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Re: Looking for good documentaries
Dear Zachary
Do not google anything about the film prior to seeing it or the story will be spoiled. This doc will blow your mind. No joke. Netflix synopsis: Filmmaker Kurt Kuenne's poignant tribute to his murdered childhood friend, Andrew Bagby, tells the story of a child custody battle between the baby's grieving grandparents and Shirley Turner, Bagby's pregnant ex-girlfriend and suspected killer. Initially, Kuenne made this documentary as a memorial for Andrew's loved ones, but it morphs into an emotional legal odyssey when Turner goes free on bail and is allowed to raise her son. Netflix Synopsis: When director Steve James (Hoop Dreams) attended Southern Illinois University, he became Stevie Fielding's Advocate Big Brother. Stevie was a demanding, hyperactive child living a heartbreaking life. When James relocated to Chicago to begin a film career in 1985, he ended his formal duties to Stevie. Ten years later, James again visits Stevie (now in his mid-twenties) and finds out what happened to him in the interim. Not a pretty story. |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
The Thin Blue Line by Errol Morris. Actually, anything by Errol Morris, like Gates of Heaven which Roger Ebert put onto his list of the Top 10 films ever made.
A good place to start on your search for good documentaries is to just look at the lists of documentaries nominated for academy awards. Stevie, mentioned above, is definately worth watching. As I remember it, and don't read this if you haven't seen the documentary: Spoiler:
My favorite quote from The Thin Blue Line: "Prosecutors in Dallas have said for years - any prosecutor can convict a guilty man. It takes a great prosecutor to convict an innocent man. " |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
The Mayor of Sunset Strip
The People's Temple |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
Overnight
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390336/ |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
Harlan County U.S.A.
A/K/A Tommy Chong |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
+1 for Harlan County U.S.A.
+1 for The Thin Blue Line (probably the most important doc ever) also The Sorrow and the Pity Mr. Death Grey Gardens Gimme Shelter just a few, all terrific |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
Young at Heart - thought it was going to be sappy and boring, I was riveted.
The Parrots of Telegraph Hill - Really loved this one. The Weather Underground - Crazy radical students, pale in comparison to the RAF, but still interesting Cinemania - Every movie geek should watch this. DiG! & We Live in Public - 2 docs by Ondi Timoner, both worthwhile Hearts of Darkness - Apocalypse awesomeness Little Dieter Needs to Fly - Doc later turned into Rescue Dawn, both by Herzog My Best Fiend - Also by Herzog, on his rocky relationship with Klaus Kinski Murderball - I remember liking this quite a bit. The Times of Harvey Milk - sooo good. Gimme Shelter - I want to keep listing hundreds of docs, so many good ones out there.... |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
'Alone in the Wilderness', 'Alaska: Silence and Solitude', and 'The Frozen North' are excellent.
'Ingmar Bergman Makes a Movie'. 'Burden of Dreams'. "Mein Liebster Feind' aka 'My Best Fiend'. |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
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Re: Looking for good documentaries
Fantastic! Thanks for all the great suggestions.
Oh, and thanks for that link, dugan. Much appreciated!! |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
I recommend:
American Movie - one of my all time favorite movies, nevermind documentaries The Rock-A-Fire Exploision - if you liked King of Kong I think you'll like this, it's very good and bizarre, in a good way. Lipstick and Dynamite - doc about women wrestlers from the 50s until the 90s, fascinating Hell's Highway -doc about the people who made many of the highway safety films, really shocking and interesting Edgeplay: A Film about the Runaways - really great, sad, interesting music documentary Home Movie - by the same team who did American movie, about people with unusual homes |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
HEARTS AND MINDS - 1974, Oscar-winning docu about the Vietnam War
RUSH TO JUDGMENT - 1966, about the Kennedy Assassination NO VIETNAMESE EVER CALLED ME ****** - 1966, about blacks protesting the Vietnam War MILLHOUSE - 1969, about Richard Nixon F FOR FAKE - 1975, Orson Welles' treatise on forgery, fakery and illusion THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK - 1984, much better than the movie version SANS SOLEIL - 1983, Chris Marker's globetrotting docu about...I can't for the life me tell you, but it was beautiful. |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
Yeah Big Rec for Burden of Dreams.
and of course for the film Fitzcarraldo which it documents the making of. |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
I forgot to give an honorable mention to The Union: The Business Behind Getting High and the ultra-creepy Jesus Camp. Thought-provoking stuff in both docs.
If you're in the mood for a light-hearted doc that'll probably make you laugh, you can't go wrong with Spoiler:
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Re: Looking for good documentaries
The Power of Nightmares
Forbidden Lie$ |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
Thin Blue Line (agree w/ the those above, it's like watching a thriller, great score by Glass)
Hoop Dreams Paradise Lost and Paradise Lost 2 (about the West Memphis 3) Waco: Rules of Engagement |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara
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Re: Looking for good documentaries
There's a fantastic documentary called Power Trip which is about an american company going into a former soviet republic and trying to set up an electric company. The topic sounds droll but it's amazingly well done and really captivating, as you see the trouble they run up against with trying to get people who received free electricity under Soviet/Russian rule to now pay for electricity.
Highly recommended. |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
Sorry, too many great ones to remember. I'd have to look at my list, and I don't feel like that right now. There's an old thread somewhere about documentaries.
But one I recently saw for the first time that was terrific was The Battle of Chile. I also heartily add my voice to these, already cited: The Times of Harvey Milk The Power of Nightmares Hoop Dreams Hearts of Darkness |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
Originally Posted by LolaRennt
(Post 10058088)
Hi,
I really enjoy a good documentary, especially if it tells the story of an extraordinary / special person. Don't get me wrong, I love the BBC documentaries showing wildlife and nature very much too, but I am interested in human stories. A couple of great documentaries I enjoyed: - Man on wire - Bus 174 - Grizzly man - touching the void Can anyone recommend any others? Could we maybe turn this thread in the "ultimate documentary recommendations"? Thanks a million! |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
Originally Posted by Palaver
(Post 10058579)
The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara
Also: Capturing the Friedmans Mondovino (if you are interested in wine) Troutgrass (especially if you have any interest in flyfishing) Word Wars Life and Debt (strong progressive bias but easy to see past it to the ample substance that remains) |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
Radiant City
Moog Control Room The Agronomist |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
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Re: Looking for good documentaries
Dreams on Spec
The Bridge Jesus Camp Heart of the Game If you are a sports fan check out some of the upcoming ESPN 30 for 30 documentaries. They will also be released on DVD later on. |
Re: Looking for good documentaries
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