Leviathan is being called a documentary. In no way does the film hew to conventional notions of documentary storytelling, but it's a non-narrative film that's beautiful, mysterious, disorienting, and somehow revelatory.

Herewith, notes on the Portland International Film Festival's Grimm (and grimmer) opening-night silent-film Blancanieves, and the edgy, Man VS. Nature doc, Leviathan, plus notes on the recently restored stone-cold classic doc, Cousin Jules.

For its 50th edition, the New York Film Festival has pulled out all the stops with an array of films that highlight the enormous range and versatility of cinema. Here's a list of must-sees from among films I've viewed so far.