Here's another one I thought of, McLibel:



If you don't think you'll rent it, read about it here: http://www.mcspotlight.org/case/ Great story, in a nutshell McDonalds sues a couple people for libel in Britain for passing out pamplets which stated things like McDonalds destroys rainforests, their food is unhealthy, they mistreat workers, etc.

Edit: I just picked this up for $2.66 from a Hollywood Video that is closing.

Finally got around to seeing Thin Blue Line based on the comments/recommendations on this thread...

An absolutely tremendous documentary - for those who haven't seen it I would echo the previous comments on this fantastic piece of work. (and don't read the spoiler if you haven't seen it)

...depressing and the main dude essentially lives in poverty (next to all the Kleenex on display). Also a poorly produced documentary with a few very awkward moments. Busted at the porn shop was great stuff though!!

edit to add - COPA is also staged (most obvious towards the end)

If you want depressing and poverty check out Life + Debt which essentially tries to indict a few well known governing bodies that have done their best to destroy Jamaica. Follow that one up with Food, Inc. to paint a nice heart warming picture.

Life and Debt is the creation of a woman with a rather sizable socio-political axe to grind and the inherent bias of this shines through in places. However, even when you strip away the bias (which is easily done), this is still a very compelling piece of film making. The facts of how IMF loans affected Jamaica and how, frankly, the country was taken advantage of are just hard to argue with.

Being able to get so much interview time with Michael Manley, former PM of Jamaica, when he was almost literally on his deathbed was a real boon.

Sick: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist

I'll 2nd this doc. I just returned my netflix dvd of it and went right to DDD and ordered it for $10.

The last good one I watched was :
American Radical: The Trials of Norman Finkelstein

Definitely an interesting watch

I will have to check out collapse now.

Standing in the Shadows of Motown

The Rock-afire Explosion

The Cove

Some of the footage in it might put you off your lunch for a while, but a very important documentary.

(It won the Oscar too.)

Finally watched this tonight. Powerful stuff. Sure, the filmmaker had a viewpoint that he pushed, but this is a film without narration, just scenes of actual footage and interview segments. Thematic considerations aside, those scenes speak for themselves quite loudly.

Part 8 should be out next year.

Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey

Amazon.com

Leon Theremin was the secret link between sci-fi films, the Beach Boys, and Carnegie Hall. His self-named electronic musical instrument--the first of its kind--took the world by storm in the 1920s and '30s. Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey, winner of Sundance's Filmmakers Trophy, explores the inventor's strange life and times, including his mysterious 50-year disappearance beginning in the 1940s. Interviews with theremin virtuoso Clara Rockmore, synthesizer pioneer Robert Moog, and Theremin's contemporaries, as well as clips from movies such as The Day the Earth Stood Still, featuring the unworldly sounds of his creation, show an eccentric genius working toward success until his sudden vanishing in the Soviet Union. Footage of Theremin at 94 years old, finally rediscovered and rewarded for his achievements, brings a celebratory ending to what could be a grim or at least uncertain story, but instead is a fascinating documentary. --Rob Lightner


<iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fAOpVAHwLic" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe>

I'd add Confessions of a Superhero to the list. It's about a few of the people out in Hollywood who dress up in costume and parade around town hustling tourists for photos. They can't charge for the photo, but they can accept tips and they're not shy about letting you know it. At first I was afraid this was going to be another Trekkies, but it focused on the human interest aspect instead of the gawking angle.

Be ready to cringe:

Everything I thought of has been mentioned, so I'll throw in The Two Escobars and The 16th Man from ESPNs 30 for 30.

Anything directed by Frederick Wiseman is worth watching. His latest film, Boxing Gym, has been getting excellent reviews.

A lot of great docs mentioned that i would have suggested as well. The Bridge is very good indeed. Stevie is also good. Both rather depressing though and tough at times to watch. American Movie is fantastic. One of the best docs i have ever seen.

I would suggest "The Iceman" about Robert Kuklinski. The book was also very good. I recently watched "Interview With a Cannibal." I remember reading about the story when it happened and it was interesting to see the man responsible and how he felt about his actions. Again not family Saturday night viewing, but certainly interesting. And of course who can forget "Anvil." I had never heard of them before this, but i had a great time watching the doc. Good to see someone getting a second chance.

Exit Through The Gift Shop: Excellent doc about graffiti/ street artists that has a VERY interesting twist.... Up for an Academy Award this year.

I recently watched Mine, a documentary about the animal rescue effort during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Especially for anyone who grew up skateboarding in the 80's & 90's.

Rising Son: Legend of Christian Hosoi
is a excellent doc on one of the greatest vert skaters of all time. Narrated by Dennis Hopper.

Trailer:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFuziI-O2yM

Witch Hunt

IMDB link

For a look at the darker side of the skateboarding world, check out Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator.

I watched Body of War a few nights ago. It's about paralyzed Iraq vet Tomas Young and his opposition to the war. It's an ok documentary but it's worth watching.