Reviews & Features

Reviews

BLAST!
"The capacity to blast open our understanding of the physical structure of the Universe... This absorbing documentary leads to some unexpected twists and turns and comedic hand wringing."
- Nathan Lee, The New York Times

SlamNation
"Frenetically high-powered...make(s) poetry sexy again in a way it hasn't been since the heyday of the Beats."
- Stephen Holden, The New York Times

Power Trip
"Superbly balanced and organized."
- Stephen Holden, The New York Times

Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme
"A rousing education in an art form that is too often missunderstood."
- A.O. Scott, The New York Times

BLAST!
"This adventuresome spin on breakthrough science should wow 'em!"
- Ronnie Scheib, Variety

Power Trip
"Made with deft evenhandedness, Paul Devlin's accomplished film plays almost like a fictional drama, containing suspense, comedy and some colorful characters."
- David Stratton, Variety

Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme
"This fascinating documentary offers a rare glimpse into communities of gifted street rhymers who challenge and support one another in inspiring, creative ways."
- Jon Matsumoto, Variety

SlamNation
"Urgent and eloquent!"
- Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Power Trip
"Bring[s] fresh meaning to the notion of the world as a global village."
- Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme
"For such a free-form approach to filmmaking, Freestyle is surprisingly well structured. Even if you have no previous interest in or extensive knowledge of hip-hop, Freestyle will draw you in, accomplishing that rare feat of making the creative process interesting while also telling a story."
- Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times

BLAST!
"Paul Devlin has been involved with two of the better documentaries of the ‘00s: Power Trip and Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme. Devlin comes away from his globe-hopping scientific adventure with a lot of terrific footage of giant balloons rising from barren landscapes, and stressed-out theoreticians nervously watching their fragile, expensive equipment scrape across ice floes." - Noel Murray, The Onion

SlamNation
"SlamNation is as much about cutthroat competition and unforgettable characters as it is about poetry, and that's ultimately what makes it entertaining..." - Nathan Rabin, The Onion

Power Trip
"Devlin addresses an impossible quagmire with sympathy for supplier and consumer alike, showing how they all work in good faith to drag Georgia into the 21st century. Ominous coda aside, the film is that rarest of rarities: a portrait of corporate responsibility."
- Scott Tobias, The Onion

Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme
"Affectionate, wildly entertaining...Boasts a loose, spontaneous, free-flowing feel that's perfectly suited to the sharp-witted improvisation and brash gamesmanship at its subject's heart." - Nathan Rabin, The Onion

SlamNation
"A pop culture phenonmenon!"
- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Power Trip
"Disturbing, yet weirdly entertaining—the kind of news we often get only from good indie documentaries."
- Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

BLAST!
"Fast, fun, and beautiful to look at, BLAST! communicates the joys and heartbreaks of scientific creativity."
- Cliff Doerksen, Chicago Reader

Features

This interview with BLAST! director Paul Devlin on Weekend World promoted the BLAST! broadcast on BBC World News, which reaches 71 million viewers each week, in over 120 countries.

Watch BLAST!'s Mark Devlin go head-to-head with Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report.

Listen in (starts around 12:00) as Mark and Paul Devlin discuss their work on BLAST! with NPR's Ira Flatow on Science Friday.

Writer Nancy Ramsey investigates the making of Power Trip in this New York Times feature.

Download PDF PDF

Director Paul Devlin talks about the challenges of independent distribution.

Brothers Paul Devlin and Mark Devlin chat with Leonard Lopate on NPR about BLAST! Check it out! Also, don't miss this interview on WNYC with Taylor Mali, Jessica Care Moore, and director Paul Devlin as they discuss SlamNation, poetry and much more.