Documentary Film Recommendation List

AC Slater · September 09, 2011, 10:41:10 PM

Being the huge documentary film nerd that I am, I feel like I need to watch as many as I can (that I'm interested in). So I'd like to compose a list of sorts of films you guys would suggest watching as well as some of my favorites. I'll start things off.

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (one of my favorites and we've discussed it here before)
Monster Camp (Movie Trailer)
Man on Wire (Movie Trailer - Also one of my favorites)
The King of Kong (Movie Trailer)
The Pixar Story (Movie Trailer)

If they're available on Netflix, that would be wonderful. I'm about to throw on "The Cove" right now.

buttplug · September 09, 2011, 10:43:41 PM

I Like Killing Flies
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390109/
I'm pretty sure it's on netflix streaming
It's about this awesome little restaurant (in NYC if I remember correctly) and the family that works there. It's funny and enlightening. It will also probably make you hungry.

I1I1I1I1I1I1I11111I1I1I1IIIIIII1I1I1I1I11I · September 10, 2011, 05:42:35 AM

Exit through the gift shop.

BluezombieClock · September 10, 2011, 06:34:28 AM

I think Sicko has some really interesting facts.

Oh, and: The Union

DWARFINATORclock · September 10, 2011, 06:46:17 AM

Quote from: Zen Micro Clock;1851372Being the huge documentary film nerd that I am, I feel like I need to watch as many as I can (that I'm interested in). So I'd like to compose a list of sorts of films you guys would suggest watching as well as some of my favorites. I'll start things off.

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (one of my favorites and we've discussed it here before)
Monster Camp (Movie Trailer)
Man on Wire (Movie Trailer - Also one of my favorites)
The King of Kong (Movie Trailer)
The Pixar Story (Movie Trailer)
If they're available on Netflix, that would be wonderful. I'm about to throw on "The Cove" right now.

What about Catfish?

AC Slater · September 10, 2011, 08:05:15 AM

Quote from: BlobClock;1851478Exit through the gift shop.

Watched it already, didn't find it to be too great.

Quote from: DWARFINATORclock;1851491What about Catfish?

I don't know if you're joking or not. But regardless, I've seen it and it was very boring and seemed fake.

DWARFINATORclock · September 10, 2011, 09:06:29 AM

Quote from: Zen Micro Clock;1851510Watched it already, didn't find it to be too great.

I don't know if you're joking or not. But regardless, I've seen it and it was very boring and seemed fake.

catfish owned

Slurpee · September 10, 2011, 12:52:29 PM

I had free tickets to a prescreening of Catfish
I blew it off because I couldn't get anybody to go with me

This Film Is Not Yet Rated
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTL3XMDwY0c
covers the MPAA and their insane, cult-like ratings board.

Super High Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SepxADqDIXA
loosely covers the medical marijuana legalization in California, and the measurable health of effects of marijuana on a human body. Bear in mind I'm recommending this one having never smoked weed in my life.

Jesus Camp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1zQe19ANK0
follows, without commentary, the Evangelical indoctrination of children in the American midwest.

Food, Inc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eKYyD14d_0
is about where our food comes from. Watch it if you want to feel like skipping a couple meals this week.

Crude
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTnm01lWsTg
covers the story of the $27,000,000,000 lawsuit filed by indigenous Ecuadorians following the Chevron corporation's drilling of the Lago Agrio oil field (an event known by activists as "the Amazon Chernobyl", to give you an idea of what we're talking about).

Helvetica
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkoX0pEwSCw
is the story of Helvetica. Yes, the font. It's better than it sounds.

these are all on netflix instant watch
except for jesus camp, which you have to add to your queue
but you should be able to find it on youtube, too, iirc

DWARFINATORclock · September 10, 2011, 01:55:46 PM

religulous

WiiClock · September 10, 2011, 03:08:25 PM

and I agree with a lot above. Most of the ones Slurpee mentioned and Religulous yeah

Slurpee · September 10, 2011, 03:19:13 PM

Quote from: WiiClock;1851576and I agree with a lot above. Most of the ones Slurpee mentioned and Religulous yeah

I politely withdraw all of my recommendations

AmberArachnidClock · September 10, 2011, 03:39:35 PM

grizzly man, food inc, Little Dieter Needs to Fly (haven't seen it heard it's really good, I'm gonna have to go see it now), any of the recent HBO documentaries,

edit: I too agree with slurp's reccomendations. Helvetica was pretty boss and it makes you an expert in typefaces

Losperman · September 10, 2011, 04:05:38 PM

Aside from some already mentioned, I would throw in Pumping Iron and The Most Hated Family in America.

buttplug · September 10, 2011, 04:34:21 PM

Quote from: DWARFINATORclock;1851565religulous

I saw this in theaters. It was mostly Bill Maher making fun of buffons. It was entertaining but not much of a documentary. At the end he makes a little rant about religion and ignorance. I'm an atheist but I found the movie kinda lame.

Losperman · September 10, 2011, 06:37:20 PM

Quote from: CadillacClock;1851614all of the aforementioned documentaries are great.

the bbc's planet earth

nature is swell and this is best watched in ultra high definition.

cosmos: a personal voyage

the universe much like nature is also swell and incredibly interesting.

Damn, I forgot these two. I agree, they are both supertastic.

WiiClock · September 11, 2011, 12:58:20 AM

I'm watching Catfish right now and this movie is fucking bonkers.

Topcatyo · September 11, 2011, 01:36:02 AM

helvetica bored the shit out of me, bu, then, it's a doc on a font

there's a doc on netflix called thumbs up about a guy and his nephew who try and get across the u.s without spending any money. crazy things apparently happen then. i've watched one episode

patriotclock · September 11, 2011, 10:57:17 PM

Quote from: Slurpee;1851556Super High Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SepxADqDIXA
loosely covers the medical marijuana legalization in California, and the measurable health of effects of marijuana on a human body. Bear in mind I'm recommending this one having never smoked weed in my life.

Food, Inc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eKYyD14d_0
is about where our food comes from. Watch it if you want to feel like skipping a couple meals this week.

Super High Me was awful. It wasn't funny, not very informative, just lame overall I thought.

Food Inc. is great though and should be seen by anyone.

I'm going to go ahead and recommend

The Bridge - which is about suicide jumpers from the golden gate bridge and shows footage of actual suicides.

Restrepo - an excellent intense doc on a group of military stationed in one of the most dangerous spots in afganistan

buttplug · September 11, 2011, 11:18:12 PM

Quote from: PatriotClock;1852281Super High Me was awful. It wasn't funny, not very informative, just lame overall I thought.

I couldn't get past his whining about how he wasn't allowed to get high at the beginning. Also his face pisses me off.

The Union is a better doc on marijuana, Grass: The History of Marijuana is also good.

AC Slater · September 11, 2011, 11:18:51 PM

Alright, so I was finally able to take a break from homework and finish The Cove last night. Great film and I'm adding that to my recommendations.

I've seen a couple of the ones you guys have mentioned already. Food Inc (I thought I posted this in the OP but I guess not) was very interesting and informative. I liked it even though I hate having to see animals being abused/killed and what have you. Super High Me I watched over winter break and it wasn't really up my alley, but I should have expected that since it's just about pot. The Bridge has been one of my favorites for a while now. So yes yes yes go watch that if you can! Planet Earth and the Blue Planet are both fascinating BBC docs as well.

Right now I'm going to put on Helvetica before I head off to bed. So we'll see how this is!

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Documentary Film Recommendation List