Help- what are your favorite documentaries?

[starrzone]

I absolutely love documentaries, but I've watched my favorites over and over and it's time for some new ones! These are the ones I've seen, or have lined up to see:

- The "Michael Moore" trifecta (Bowling for Columbine, Sicko, Fahrenheit 911)
- Planet Earth
- Mad Hot Ballroom
- Super Size Me

I'm interested in pretty well anything, subject-wise. My opinions lie in the liberal range, so controversial topics are not off-limits. Thanks in advance!

 

[Judy from Boise]

There is one called "hands on the hardbody" about a contest where the last one standing with their hand on the truck wins......very interesting.Browse the docus on netflix for ideas.

 

[MsLeFever]

Yellow Brick Road

I highly recommend it - fabulous!

"As affecting as it is charming, the film festival favorite YELLOW BRICK ROAD follows a group of extraordinary actors from the Drama Program of Long Island’s ANCHOR Organization (Answering the Needs of Citizens with Handicaps Through Organized Recreation) as they embark on a remarkable four-month-long journey to mount an exceptional and lavish stage performance of the classic film The Wizard of Oz. "

 

[donald&daisy]

I watched Born into Brothels not too long ago and it was really interesting--they gave kids in Calcutta, India cameras to film their lives and what it was like to be a child living in the brothels there. Our school also did a screening of Invisible Children a coupld of years ago and it was very moving. Its about children being recruited/forced to serve in armies in Uganda. I also enjoyed Grizzly Man about Timothy Treadwell a guy who lived (and died) with bears in Alaska--interesting also but somewhat frustating.

 

[MsLeFever]

Oh - and season one of "This American Life" is available too!

 

[happygirl]

Yellow Brick Road

I highly recommend it - fabulous!

"As affecting as it is charming, the film festival favorite YELLOW BRICK ROAD follows a group of extraordinary actors from the Drama Program of Long Island’s ANCHOR Organization (Answering the Needs of Citizens with Handicaps Through Organized Recreation) as they embark on a remarkable four-month-long journey to mount an exceptional and lavish stage performance of the classic film The Wizard of Oz. "

I think I have seen this one and it was great

 

[JR6ooo4]

When the Lion Roars about MGM

Product Description

On April 24, 1924 the movies changed forever: the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio opened and soon assembled “more stars than there are in the heavens.” Patrick Stewart hosts this enthralling Emmy winner as Best Informational Series, a 3-part story of MGMs reign as Hollywoods class act and legendary entertainment empire. Bursting with memorable film clips, rare interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and insider info, this is a mother lode for film fans, profiling perfectionist moguls, glamorous and charismatic actors, innovative filmmakers and landmark movies. Experience the dramatic and romantic fire, singing and dancing magic, and sweeping epic adventure of Hollywoods greatest studio in this must-have 2-Disc Deluxe Edition DVD.

Mikeeee

 

[GoodFairies]

Lake of Fire
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0841119/

Shelter Dogs
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0359966/

The Aristocrats
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436078/

Cat Dancers
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1333635/

I have another one to add about a photographer who takes controversial pictures, but the name has slipped my mind at the moment.

ETA: found it

Tierney Gearon: The Mother Project
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1158804/

 

[RN4Babies]

I watched Born into Brothels not too long ago and it was really interesting--they gave kids in Calcutta, India cameras to film their lives and what it was like to be a child living in the brothels there. Our school also did a screening of Invisible Children a coupld of years ago and it was very moving. Its about children being recruited/forced to serve in armies in Uganda. I also enjoyed Grizzly Man about Timothy Treadwell a guy who lived (and died) with bears in Alaska--interesting also but somewhat frustating.

Another recommendation for Grizzly Man, although it's somewhat disturbing to watch how things evolve.

One of my favorite documentaries is "Paperclips".

http://www.paperclipsmovie.com/synopsis.php

Some others that were very good:

Spellbound
An Inconvenient Truth
Baraka
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
Into the Wild (not a documentary per se, but a very good biographical film)

I'm looking forward to seeing what others recommend!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I actually had to look this up to find the name: "Mysteries of the Black Death"

http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Dead-Mystery-Black-Death/dp/B00008G91B

An Inconvenient Truth
102 Minutes That Changed America
The First Saturday in May (sort of a niche appreciation, but still a good flick)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My favorites are the musical ones. I just watched the "Queen" one again, yesterday.

The recent "Pink Floyd" one is very interesting, discussing Syd Barrett, the original member and basically the creator of Pink Floyd.

PBS runs a show called "Frontline" and does a number of topics.

"The Order of Myths" is a recent award winner however I have not seen it yet.

 

[wdw4us2]

Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price.

http://www.walmartmovie.com/

After watching it, you won't feel the same when (or if) you walk into their stores.

 

[loopymommy]

"Southern Comfort" broke my heart. It's about Robert Eads, a female-to-male transsexual. I challenge anyone to watch it without crying.

"American Hollow" by Rory Kennedy was great. The film focuses on an Appalachian family and it's really fascinating.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Another good one is "Triumph of the Nerds". Chronicals the rise of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Oracle.
Goes thru the history.

http://www.pbs.org/nerds/timeline/

 

[donald&daisy]

I would like to also second Lake of Fire and Paperclips--both of those are very good and thought provoking.

 

[Plantlady]

10 questions for the Dahali Lama About Tibet, and the Dahali Lama
Young at Heart Older folks singing popular rock music. Inspiring.

If you like Micheal Moore, he has two older movies:
Roger and Me About the auto industry
The Big One Discusses the economy and unemployment

The Devil's Playground About teenage Amish kids, entering the modern world

 

[koopa]

"Murderball" - About wheelchair rugby rivalry.

"Country Boys" - Probably more 4-6 hour mini-series since it was originally on PBS.

 

[C.Ann]

"Image Of An Assassination - A New Look At The Zapruder Film" - JFK's assassination.
------------------------
Many, many 9/11 Documentaries available.. All of mine are at home, but you can just do a search on Amazon.com
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"PBS Frontier House" - Three modern families experience Life on the American Frontier in the 1880's. Three modern families chosen from thousands to test themselves. After a rigorous training program to learn survival with only the tools and technology of the time, they load their wagons and head back to 1883. Can they carve a community of homesteads out of the Montana wilderness?

Excellent!!!!
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You might also do a search on Amazon.com.. Just go to the movies section and type in "documentaries".. Also check out what A&E; The History Channel; The Discovery Channel; and PBS have available on their web sites..

I love documentaries!!!

 

[NotUrsula]

Nursery University, about the competitive admissions process for elite private preschools in Manhattan. It's completely surreal to the rest of the world.

 

[lisajl]

Grey Gardens! Hands down my new fave documentary. Saw some of it on a special on PBS. Had never heard of it before. Found it on Amazon.com, bought it, and have introduced many, many people to it.

Excellent!!