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It's a documentary-heavy list this week; no fluffy fiction for you to watch this weekend.  Without further ado, here's this week's list of 5: 1 - So you say you missed it when it was in theaters, on PBS and you haven't rented or purchased it on DVD, and you really want to see it? No sweat... Kartemquin Films critically acclaimed, award-winning documentary, The Interrupters, is streaming on Netflix right now. So you're just a few clicks away from meeting The Interrupters, including Ameena Matthews in her fifth year working as a violence interrupter for CeaseFire, as well as Cobe Williams, Eddie Bocanegra, and the Director of CeaseFire...

"The Interrupters," a film about former criminals working to stop violence in Chicago, was named best documentary at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Saturday night.

Filmmakers Steve James and Alex Kotlowitz followed the violence interrupters working for Chicago's CeaseFire, an organization founded by Dr. Gary Slutkin. Slutkin believed that violence should be treated like a disease -- and the organization has managed to reduce shootings and killings by 41 to 73 percent, according to an independent evaluation by the Department of Justice.

James' widely acclaimed documentary "Hoop Dreams" was snubbed by the Oscars in 1994, and many were shocked to see the same thing happen with "The Interrupters." But the Independent Spirit Award for "Best Documentary," as Roger Ebert notes, is "no less significant."

“It's really great to win this award and win it the day before the Oscars,” James told the Chicago Tribune after winning the Spirit award Saturday. “It's a great...

Chicago – On Sunday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will name what they consider to be the Best Documentary of 2011. They will be wrong. How do I know? Because it’s not even nominated. The actual best documentary of last year (which was a Very good year from the form with everything from “Into the Abyss” to “Tabloid” to “Pearl Jam Twenty” to “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory”) was not nominated. That title goes to Steve James’ “The Interrupters,” which was recently released on Blu-ray and DVD and is simply a must-see.

Rating: 5.0/5.0

The people profiled in “The Interrupters” are true heroes. They have been through a darkness that most of you reading this can’t even imagine and they didn’t come through it shell-shocked or afraid; they came through it wanting to make a difference in the world. Where most people see a lost cause or something that demands a forceful response,...

Chicago – Life was a happy song at the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards night, which celebrated the best cinematic achievements of 2011, while presenting honorary awards to some very special guests. The event was held January 7 at the Broadway Playhouse, and was highlighted by appearances from some of the brightest talents in show business.

Jason Segel, the exuberant star of “Freaks and Geeks,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “How I Met Your Mother,” was honored with the Comedia Extraordinaire Award for his triumphant efforts to resurrect the late Jim Henson’s waning franchise by co-writing and acting in “The Muppets.” At a press conference prior to the awards show, Segel was characteristically humble and self-deprecating while reflecting on his own work. In the case of his “Muppet” co-stars, he had nothing but praise.

“Working with [Amy Adams] and Chris Cooper, I realized why those people get nominated for awards and I don’t,” said Segel.

The Interrupters was originally reviewed on September 9th, 2011.

Every day thousands of people across the nation grit their teeth in frustration while reading the daily papers and weekly news magazines. Many more clench their fists against their armchairs while watching local TV news broadcasts. It seems the country (or, state or home city) is going to “Hell in a hand basket!. But they.re not part of the government-what can they do? Film maker Steve James (Hoop Dreams) and author/producer Alex Kottlowitz addresses this dilemma in the powerful new documentary The Interrrupters. the individuals profiled here, armed only with their wits and a cell phone, may be the most heroic action stars that you.ll see in the cinemas this year.

The Interrupters documents the effort of an organization called CeaseFire to stem the rising tide of the youth violence (particularly in the south side of Chicago). As the title suggests these people,...