Can anyone recommened good documentaries?

[Dave _from_Kiev]

I have a blockbuster online account and love documentaries. any kind really but insider stuff like conspiracies, cover up's and expose's ( legitimate not farenheit 911 type) are what I really like. earl made mention of outfoxed and I have that on my list. any others I should see?

[ShooterMcGavin]

I personally enjoy the mockumentary "A Day Without a Mexican," which uses humor and stereotypes to catch your attention and teach you about how important these illegal immigrants are to California's economy.

It is sending a message, but it's also funny. People look out their windows and see lawn mowers running by themselves, leaf blowers spinning in circles with no one controlling them.

[FAngel]

Even though O&A already talked about it a lot, Murderball was really cool. It's the one about the wheelchair rugby players...and not the waterhead ones; these are savage motherfuckers who rig their wheelchairs specifically for a contact sport like rugby. Great stuff and it doesn't run too long.

[THE FEZ MAN]

the origin of aids was great, it goes into how they used to make polio vacine from monkeys, i also like one that had to do with the israli occupation of the west bank, i forget the name it was just on IFC. the mireical of life is a nother good one. i too like documentrys, i saw another one that had to do with ritch kids but i forget the name of it too

[Dave _from_Kiev]

wow I figured Id get alot more responses on this thread. seems the doc lovers are few and far between here.

[Fruit Monkey]

ALL I can say is any thing on INHD. They are doing The Living Sea with some great Sting music. After you mute the sound the visual Kicks ASS!

[Swamp CAve]

Check out the website for PBS' "Frontline." They have a lot of good documentaries about current events. You can order them on DVD or watch many of them online.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/

[SuperGolfer]

Shoah. http://imdb.com/title/tt0090015/

I've been watching this all weekend. It's the most intense, powerful, moving documentary you'll ever see. I was literally on the edge of my seat during some parts.

Before anybody says "were ya?" YES. It's that powerful and captivating.

It's a little long (9.5 hours. yeah, you read right, almost ten hours long), but it's beyond words. It's a fucking experience.


to show I'm not all serious...

When I bought it at Tower, the register girl had no idea what it was. I said "It's a ten hour documentary about the holocuast. You know a feelgood movie."

car crash.

[Dave _from_Kiev]

Shoah. http://imdb.com/title/tt0090015/

I've been watching this all weekend. It's the most intense, powerful, moving documentary you'll ever see. I was literally on the edge of my seat during some parts.

Before anybody says "were ya?" YES. It's that powerful and captivating.

It's a little long (9.5 hours. yeah, you read right, almost ten hours long), but it's beyond words. It's a fucking experience.


to show I'm not all serious...

When I bought it at Tower, the register girl had no idea what it was. I said "It's a ten hour documentary about the holocuast. You know a feelgood movie."

car crash.

thanks it sounds riveting. imdb mentioned the barber, that sold it for me.

[PCLoadLetter]

Any of Ken Burns' documentaries are good, especially the one that changed the face of documentaries... "The Civil War". If you haven't seen it, and you're a documentary fan, you should be ashamed of yourself. :)

[thekidslepthere]

For a incredibly funny doc. the best is "Hands on Hard Body" It's about one of those contests in Texas where 24 people put their hands on a pick up truck and the one who can stand there the longest wins it. One woman brings her christian music tapes, one fat guy brings a case of baby ruth's for energy, there's an ex marine who has a movie that inspired him to win the same contest a couple years before, and when you hear what the movie is you'll die. I know it's not political, but just rent it.

For Ken Burns, my favorite has always been Lewis and Clark, for some reason, a group of guys making it from the mid west to the pacific in 1805, is crazy. And they have great people reading the explorers letters in character.

For music. Digg (maybe Dig?) It's about the bands The Dandy Warhols, and the Brians Jonestown Massacre. Two bands that were friends. One makes it, the other becomes junkies and get in a full on fist fight on stage during their big show for record labels. You don't even need to know the bands, it's still really good.

Also Trekkies (the first one is much better than the sequel) and Overnight, about the guy who wrote and directed Boondock Saints.

[Swamp CAve]

Here's another website that has documentaries.

http://www.documentary-film.net/

I think many of the documentaries are from independent filmmakers, so they might not be that good. I'm going to check the site out when I have more time.

[Hudson]

I saw one the other night about being a porn person..I want to say the title was "I am Your God", but I can't Find it on IMDB.
Kinda disturbing..especially the part where the mom acts as the Daughter's Manager and watches all her takes.
Or the porn guy who admits to 5 kids and never sees any of them.

[THE FEZ MAN]

i forgot about front line they rock

[thekidslepthere]

Does anybody remember the name of the one about the homeless people living in the old subway tunnels? I remember that being pretty cool.

Dark Days, was that it? Or something like it.

[Swamp CAve]

Does anybody remember the name of the one about the homeless people living in the old subway tunnels? I remember that being pretty cool.

Dark Days, was that it? Or something like it.

Yeah, Dark Days. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Days_%28documentary%29

[mendozathejew]

anyone seen "the smashing machine"? its about mark kerr who dominated mma for a few years. he was jacked up on steroids pain killers and who knows what else. its real good because of the complete contrast between the savage beatings he gave in the ring compared to his attitude outside it.

[BravoSierra]

I don't think it's on DVD yet, but what was the name of that documentary where the director gave a couple soldiers some video cameras in Iraq? War Stories? The director was in studio one day.

[FAZ8218]

When We Were Kings
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118147/

[thekidslepthere]

Going back to the WNEW days, does anyone else remember "King Gimp" the best documentary about a cerebal palsy artist ever made.

This was the guy who fell out of his wheel chair because he was clapping too hard when this doc won the best documentary academy award in 2000.

I think they did a bit where you had to guess what King Gimp was saying which was impossible.

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be amazed, but for all the wrong reasons.

[Ol'BloodyBottom]

There is a Basketball film that follows 2 inner city coloreds from threir freshman year to to college. Both good Ball players and really really good. I watched about 5 times I just cant remember the name. Someone help.

[thekidslepthere]

There is a Basketball film that follows 2 inner city coloreds from threir freshman year to to college. Both good Ball players and really really good. I watched about 5 times I just cant remember the name. Someone help.

It's called "Hoop Dreams"

Another great music doc is "Heavy Metal Parking Lot"

It's exatly what it says, 1980's white trash hicks in the parking lot of a Judas Priest concert, in West Virginia, or somewhere else like that.

[Ol'BloodyBottom]

It's called "Hoop Dreams"

Another great music doc is "Heavy Metal Parking Lot"

It's exatly what it says, 1980's white trash hicks in the parking lot of a Judas Priest concert, in West Virginia, or somewhere else like that.
YES HOOP DREAMS.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0110057/
must see bro

[DonTheTrucker]

If you ever liked wrestling, or if you just like to watch wrestlers smoke crack try this one:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218043/

[Palerider4146]

For someone who doesnt like wrestling or basketball, both Beyond the Mat and Hoop Dreams were fantastic. I'm a huge MMA fan, but havnt seen "Smashing Machine" yet, is it that good Menodoza?

For music fans, "tribute" which follows a few tribute bands around was pretty good, Ope had talked about it once.

Also one I enjoyed a lot was about the Latin Kings and their former leader King Loc who got put away during the film. I really enjoyed it even more because the Kings were headquarted in the are I worked back in the day.

[Exanimate]

It is sports related, but even if you aren't a sports fan a good one is "Ashes to Glory". It is the story of the 1970 Marshall University Football team that died in a plane crash, and the story of how the program came back. They just made a movie out of the story called "We Are Marshall". If you are interested in seeing it, and can't find it, let me know.

[Budyzir]

anyone seen "the smashing machine"? its about mark kerr who dominated mma for a few years. he was jacked up on steroids pain killers and who knows what else. its real good because of the complete contrast between the savage beatings he gave in the ring compared to his attitude outside it.

I was going to mention this one, excellent Doc.

[JoeFromDetroit]

Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills

About the crime. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Memphis_3)
About the movie. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost:_The_Child_Murders_at_Robin_Hood_Hil ls)

[Suicidebree]

Murderball
Grizzly MAn
War Tapes
Enron smartest guys in the room
Why we fight
death in gaza
roger and me
michael moore hates america
ice man: confessions hitman
outfoxed
Jesus camp
american movie
supersize me
control room
aristocrats
capturing the friedmans
who killed the eletric car

[Mommadeez4u]

My Architect
(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373175/) (IMDB Entry)

Official Website (http://www.myarchitectfilm.com/)

Really great film on Louis Kahn, architect of such buildings as:

The Salk Institute (http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Salk_Institute.html)

http://data.greatbuildings.com/gbc/images/cid_3147944.jpg

National Assembly in Dacca
(http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/National_Assembly_in_Dacc.html)

http://www.myarchitectfilm.com/images/homeimage1.jpg

The Esherick House

http://www.philau.edu/admissions/studentjournals/Archive/studentjournals0405/jennifer/img/photos/050505/esherick%20house%20(1).jpg

Philips Exeter Academy Library (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillips_Exeter_Academy)

Among others.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Exeter_library_interior.jpg/399px-Exeter_library_interior.jpg

[WonkaVision]

THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON

Follow the Self-recorded life of Daniel Johnston, a troubled musician. Crazy as a fucking loon, he obsessivly self documented himself over his entire life. Fucking amazing movie.

[tar_baby]

Celsius 41.11

[Palerider4146]

Anything from HBO sports, but namely "Do you believei in Miracles" about the 80 olympic team and they had one about Jim McKay that was fantastic.

[Hog_Juice]

A great I saw was called Dark Days about the "mole people" under New York. Outfoxed is good. The filth and the fury or the GG allin doc called Hated.

[Boba Dousch]

Comedian

[Cunty McShitballs]

I second the "Hoop Dreams" recommendation. Also "Stevie" by the same director (Steve James) is fantasic. Steve James goes back and revisits a dude that he was a mentor for during his teenage years. The kid was really troubled, and greq up to be a real piece of shit white trash child molester. Fantastic watch.

Also, I just watched "The Donner Party" on American Experience, that was freakin awesome for a TV show doc.

[nikoloslvy]

burried in the sand....
violent muslims caught on film.

obsession: radical islam\'s war against the west
(i dont know if its out on dvd yet) muslims from the pulpit.scary.

Bukowski: Born into This
bukowski-drinkin.(havent seen this yet)

[westben2002]

In search for one eyed jimmy

its about this film maker who goes back to his old hometown in NYC after spending 5 years in hollywood, and he meets his old friends, and they are looking for his friends brother named jimmy who has a glass eye, who has recently gone missing

[SuperGolfer]

In search for one eyed jimmy

its about this film maker who goes back to his old hometown in NYC after spending 5 years in hollywood, and he meets his old friends, and they are looking for his friends brother named jimmy who has a glass eye, who has recently gone missing


I have this on video and highly recommend it.

But it's called "THE Search for One EYE Jimmy"

[Wilmington WOW]

[QUOTE=Mommadeez4u]My Architect
(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373175/) (IMDB Entry)

Official Website (http://www.myarchitectfilm.com/)

Really great film on Louis Kahn,


that was a good flick
he was a good Philly boy

other great suggestions
I cut and pasted alot of everyone's suggestions right in to my netflix queue

[DonTheTrucker]

It's a bit dated but Farenhype 9/11 is a good one to watch right after you watch the Michael Moore Farenheit 9/11. It takes the latter movie apart, piece by piece and shows the other side of that argument. Clinton's old advisor is the narrator.

[boardsofcanada]

I Hate This Place. Nothing Works Here.the Medications Don't Work. I've Been Here For Seven Years

[Sidekick Dave]

One of my all-time favorites is when HBO did their documentary on child beauty queens in the south. Redneck mother forces her kid to be dressed up in dolls like Jonbenet and she pulls her kid out of school and leaves her in the care of these two faggots who make money off the pain and sufferring of little kids everywhere. Good stuff though. Barely can walk and talk and yet they look like midget 35 year old skanks!

[Kool Aid]

yes, hoop dreams rocks..

Watch "the war room", it is about the first clinton campaign...damn good, even if you haate clinton...

another good politcal documentary is---chisolm 72

[Harvey_Birdman]

Shoah. http://imdb.com/title/tt0090015/

I've been watching this all weekend. It's the most intense, powerful, moving documentary you'll ever see. I was literally on the edge of my seat during some parts.

"Shoah" has its moments, but for long-ass depressing WWII documentaries I still prefer "The Sorrow and the Pity".

[BusyChild04]

"Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer" is a great documentary. Any documentary on war, crime, and psychos is grade A stuff.

[Hudson]

Pimps up Ho's Down

[Atomic Fireball]

I've never seen it but I remember Ant was raving once about some documentary called Triumph of the Will.

[Hudson]

There was a good one following Ray Romano and Kevin James as they tried to qualify for a spot on a golfing tournament on Showtime....ok it was mildly entertaining

[BruceKellysJunk]

My favorite two non-educational documentaries:

Dogtown and Z-boys (http://imdb.com/title/tt0275309/)
Formation and history of the Zephyr skate team

and

Touching the Void (http://imdb.com/title/tt0379557/)
Guys stuck on a mountain

[ChrisH]

My GF and I recently saw "This Film Is Not Yet Rated," a great documentary about how Hollywood rates (PG, R, NC17) movies. Really interesting, exposes the hypocrisy of the board when it comes to violence v. sex, male v. female nudity, etc. The central theme of the movie, other than interviews and the impact that NC17 can have on a movie's distribution, etc., was that they hired a private investigation firm to track down the members (they are anonymous) and find out their demographic info. I won't ruin the results, but let's just say the MPAA isn't exactly honest about the people and the process surrounding movie ratings.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493459/

p.s. The director (Kirby Dick) is a SPITTING IMAGE of The Fez Man here, especially in the begining when he has the same soul patch.

No homo.

[Dave _from_Kiev]

I just watched yes men. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379593/

Its a group of wto haters and their guerilla tactics to shame them. Its great b/c It reminds me of AOTM. good movie a little slow but entertaining. If you like seeing rich powerful people being made to look like asses Its for you.

[Dave _from_Kiev]

I finished watching "the corporation" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379225/

Its a great movie about the birth of corporations and the effect they have on the country. I learned things that corporations did that I never new happened (which alone is reason to watch) Its somewhat fair and balanced because they have ceo's of major corporations giving their viewpoint.

This movie has the ability to change your views on corporations and what your being told. I highly recommened it to people who like to pay attention to whats going on around them but never seem to know where to find the info.

best part? around 00:34:00 min into the film there is some b-roll footage of an O&A sign in times square.

definitely watch the extras. really interesting ideas about change and the future of the world and this country.

[SOS]

NOVA on PBS does some good documentaries.
Also, Secrets of the Dead is good as well.


Sorry, that is like saying Bill O'Reilly is Fair and Balanced because he has liberal guests on from time to time. I can see the bias for I know what socialism & marxism are and how it is portrayed by those adherants to it.

I have read their "propaganda." /reflective

[Puddle O AIDs]

I'm looking to buy "Kill Your Idols" i saw it at FYE and it looks pretty good. its basicly about the early 80's inie music scene. anyone see it before i buy it?

[nitefly5150]

Things I've seen on IFC:

Dogtown and Z-Boys

The Thin Blue Line (never seen all of it, but it seemed pretty good) - look in Wikipedia, not imdb, imdb doesn't seem to have this one.

Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession - about one of the first pay tv channels

Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood

[Dave _from_Kiev]

I just finished orwell rolls in his grave http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0410407/

A great documentary about the news and the information we are given and not given in comparison to orwell's book 1984. Its a interesting movie that sheds a lot of light on the industry and its current incarnation and how they influence the government and us. Some of the speakers are a little boring but have interesting views on journalism. worth seeing.

[qaylin]

scared straight
of course...

the boys of 2nd street park
thanfuckingtastic

be good, smile pretty
swift boat bravo sierra.. entertaining though.

[Hudson]

I almost forgot a classic..Endless Summer
There was a great one about surfing Big Waves that really held me captivated..seeing guys surfing 4 story waves...and eating it about 3 stories up...always entertaining.

[ShavedLebaneseBear]

If you ever rode BMX back in it's golden years (70's and 80's), and you know who Stu, Greg, and Oz are, then you must see
"Joe Kid on a Stingray: The History of BMX".

http://www.joekidonastingray.com/

[pattys_hymen]

I second The Corporation and Orwell Rolls in His Grave, these are two of the best documentraies ever.

Also,

With God on Our Side: George W. Bush and the Rise of the Religious Right in America

Let's Rock Again ( A Doc filmed on tour with Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros, he dies during the filming)
End of the Century (The Story of the Ramones)
Spellbound
Born Into Brothels
Lipstick & Dynamite, Piss & Vinegar:The First Ladies of Wrestling (LOVED THIS)

America: From Freedom to Fascism
Jesus Camp
Wordplay
Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election
The True Meaning of Pictures: Shelby Lee Adams' Appalachia (hillbillies=funny)
Hated - G.G. Allin & the Murder Junkies
Capturing the Friedmans
Bright Leaves (the tobacco industry)
Kurt & Courtney

[ChrisH]

If you ever rode BMX back in it's golden years (70's and 80's), and you know who Stu, Greg, and Oz are, then you must see
"Joe Kid on a Stingray: The History of BMX".

http://www.joekidonastingray.com/

Have you ever seen the Australian mid-80's movie "BMX Bandits?" It used to be on HBO all the time in the mid-late 80's...one of Nicole Kidman's first movies (according to IMDB, she was 16 when it came out).

Edit: Here's a pic of her in it

http://www.memorabletv.com/images/bmxbandits.gif

[AJellyDonut]

Downtown Girls: The Hookers of Honolulu

[BroGonzo]

Check out "The Fog of War," where former defense secretary Gerry McNamara bares his soul. Excellent.

[pattys_hymen]

Melvin Just: Just Evil

The director is the grandson of Melvin Just. He and his mother and all her brothers and sisters were molested by him and/or his wife (their parents/grandparents)

[tar_baby]

ive been getting some IMAX films off netflix..i dont know if thats what ur looking for but they are pretty sweet...even on normal TV

[sd187]

"Crumb" is the best doc i've ever seen.
the guy in "The Cruise" is a nut, he's been on r&F
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150230/
i'm forgetting a hundred others.

[BroGonzo]

Check out "The Fog of War," where former defense secretary Gerry McNamara bares his soul. Excellent.

Good christ, I'm a fucking dope. Gerry McNamara played for Syracuse's basketball team last year and shit the bed in the first playoff game.

It was Robert McNamara who was the Defense Secretary during the Cuban missile crisis.

Doesn't change a thing -- "The Fog of War" is a great doc.

[Mindbullet]

Heavy Metal Parking Lot...

[WhiteHonkyDevil]

Sorry if they've been brought up before:

Inside Deep Throat. Well made, and interesting as all hell. Some of the shit that went on when that movie was released....wow.

The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years. Cock rock in all it's glory. Watching people try and make it in heavy metal. Ozzy making breakfast, and not able to pour orange juice.

[bigbill]

I'll second a few:

Crumb - a must
American Movie - you have to see this
Overnight - is good if you were a fan of Boondock Saints

and I'll raise you:

Theremin - if you are into music history
American Splendor - it's fact and fiction mixed
Startup.com - a great doc.
My Date with Drew - which is a bit gay, but funny

[SuperGolfer]

I'll second a few:
American Splendor - it's fact and fiction mixed


You can't really put American Splendor in as a documentary. Though it is one of the most original ways of telling a story via film in years.

I fucking love it.

Someone mentioned Endless Summer. I agree. Try to find Bruce Brown's shorts, they're also great.

[SuperGolfer]

Oh yeah, I'd also recommend the original "7 Up" series of films from the UK.

[IRISHJERICHO]

Hoop dreams when the dads buying crack in front of his kid golfer.

[THE FEZ MAN]

"on any sunday" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067527/

its about motorcycle racers back in the 1970s steve mc queen is in it. as a matter of fact i think some were on wackbag there is an entire thread about it, Grand Prix is a nother although its got some fiction in it james garner is in it

[WhiteHonkyDevil]

American Movie - you have to see this


Alright, seriously...has anyone ever watched this movie and NOT gotten pissed off? Not so much at the content, but that the main people in the documentary are allowed to breed?

Seriously...the discussion about how the word "coven" was pronounced was enough to make me want to hunt down this inbred dipshit and start shooting.

/sorry, been drinking
//and apparently making Fark slashies.

[Dave _from_Kiev]

I just saw horns and halos (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319514/)last night DO NOT waste your time with this doc.

Heres the Cliff notes version:

Attention seeking, poor, punk rocker in New york city wants to be a start up publisher, picks a book that was dropped by a large publishing house. The book focuses on bushes past (without any proof to back the claims. Until he claims it was Karl Rove who told him the info) which gets the author in all kinds of legal trouble ( not to mention the author himself was convicted of murder and tried to cover it up )and he kills himself. The movie stunk and I didnt like it.

This movie was a sophmoric attempt at discrediting bush by pointing out he had a cocaine possesion arrest in his past covered up by his father. While I enjoy the bush bashing I got the feeling this movie was a way for the main character (sander) to get attention for himself.

[peopleselbow]

The two best are When We Were Kings (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118147/) and Grizzly Man (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427312/)

[Dave _from_Kiev]

Watched american mullet (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0284329/) last night. This movie is a hilarious look at people that have mullets across america and their justification for having one. Good for a laugh.

[tar_baby]

just saw "Thin"

that was pretty interesting

[THE FEZ MAN]

i watched "thin" the other night also. i wanted to just give those cunts bags of pain killers stuffed in chocolate

[thegreenninja]

I am watching Jesus Camp right now, which can be found here:
http://links2movies.50webs.org/
Just got to the part with Ted Haggert, god damn, is he a hypocrite.

Edit: Holy shit, he fucking looks like he is tweaking, and you can tell he likes the cock, he even describes something as "fabulous".

[bigbill]

I just saw Down the Rabbit Hole. Thought I heard about it on OnA or RnF. Good movie, very interesting, but a bit geekish.

Also, I'll burn for this, but how cruel is God to give Marlee Matlin those huge worthless ears. I had never noticed how large her ears were until this movie, man that stinks.

[prozac]

Loved Fog of War but it is a historical documantary and might not be for everyone.

[MyMomsBox]

30 Days with Morgan Spurlock is out on DVD now. Good stuff.

[nikoloslvy]

I just saw horns and halos (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319514/)last night DO NOT waste your time with this doc.

Heres the Cliff notes version:

Attention seeking, poor, punk rocker in New york city wants to be a start up publisher, picks a book that was dropped by a large publishing house. The book focuses on bushes past (without any proof to back the claims. Until he claims it was Karl Rove who told him the info) which gets the author in all kinds of legal trouble ( not to mention the author himself was convicted of murder and tried to cover it up )and he kills himself. The movie stunk and I didnt like it.

This movie was a sophmoric attempt at discrediting bush by pointing out he had a cocaine possesion arrest in his past covered up by his father. While I enjoy the bush bashing I got the feeling this movie was a way for the main character (sander) to get attention for himself.

is it possibil you diddnt like it cause the movie deals with the falshood of bush cocaine addiction? is it possibill that the guy who wrote a book about these claims was full of shit and got into trouble and thats why you dont recomend the movie?

[thadeusgman]

A great Mockumentary is Peter Jackson's "Forgotten Silver"

one of my personal favorite documentarys is Ken Burns "The Civil War"