Favourite Documentary/Documentaries??

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  • OffSheGoes35OffSheGoes35 Posts: 3,514
    edited November 2012
    .
    Post edited by OffSheGoes35 on
  • Grey Gardens (Maysles brothers)
    Gimme Shelter (Maysles brothers)
    Crumb
    The Devil and Daniel Johnston
    How to Draw a Bunny
    Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film
    Agnes Martin: With my Back to the World
    No Direction Home: Bob Dylan
    Super Size Me
    Gorillas on the Brink
    Ballroom Dancing (my son was in this)

    too many to list!

    I'm working on my 1st documentary film at the moment-about the process of translation between a selection of one Mexican/one American poets and their working together to bridge literary culture between our 2 countries, I hope it will become one of my favs ;)
    Into the Wild Things
  • HeisenbergHeisenberg Posts: 4,957
    For those Werner Herzog fans out there who may not be aware, his new series "On Death Row" begins tonight on the Investigation Discovery channel at 10pm est

    http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/119705
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    Heisenberg wrote:
    For those Werner Herzog fans out there who may not be aware, his new series "On Death Row" begins tonight on the Investigation Discovery channel at 10pm est

    http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/119705

    Cool. Thanks for that.

    I'll check the torrent sites to see if it shows up.
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,947
    Documentary: New York

    I think that's what it's called. Just a really thorough multi-part political and social history of NYC from the time it was first settled through 9/11, including a surprisingly interesting final segment on the development and history of the WTC. Just a super interesting and well-done series. I was glued to it. Helps that I am in love with NYC.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    I found a good website for Chinese documentaries & movies (that I know won't be everyone's cup of tea):

    http://dgeneratefilms.com/critical-essa ... #more-2300

    http://dgeneratefilms.com/critical-essa ... -republic/

    I just ordered the 9 hour documentary called 'West of The Tracks'. Seems like a good way to spend one of my days off work. I'll make sure I'm well stocked up on coffee and cookies for that one.
  • PJFAN13PJFAN13 Posts: 1,422
    As a documentary fanatic, this thread is amazing!!!
    I have seen almost everything mentioned thru 12 pgs so far :)
    A few I haven't seen mentioned that are very much worth watching:
    -Winnebago Man
    -Microcosmos
    -No End in Sight
    -A Great Day In Harlem
    -Saving Face
    -Being Elmo
    -My Brothers Keeper
    -Freakonomics
    -Forgiving Dr. Mengale
    -Restrepo
    -John Entwistle - An Ox's Tale
    -Cropsey
    -Touching The Void

    As far as ones that have been mentioned - Dear Zachary, Man on Wire, Capturing the Friedmans, The Bridge, Religulous, The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virgina & Art of the Steal were all fantasticly superb!

    Keep the doc reccomendations coming, especially you Byrnzie - you have amazing taste in docs my friend!
    11.30.93~10.2.96~9.13.98~9.1.00~8.25.00~7.3.03~7.5.03
    7.9.03~9.28.04~10.1.05~5.12.06~5.13.06~5.27.06~5.28.06
    8.5.08(EV)~10.9.09~5.21.10~6.20.11(EV)~7.5.11(EV)~7.9.11(EV)
    11.21.13~8.27.16(EV)~11.14.16(TOTD)~4.13.20~9.27.20~9.26.21~10.2.21
    2.15.22 (EV)~2.25.22 (EV)~2.27.22 (EV)~5.3.22~5.7.22~9.17.24~9.29.24
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    PJFAN13 wrote:
    Keep the doc reccomendations coming, especially you Byrnzie - you have amazing taste in docs my friend!

    Cheers dude.
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,947
    I changed my mind. Before I said "Documentary: New York.
    But now I say "Catching Hell" (2011 ESPN documentary), about that POOR POOR guy Steve Bartman, the guy who caught that ball at the Cub's playoff game in 2003 and it ruined his life. Super good documentary! So thorough, tons of great interviews and perspectives, great history of not only the Cubs, but a couple other teams as well, who also had close losses. I am a sucker for baseball documentaries (not even a baseball fan. I just love love love baseball highlights, movies, and documentaries. I attend a Mariners game or two whem i'm in Seattle, just for the atmosphere (which i do love). Go figure. I probably know more about baseball than any other person who doesn't like to actually watch the sport, lol. I don't know what that's about). Anyway, my heart breaks for Steve Bartman.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    Heisenberg wrote:
    For those Werner Herzog fans out there who may not be aware, his new series "On Death Row" begins tonight on the Investigation Discovery channel at 10pm est

    http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/119705

    Actually, I thought this was the same thing as his 2011 documentary 'Into The Abyss'.
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 [2011]

    51UgANtA36L._SL500_AA300_.jpg

    Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFWHNpfjByQ

    Summary: The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 mobilizes a treasure trove of 16mm material shot by Swedish journalists who came to the US drawn by stories of urban unrest and revolution. Gaining access to many of the leaders of the Black Power Movement—Stokely Carmichael, Bobby Seale, Angela Davis and Eldridge Cleaver among them—the filmmakers captured them in intimate moments and remarkably unguarded interviews. Thirty years later, this lush collection was found languishing in the basement of Swedish Television. Director Göran Olsson and co-producer Danny Glover bring this footage to light in a mosaic of images, music and narration chronicling the evolution one of our nation's most indelible turning points, the Black Power movement. Music by Questlove and Om'Mas Keith, and commentary from prominent African- American artists and activists who were influenced by the struggle -- including Erykah Badu, Harry Belafonte, Talib Kweli, and Melvin Van Peebles -- give the historical footage a fresh, contemporary resonance and makes the film an exhilarating, unprecedented account of an American revolution.


    New York Times Review: http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/mo ... CKPRWfOF5g
  • AyedavanitaAyedavanita Posts: 1,443
    Ok, I'm going to have to go back and read this WHOLE thread.
    I LOVE documentaries!
    SO many to talk about too, some of these I've never heard of so thanks for the recommendations.
    I have many favorites but can't think of them all to list the best ones.
    "You think I got my eyes closed but I'm lookin' at you the whole fuckin' time..."
  • the wolfthe wolf Posts: 7,027
    Byrnzie wrote:
    smarchee wrote:
    The Bridge

    it was absolutly fascinating

    I saw that...about the suicides from the Golden Gate bridge. That is a good one - if 'good' is the right word.


    I'm reading a book right now called "Myths about Suicide" by Thomas Joiner and he mentions this film quite a few times, so i decided to watch it tonight.

    wow! it's something that will probably stay with me till the end.
    Peace, Love.


    "To question your government is not unpatriotic --
    to not question your government is unpatriotic."
    -- Sen. Chuck Hagel
  • Who PrincessWho Princess Posts: 7,305
    the wolf wrote:
    Byrnzie wrote:
    smarchee wrote:
    The Bridge

    it was absolutly fascinating

    I saw that...about the suicides from the Golden Gate bridge. That is a good one - if 'good' is the right word.


    I'm reading a book right now called "Myths about Suicide" by Thomas Joiner and he mentions this film quite a few times, so i decided to watch it tonight.

    wow! it's something that will probably stay with me till the end.
    A few years ago I read a very detailed article about people who jump from the bridge and why some survive. Now I'm curious to see this.
    "The stars are all connected to the brain."
  • riotgrlriotgrl Posts: 1,895
    edited March 2012
    I'm a documentary freak so thanks for the recommendations. I won't repeat ones already mentioned so here are some others I love:

    King Corn
    Forks over Knives
    Running the Sahara
    Post edited by riotgrl on
    Are we getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?

    Seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned...

    I AM MINE
  • the wolfthe wolf Posts: 7,027
    the wolf wrote:


    I'm reading a book right now called "Myths about Suicide" by Thomas Joiner and he mentions this film quite a few times, so i decided to watch it tonight.

    wow! it's something that will probably stay with me till the end.
    A few years ago I read a very detailed article about people who jump from the bridge and why some survive. Now I'm curious to see this.

    From what i've found out about all of this, the guy who made the doc made the movie because of an article he read in a S.F. paper.

    i would check it out for sure.
    Peace, Love.


    "To question your government is not unpatriotic --
    to not question your government is unpatriotic."
    -- Sen. Chuck Hagel
  • Who PrincessWho Princess Posts: 7,305
    the wolf wrote:
    the wolf wrote:


    I'm reading a book right now called "Myths about Suicide" by Thomas Joiner and he mentions this film quite a few times, so i decided to watch it tonight.

    wow! it's something that will probably stay with me till the end.
    A few years ago I read a very detailed article about people who jump from the bridge and why some survive. Now I'm curious to see this.

    From what i've found out about all of this, the guy who made the doc made the movie because of an article he read in a S.F. paper.

    i would check it out for sure.
    I looked this up on IMDB and found this:
    The film was inspired by an article entitled "Jumpers," written by Tad Friend appearing in The New Yorker magazine in 2003.

    That was the article I read tho I didn't remember it being that long ago. It was an unusual approach, somewhat scientific I guess I'd say. Water temperature, wind, currents, a jumper's location all combine so that some people survive when most do not. It was a subject I never would have thought about otherwise.
    "The stars are all connected to the brain."
  • PJaddictedPJaddicted Posts: 1,432
    I AM
    ~*LIVE~LOVE~LAUGH*~

    *May the Peace of the Wilderness be with YOU*

    He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
    — Unknown
  • ComeToTXComeToTX Posts: 7,794
    Has anyone seen "We Were Here?"
    This show, another show, a show here and a show there.
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
    I mentioned this on the F1 thread, but Senna was a real good doc on the racing career and life of three-time world champ Ayrton Senna. It's worth watching even if you don't follow racing.

    MV5BMTc5MTUzOTAxMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODQzMjg3NA@@._V1._SY317_.jpg
  • OffSheGoes35OffSheGoes35 Posts: 3,514
    edited November 2012
    .
    Post edited by OffSheGoes35 on
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    Watched Wener Herzog's 'Into The Abyss' yesterday. Without getting into the death penalty debate here I'll just point out that he presents both sides of the argument and just leaves it to the viewer to decide whether they support the state-sanctioned murder of another human being. Although Herzog himself states at the beginning of the film that he opposes the death penalty.
    Perhaps the most revealing part of this movie is the interview with the retired death row prison guard.
  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    It is Hot Docs week in Toronto. I will probably end up seeing about 10-12 documentaries. I will list them here if anyone is interested.

    *********************
    We are Legion: http://wearelegionthedocumentary.com/
    Story about the Hacktivists known as Anonymous ... from its early beginnings to their efforts in the Arab Spring ... overall - great insight into that world ... would have liked to hear more from the various factions within that group and some of the key people that were targeted by them (Church of Scientology) ...
    *********************
  • Meg8686Meg8686 Posts: 1,234
    Great thread, will probably end up watching most of these so thank you!! I have watched most of these full docs online,so if you interested you'll be able to find them, have included some trailers.


    My Top Docs

    Paradise Lost 1,2 &3 - Chronicals the case of the West memphis three
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfj_bVIwyeA Get outraged, get involved wm3.org

    Dirt - I like this, environmental and how the way we farm crops has to change. Excelllent doc :)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8_dN5YWnyc

    Baraka- This sums it up nicely - " It uses no language, so needs no translation. It speaks in magnificent images, natural sounds, and music both composed and discovered. It regards our planet and the life upon it. It stands outside of historical time. To another race, it would communicate: This is what you would see if you came here" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiXzdXbyjMw

    Jonestown - The story of the Peoples Temple.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY3cx3U0gYE

    PJ20- Hells yeah!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzI8OhR0IVY

    Food inc. - A huge education into crop & meat production in the US. Scary stuff.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eKYyD14d_0

    Everything ever done by Louis Theroux
    louistheroux.jpg

    Arena - Bob Marley exodus 77 - Only seen it once on BBC2, can't find a torrent anywhere, wonderful doc. So no link it's a lost documentary, have this instead http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5FCdx7D ... re=related

    Oh & finally...

    This is Spinal tap - lets get Rockin, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6EwqlgU ... ure=fvwrel
    Sometimes I speak of nothing at all.
  • Meg8686Meg8686 Posts: 1,234

    Can't wait to watch this, thanks :)
    Sometimes I speak of nothing at all.
  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    as part of Hot Docs

    The Law In These Parts http://www.hotdocs.ca/film/title/law_in_these_parts
    A self-proclaimed subjective film about the military judges appointed to serve the occupied territories. This film shows the violation of international law and the lack of justice perpetrated against the palestinians from the onset till today. It does this through interviews with judges who served in the early parts. Overall, an interesting film in that the filmmaker right off the bat disclaims that it will be edited and narrated based on his own free will - it's something that is usually a given but I do think that often as viewers we take documentaries to be factual all the time. Not to say this wasn't but this film does highlight how subjective they can be. Anyhoo - highly recommend it.
  • riotgrlriotgrl Posts: 1,895
    Hands down - Freedom Riders from PBS - probably the best I've seen.
    Are we getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?

    Seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned...

    I AM MINE
  • he.who.forgetshe.who.forgets Posts: 4,593
    Meg8686 wrote:
    Great thread, will probably end up watching most of these so thank you!! I have watched most of these full docs online,so if you interested you'll be able to find them, have included some trailers.


    My Top Docs

    Paradise Lost 1,2 &3 - Chronicals the case of the West memphis three
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfj_bVIwyeA Get outraged, get involved wm3.org

    Dirt - I like this, environmental and how the way we farm crops has to change. Excelllent doc :)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8_dN5YWnyc

    Baraka- This sums it up nicely - " It uses no language, so needs no translation. It speaks in magnificent images, natural sounds, and music both composed and discovered. It regards our planet and the life upon it. It stands outside of historical time. To another race, it would communicate: This is what you would see if you came here" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiXzdXbyjMw

    Jonestown - The story of the Peoples Temple.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY3cx3U0gYE

    PJ20- Hells yeah!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzI8OhR0IVY

    Food inc. - A huge education into crop & meat production in the US. Scary stuff.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eKYyD14d_0

    Everything ever done by Louis Theroux
    louistheroux.jpg

    Arena - Bob Marley exodus 77 - Only seen it once on BBC2, can't find a torrent anywhere, wonderful doc. So no link it's a lost documentary, have this instead http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5FCdx7D ... re=related

    Oh & finally...

    This is Spinal tap - lets get Rockin, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6EwqlgU ... ure=fvwrel
    Baraka is one of my favorites...I cant wait for Samasara to be released
    We were but stones your light made us stars
  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    From Hot Docs ... http://www.hotdocs.ca/film/title/chasing_ice1

    What started out as a story about nature photographer James Balog eventually turned into a story about global warming. James sets out to document the disappearing sea ice/glaciers in the northern hemisphere in places like iceland, greenland and the arctic. The visuals are absolutely stunning and horrific at the same time and the music is perfect. Not probably one to see if you still think global warming is a hoax.
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