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List top 3 favorite documentaries

post #1 of 89
8/20/08 at 5:58pm
Thread Starter 
So just list your top three favorite documentaries.

I'll start:

1.God Grew Tired of Us- awesome documentary about the 'Lost Boys' of Sudan who come to America as refugees.

2. Darius Goes West- a remarkable grassroots documentary that should definitely get more recognition. If you haven't heard of this one just look at their clip- Video clip

3.Baraka- An older documentary done in the early 90's with a 70mm film. A masterpiece with different clips of cultures and places around the world with music in the background. - awesome trailer that will make your hair stand up- video clip
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post #2 of 89
8/20/08 at 6:00pm
It's a shame because this is probably a great idea for a thread, but I'm pretty sure you're a shill.
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post #3 of 89
8/20/08 at 6:01pm
Off the top of my head since I recently watched these:

1. Crumb -it's fucking fascinating

2. King of Kong -Every person I have showed this to falls in love with it. And that's after bemoaning the fact that it's a documentary...about Donkey Kong

3. The Beginning -doc from Episode 1. I watch this more than the flick. It's sorta heartbreaking to watch all of the bad decisions being made. Most noticeably hiring Jake Lloyed for Anakin as opposed to the other kid.
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post #4 of 89
8/20/08 at 6:06pm
Okay, if we're validating the thread.

1) The Emperor's Naked Amry Marches On

Incredible film which follows a Japanese 2nd World War veteran as he attempts to confront the people who have wronged him. Really edge of your seat sort of stuff at times and utterly harrowing.

2) Jonestown: The Life and Death of People's Temple

This is one of the few films to utterly wreck me in the cinema, just hearing the survivors and relatives of the People's Temple was incredible.

3) Tambogrande: Mines, Mangos and Murder

Utterly fascinating film about a small Peruvian village assembling a nationwide strike to stop a Canadian owned Mine being built on their land.
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post #5 of 89
8/20/08 at 6:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spike Marshall View Post
Okay, if we're validating the thread.

1) The Emperor's Naked Amry Marches On

Incredible film which follows a Japanese 2nd World War veteran as he attempts to confront the people who have wronged him. Really edge of your seat sort of stuff at times and utterly harrowing.

2) Jonestown: The Life and Death of People's Temple

This is one of the few films to utterly wreck me in the cinema, just hearing the survivors and relatives of the People's Temple was incredible.

3) Tambogrande: Mines, Mangos and Murder

Utterly fascinating film about a small Peruvian village assembling a nationwide strike to stop a Canadian owned Mine being built on their land.
The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On sounds amazing. Why am I shill, because I'm new?
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post #6 of 89
8/20/08 at 6:30pm
I tend to like my docs light apparently. haha.
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post #7 of 89
8/20/08 at 6:38pm
Guy with 2 posts recommending a little heard of modern film will always get my suspicions.

Emperor's Naked Army is fantastic, it's by Kazuo Hara who I view as a modern master of the documentary form. I think there's a Region 1 dvd of the film.
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post #8 of 89
8/20/08 at 6:58pm
Thread Starter 
I got ya, Nice I'll have to look for it.
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post #9 of 89
8/20/08 at 6:58pm
I tend to gravitate towards documentaries that capture the insanity and drama of the human experience as opposed to ones that deal with any overarching political or social issues. As such, my Top 3 are:

3. Grey Gardens - No best documentary list is going to be complete without a Maysles brothers entry. And holy shit is this film the epitome the insanity and drama of the human experience. It's what every "day in the life" reality television show strives, and fails, to be.

2. Grizzly Man - A tragic story about the hubris of a clinically delusional man. The scene where Herzog listens to the audio of the bear attack is one of the most unnerving and chilling things I've ever seen put on film.

1. American Movie - One of my favorite movies period. You couldn't write better characters than Mark Borchardt and Mike Schank.
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post #10 of 89
8/20/08 at 7:08pm
Dark Days - Everything about it, even the music.

Sick - Odd film, but I admire the guy for getting everything he wanted out of life.
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post #11 of 89
8/20/08 at 7:16pm
1) Lake of Fire - Abortion documentary that really just knocks the wind out of you right at the start and doesn't let up the entire film. The most straight-forward, honest depiction of both sides of the argument that I have ever seen.

2) Sicko - My favorite of Moore's documentaries.

3) Crumb - Marvelous, non-judgmental look behind the scenes of an incredible artist, but a seriously messed-up human being.
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post #12 of 89
8/20/08 at 9:50pm
1. Harlan County USA

2. High School

3. Titicut Follies
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post #13 of 89
8/20/08 at 10:12pm
Hoop Dreams

The Up Series

Roger and Me

So many many honorable mentions......
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post #14 of 89
8/20/08 at 10:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TCD View Post

1. American Movie - One of my favorite movies period. You couldn't write better characters than Mark Borchardt and Mike Schank.

I fucking love that flick.

"Jesus looovvess you...."
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post #15 of 89
8/20/08 at 11:07pm
Are they still moving forward with the fictionalized "King of Kong"?
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post #16 of 89
8/21/08 at 10:30am
some of my favorites are:

When We Were Kings
Hearts of Darkness
Brother's Keeper
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post #17 of 89
8/21/08 at 1:58pm
I have a warm spot for Nick Broomfield's Kurt and Courtney, which fails as a documentary about its ostensible subject, Was Kurt Cobain Murdered?, but is a huge success in portraying a creepy, amoral world of hangers-on and Courtney's sad, sad life.

I've always wanted to see High School by Wiseman, but my friend's yearlong quest to find Titticut Follies convinced me his films are very hard to track down.

Have to mention that My Best Fiend/Wings of Hope by Herzog are great. Also, the Showtime episode of This American Life detailing the lives of several people named John Smith is one of the best things in terms of music and editing I've seen this year. Excellent and affecting.
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post #18 of 89
8/21/08 at 2:01pm
I second Hearts Of Darkness and When We Were Kings and would definitely add:

Why We Fight
The Devils Advocate
The Smartest Guys In The Room
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post #19 of 89
8/21/08 at 2:02pm
Can't list just 3:

DARK DAYS
CRUMB
GRIZZLYMAN
KING OF KONG
DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO SESAME STREET




... LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK

EDIT: I really need to broaden my documentary horizons. I'm more picky and prone to seek out subject matter that appeals to me (I'll pick dinosaurs over say, the Civil War), than I am with fictional films (and I am a genre whore). I think it stems from my hating "assigned education" growing up. I love learning, but never what I'm obligated/ordered to, if you know what I mean.
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post #20 of 89
8/21/08 at 2:07pm
This thread could go no further without a mention of Gimme Shelter.
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post #21 of 89
8/21/08 at 2:07pm
Burden of Dreams - A fantastic doc about making of Fitzcarraldo. Don't want to say a single negative thing about Hearts of Drakness, but I prefer this one.
American Movie
King of Kong

Edit: Oh, I remember really loving DiG!
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post #22 of 89
8/21/08 at 2:08pm
Don't wanna be predicatable, but:

Capturng the Friedmans
Grizzly Man
American Movie

Haven't seen Man on Wire, but that has the potential to be one of my favouratist films ever.
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post #23 of 89
8/21/08 at 2:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Felt Pelt View Post
I've always wanted to see High School by Wiseman, but my friend's yearlong quest to find Titticut Follies convinced me his films are very hard to track down.

Not anymore.
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post #24 of 89
8/21/08 at 2:28pm
'Metal: A Headbanger's Journey'
'Hoop Dreams'
'The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl'
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post #25 of 89
8/21/08 at 2:31pm
Not to forget about:

One Day In September
Heavy Metal in Bagdad
Microcosmos
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post #26 of 89
8/21/08 at 2:36pm
Headbanger's Journey and Heavy Metal in Baghdad are great picks. Baghdad in particular.

Has Gimme Shelter fallen out of favor? Just out of curiousity? I'd always gotten the impression it was one of the definitive examples of the genre.

People laugh at it, but I'll say Some Kind of Monster. It's fascinating to watch even if you don't like the people involved.
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post #27 of 89
8/21/08 at 2:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jan View Post

Microcosmos
100% agree on this one. I can't believe that I forgot about it. I'll also add:

'Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance'
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post #28 of 89
8/21/08 at 2:44pm
Baraka
F for Fake - does this count?
This is Kung Fu! - If you like kung fu and amazing athletic skill, find this, watch this, and love this.
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post #29 of 89
8/21/08 at 2:48pm
Thank you, Phil. From how I understood it, that site used to not have the DVD-for-individual-use-only option. My friend pirated Follies from a hospital library copy. I'm on a ridiculously tight budget, but it's nice to know it's available if I'm ever not.

Also:

Gates of Heaven
Mr. Death (just for the scene of how Mr. Death met his ex-wife. She was a waitress, he drank 42 cups of coffee a day)
Occupation: Dreamland
Children Underground

Childen Underground is terrifying. Director lived with Romanian orphans, filmed them and did not interfere, no matter what. This means when an orphan girl around ten gets upset because her friend is not paying attention to her and begins cutting her arms with glass as an expression of her anger, she kept filming.
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post #30 of 89
8/21/08 at 2:55pm
'Who Killed The Electric Car?' was a lot of fun.
As has been said a thousand times here, 'King of Kong' is greatness.
'The Devil and Daniel Johnston' is just fantastically weird. What a strange, fascinating guy.
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post #31 of 89
8/21/08 at 3:23pm
American Movie
King Of Kong
Bus 174 - a gutwrenching look at the Favelas of Brazil

Also of interest (and watchable on the net) True Norwegian Black Metal... You won't believe it's real.
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post #32 of 89
8/21/08 at 3:35pm
Oh, Dream Deceivers, which you can watch online for free, and none of you did when I posted it. You people hate documentaries.
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post #33 of 89
8/21/08 at 3:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil View Post
Oh, Dream Deceivers, which you can watch online for free, and none of you did when I posted it. You people hate documentaries.
I watched it (rewatched it, actually). So there.
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post #34 of 89
8/21/08 at 3:42pm
Doesn't count. Anyone who saw this on PBS would maybe kill to see it again. Your rewatch was never in question!
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post #35 of 89
8/21/08 at 3:43pm
Hoop Dreams
Comedian
4 Little Girls
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post #36 of 89
8/21/08 at 3:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil View Post
Your rewatch was never in question!
Much obliged. Aspects of this documentary are also touched on in 'Metal: A Headbanger's Journey' as well. VH1 Classic plays this doc (edited) every once in a while, FWIW.
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post #37 of 89
8/21/08 at 4:16pm
Never had the chance to see Comedian, but heard close to great things. Is it even available as a region 1 disc, cos I don't think it is over here?
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post #38 of 89
8/21/08 at 4:19pm
Comedian was garbage. IMHO, it focused on one comedian way too much.
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post #39 of 89
8/21/08 at 8:08pm
:03 Seconds from Gold (1972 USA Olympic Basketball) - an HBO documentary

Hoop Dreams

Murderball
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post #40 of 89
8/21/08 at 8:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by billylove View Post
Comedian was garbage. IMHO, it focused on one comedian way too much.
Wha huh? That comedian was the focus of the doc. I can understand not liking the movie but that's like saying Grizzly Man spends too much time focusing on that guy that lived with bears.
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post #41 of 89
8/21/08 at 8:28pm
Good Copy, Bad Copy

Awesome documentary that explores the actual idea of copyright and how messy a concept it can be. Goes all over the place looking for history and precedent. You can watch it online for free.

Had a big to-do of watching and discussing this one in my Distribution class.
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post #42 of 89
8/21/08 at 11:08pm
Jesus Camp

The Aristocrats

King of Kong
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post #43 of 89
8/21/08 at 11:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by myk View Post
Wha huh? That comedian was the focus of the doc. I can understand not liking the movie but that's like saying Grizzly Man spends too much time focusing on that guy that lived with bears.
Grizzly Man was bad too.
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post #44 of 89
8/22/08 at 2:32am
It's been a long time since I've seen it, but I remember Paradise Lost: The Child Murders of Robin Hood Hills hitting me like a sledgehammer to the balls.
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post #45 of 89
8/22/08 at 2:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted By Sackley
Never had the chance to see Comedian, but heard close to great things. Is it even available as a region 1 disc, cos I don't think it is over here?

It's available on Region 1 and definitely worth picking up. In addition to a great movie (a really first rate look at what motivates stand-ups to put themselves through it), you get a hilarious commentary track (one of two) on which Seinfeld and Colin Quinn constantly mock Orny Adams, the completely obnoxious prick of a comic whose burgeoning stand-up career is contrasted with Jerry's 'just for the art' return to the clubs.
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post #46 of 89
8/22/08 at 2:57pm
Dammit. I missed the good in that. I didn't even think of the commentary track.
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post #47 of 89
8/22/08 at 3:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by billylove View Post
Grizzly Man was bad too.
Wha? Explain yourself. I found it utterly enthralling. A trainwreck of a human being showcased by Master of the Universe Herzog, of all people.

HOW TO DRAW A BUNNY was quite a quirky and eerie study of a bizarre artist's mind and work. I recommend.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303348/
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post #48 of 89
8/22/08 at 5:04pm
That's why I didn't like it. I enjoy Herzog, but I was glad when he was eaten.
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post #49 of 89
8/22/08 at 5:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratty View Post
It's been a long time since I've seen it, but I remember Paradise Lost: The Child Murders of Robin Hood Hills hitting me like a sledgehammer to the balls.
I forgot about this one but you're all kinds of right.
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post #50 of 89
8/23/08 at 3:43am
Loving this thread. Especially loved The King of Kong and I don;t play video games. Mike Schank came to my theatre to promote American Movie. He was just like in the movie. Just saw a new one on Dalton Trumbo the blacklisted writer. I really got into ii and was sad that I was the only one in the theatre for it.
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