Doc Watch

ECHO IN THE CANYON (B+) - This heartfelt documentary pays tribute to the 1960s Southern California music scene, more specifically, the Laurel Canyon gang that specialized in folk rock. The scene included the Byrds, the Mamas and the Papas and Crosby Stills Nash &Young. The Beach Boys were in there too.

Jakob Dylan is the perfect host, not only conducting insightful interviews but also helming a band performing re-interpretations of classic songs like "Go Where You Want to Go," accompanied by descendants of Laurel Canyon like Beck, Cat Power's Chan Marshall, and Fiona Apple. Michelle Phillips and other grey-haired survivors spin tales of the good old days.

It all has a warm glow and very little Boomer navel-gazing, thankfully. Roger McGuinn is particularly insightful. Tom Petty tags along with Dylan as a sort of guide and interpreter. Knowing Petty would die soon after filming adds a ruminative quality to the proceedings. It's all a joyful noise

ROLL RED ROLL (B) - This debut documentary from Nancy Schwartzman is a by-the-book true-crime chronicle of the infamous Steubenville, Ohio, videoed rape of a teenage girl by jocks from the local high school football team.

It's a concise 80 minutes that covers all the bases and manages to ratchet up the tension while covering the police investigation that exposes not only the entitled football players but their coaches, as well. The pacing can make for riveting viewing at times.

KNOCK DOWN THE HOUSE (B) - This feels like a quickie feel-good snapshot of Democratic women seeking office for the first time, during the 2018 congressional election. It is surprisingly engaging. It helps to have Alexandria Ocasio Cortez at the heart of it; she's an endlessly appealing millennial firebrand and Cinderella story. Of course, it helps to be sympathetic to her as a person and not fear her as a socialist ogre. Interestingly, She is the only one of the four women featured to win her House race. But each woman is inspirational in her own way. This one sneaks up on you.

BONUS TRACK
Jakob Dylan and Fiona Apple team up on Brian Wilson's "In My Room":