVD)
Move When the Spirit Says Move: The Legacy of Dorothy Foreman Cotton (2023) - A documentary about the titular civil rights activist. (DVD)
The Murder of JFK: Confession of an Assassin (1996) - A feature documentary about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. (DVD)
Port Protection Alaska Season 8, Episode 6: “We Can Do Hard Things” - The latest episode of this docuseries about life in the titular Alaskan village focuses on deer hunting. (National Geographic)
The Trialside Studios Movie: Behind the Camera Chapter Three (2025) - The final chapter of a docuseries about the soul of filmmaking. (Blu-ray)
Vitalik: An Ethereum Story (2024) - A feature documentary about tech and crypto visionary Vitalik Buterin. (VOD, DVD, and Blu-ray)
Wingman (2025) - A documentary following a paragliding flight across Colorado. (VOD)
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Carolee, Barbara & Gunvor (2018) - A short documentary by Lynne Sachs about artists Carolee Schneemann, Barbara Hammer, and Gunvor Nelson. (OVID)
Contractions (2024) - A short documentary by Lynne Sachs showcasing 14 women performers who face away from their audience. (OVID)
The Diamond Heist (2025) - A docuseries from executive producer Guy Ritchie about a heist in London in 2000. (Netflix)
Expedition Files Season 2, Episode 1: “Conspiracy Theories” - The return of this docuseries investigating unexplained mysteries from history premieres with new claims about the Titanic and the death of Harry Houdini. (Discovery)
Eyes of the Navy (1940) - A short documentary about the training of naval aviators. (TCM)
Film About a Father Who (2020) - A feature documentary by Lynne Sachs about her Park City businessman father. (OVID)
Ghost Adventures Season 29, Episode 1: “Poltergeist House Curse” - The return of this docuseries investigating haunted places premieres with an exploration of the primary filming location for Poltergeist. (Discovery+)
Port Protection Alaska Season 8, Episode 6: “We Can Do Hard Things” - The latest episode of this docuseries about life in the titular Alaskan village focuses on deer hunting. (Hulu and Disney+)
Visit to Bernadette Mayer’s Childhood Home (2020) - A short documentary by Lynne Sachs about the titular poet. (OVID)
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Accused: Guilty or Innocent? Season 7, Episode 6: “Cyberbully Victim or Vengeful Knife Killer?” - The latest episode of this docuseries following individuals charged with crimes as told from their perspective. (A&E)
The Blues Under the Skin (1973) - A hybrid feature starring many famous blues singers. (Kino Film Collection)
Coastal (2025) - A concert film directed by Daryl Hannah starring her husband, Neil Young, showcasing his 2023 Coastal tour. You can find our review of Coastal in the highlights section of this week’s newsletter. (In Theaters)
I Know Catherine, the Log Lady (2025) - A feature documentary about actress Catherine E. Coulson and her role as the Log Lady on Twin Peaks. (In Theaters)
Merchant Ivory (2024) - A feature documentary about the filmmaking partnership of James Ivory and Ismail Merchant. Read our review of Merchant Ivory. (TCM)
The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story (1951) - A medium-length documentary presenting footage from new MGM movies of that year. (TCM)
The Pervert's Guide to Ideology (2012) - A documentary by Sophie Fiennes starring Slavoj Žižek, who discusses hidden themes in classic films. Read our review of The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology. (Kino Film Collection)
Prophet Without Honor (1939) - An Oscar-nominated short about Matthew Fontaine Maury, who developed the first maps charting the oceans' winds and currents. (TCM)
Youth (Hard Times) (2024) - A nearly four-hour documentary sequel from Wang Bing about migrant workers in clothing factories. (OVID)
Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon
4/23 - The Quincy Avery Effect - A feature documentary about the titular NFL coach. (Hulu)
4/25 - Pink Floyd at Pompeii - MCMLXXII - A restored version of the classic 1972 concert film. Watch the new trailer for the re-release below. (In IMAX Theaters)
5/2 - The Gullspång Miracle - A documentary that shares the story of two sisters who rented an apartment from a woman who looks identical to their long-dead sibling. (Film Movement+)
5/2 - Pavements - A hybrid feature about the titular rock band. (In Theaters)
5/5 - Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s - A documentary following three families in which a member has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. (PBS)
5/6 - My Robot Sophia - A feature documentary about David Hanson, an inventor attempting to perfect the most life-like AI. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (VOD)
5/15 - Deaf President Now! - A feature documentary by Oscar-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim and Nyle DiMarco about the push for a deaf person to be hired to be president of Gallaudet University, a school for the hearing-impaired. (In Theaters)
5/16 - American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden - A three-part docuseries in the American Manhunt franchise following the search for the mastermind behind 9/11. (Netflix)