“A tour de force… Suspenseful and quirky, Sheriff is touching and a lot of fun.”

“HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. The detail captured by Kraus’s scrupulously neutral camera adds up to a fascinating, fully realized portrait of the man and the job. It’s like an extended episode of COPS directed by Frederick Wiseman — and I mean that as a compliment on both counts.”

“Equal parts colorful character study and real world procedural, this nicely handled pic retains interest throughout, and is a good bet for film fests and TV slots.”

“Commendable filmmaking — an admirably realistic portrait of police life, pointedly different from the sensationalism of TV’s COPS… Despite all the human drama going on around Hewett — including a brutal murder — Kraus refuses to be distracted from his portrait of Hewett’s life.”

“Sheriff is seductive. By the end, the viewer cares about Hewett and respects his sense of duty. A TV journalist laying out the facts about a slice of Americana and letting the viewers decide the signficance — what a concept!”

“Without taking anything away from Frederick Wiseman, who remains a master, Sheriff is almost as good as any documentary he’s made.”

“Kraus’ short, no-frills documentary is a model of fly-on-the-wall filmmaking, punctuated with glimpses of human nature at its most unlovely and unloveable.”

“An outright masterpiece. As intimate as it is instructional and insightful, Sheriff stands as a unique cinematic accomplishment. The result is something spectacular, a film about a job that actually explains said career’s allure and fulfillment.”

“FOUR STARS… The editing and cinematography are artistic and there’s an organic sense of humor that can’t possibly be scripted. Educational, intriguing and fantastic, it produces a profound effect.”

“This insightful program offers an intriguing peek at small-town law enforcement.”

“Admirably restrained.”

“RECOMMENDED. Far from a high-minded, humorless meditation, Sheriff has its hilarious moments… like some existentialist episode of COPS.”

“Demonstrates the best the documentary form can offer, revealing a wealth of contradictory human frailties.”

“A far cry from the sensationalized antics of COPS, it’s deliberately paced and oddly hypnotic.”

“It’s a little COPS, a little Walking Tall, and a little The Andy Griffith Show.”

“In these fiercly polarized times, there’s no downside to a reminder that not every beefy, God-talking sheriff is a bigoted cracker itching to throw your Yankee ass in Hellhole County Jail.”

“The end result is a vastly interesting new voice in the world of documentary filmmaking.”

“RECOMMENDED. Sheriff offers a moving and respectful portrait of a vanishing breed in a vanishing place: sheriff in rural America.”

“Director Daniel Kraus astonishes his viewer with a richly textured journey. Using classic cinéma vérité techniques, Kraus strives not to inject subjective opinions about Hewett. Through the brilliant use of this minimalist technique, the only thing that affects our observations is Sheriff Hewett himself.”

“An intimate, action-packed portrait.”

“Refreshing… What makes this documentary stand out is that it’s done in the style of renowned cinéma vérité filmmaker Frederick Wiseman.”

“A fascinating character study… The film effectively delivers suspense and a fun, offbeat quality.”

“An intriguing documentary… Sheriff feels like an episode of COPS that is actually pleasant and interesting to watch.”

“RECOMMENDED. Sheriff plays like a satirical episode of COPS. It captures our own ambivalent attitudes toward the police upon whom we rely so heavily even as we regard them suspiciously.”