Documentary Films

charlie_says

Evening all,

It is my first post here in this forum, which seems like it is inhabited by people with very similar tastes to my own Seems like a good crowd.

Got some cool looking recommendations already from browsing around. Going to watch tonight Stalker, Maltese Falcon and Chinatown (no work tomorrow!). I can't believe I haven't gotten around to watching Chinatown yet...

Anyhow...

I thought I would post up a few documentary films I liked recently with a brief synopsis for you all. It is actually a bit of a post of mine from a different site.

The Blue Planet series
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296310/
Utterly amazing nature doc about life near, under and above the oceans. Took 5 years to shoot it and will introduce you to parts of the world that look like alien worlds.

Overnight
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390336/
Doc about a rising Hollywood director who is in the enviable position of being able to do what ever projects he wants to next but messes it up simply because he is a wanker. He also loses most of his mates on the way who then go on to make the documentary and cash in on his spectacular bum out.

Jesus Camp
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486358/
An evangelical Christians childrens camp called "Kids of Fire" in the US is the subject of this amazing piece of film. This doc was regarded as a big punch to the evangelical block, but the evangelicals who saw it praised it as a great documentary. Decide yourself! Highly recommended.

No End in Sight
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0912593/
One of the most moderate and impartial Iraq documantaries I have seen, this one focus is set on the occupation strategy.

The Devil Came on Horseback
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0912580/

A disturbing look into the Darfur tradgedy. Very moving and frustrating.

In the Shadow of the Moon
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0925248/
Heartwarming accounts from many of the brave and lucky men who made it to the moon and back. A real feelgood watch with stunning shots of the earth from space.

King of Kong
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0923752/
A really funny and strange little gem. Follows the story of two fueding King Kong arcade game players, one them very quiet and likeable and the other is the polar opposite. Watch them in the battle for the highest score. Very enjoyable.

Darwin's Nightmare
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424024/
The effect overfishing by the first world world is felt in this thought provoking piece filmed in Tanzania.

The Corporation
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379225/
Where and what does the modern corporation come from? Brilliantly done film with perfect pace.

Up the Yangtze
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1114277/
Looks into how the damming of the massive Yangtze River in present day China effects two youngsters with polarly opposite lives. High prices are paid on progress in modern China.

Encounters at the End of the World
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1093824/
Fascinating and hauntingly beautiful look at the little filmed continent of Antarctica. The director and narrator follow an eclectic bunch of scientists as they toil away on research literally at the end of the world. Has some incredible under ice sheet diving scenes.

Up the Yangtze
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1114277/
Looks into how the damming of the massive Yangtze River in present day China effects two youngsters with polarly opposite lives. High prices are paid on progress in modern China. I felt a huge range of emotions watching this sad little film.

Encounters at the End of the World
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1093824/
Fascinating and hauntingly beautiful look at the little filmed continent of Antarctica. The director and narrator follow an eclectic bunch of scientists as they toil away on research literally at the end of the world. Has some incredible under ice sheet diving scenes.

Spellbound
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0334405/
Spelling bee competition is taken pretty seriously by some people mostly the parents in fairness. A well made piece and suprisingly good spectator sport.

American Drug War: Last White Hope
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1033467/
Is the war on terror like the war on drugs, wars should end, the war on drugs has been raging for 30 years with governments policies losing.

The Cult of the Suicide Bomber
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0817498/
Look into this modern phenomena. Starling footage to be had here.

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479468/
This was released on the 4th July Stateside, 19th December for us over the pond, i requested it but as of yet still no sign of a copy. Seen a couple of docs already about Hunter S., "Breakfast with Hunter" and "Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride: Hunter S. Thompson on Film" , so i would dearly love to see this one, preferably before the 19th of Dec.

Enjoy!

Galvasean

Thanks for the recommendations. I'm a big fan of documentaries myself. If you liked Blue Planet I'd recommend Attenborough's other works such as The Life of Mammals and Life In Cold Blood. His name is a stamp of quality.

I'll make up a list of other recommendations soon.

ziedth

charlie_says wrote: »

and cash in on his spectacular bum out.

Jesus Camp
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486358/

Saw this a couple of years ago and i would also recommend it!

Also,

Who Killed the electric Car is very good

Otis Driftwood

Some interesting documentaries are the Mondo Cane (dog's life) series.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057318/

I dont really class them as being entertaining.Im currently working through the boxset.Watched Goodbye Uncle Tom Sunday.Pretty shocking stuff.Its basically a dramatisation of the slave trade cycle shot documentary style.
Well worth checking out though to see the birth of "mondo" movies as we know it.

charlie_says

Has anyone seen Waco: The Rules of Engagement?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120472/

Is it any good or is it another 9/11 In Plane Sight/Loose Change type movie?

TheIrishGrover

I've seen a few of those docs: King Of Kong (What a twat ), Spellbound (Brilliant!), Shadow Of The Moon. Thanks for the other ones. Must check out that overnight. Looks good.

L31mr0d

can't believe you didn't mention this documentary, probably one of the most eye opening, and shocking "flyonthewall" documentaries I've ever seen.

Earthlings
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358456/
Using hidden cameras and never-before-seen footage, EARTHLINGS chronicles the day-to-day practices of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit.

EDIT:

Forgot to mention another documentary, which is a good watch but should be taken with a pinch of salt:

Zeitgeist: The Movie
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1166827/
Documentary about a) the origin of christian faith b) how american banks have seized worldpower at the beginning of the 20th century c) how these 2 items are related to the wars fought in the 20th and 21st century.

johnny_ultimate

Good recommendations, watched King of Kong and Jesus Camp recently and they are both amazing. King of Kong is one of the most enjoyable films I've seen in ages, while Jesus Camp really is terrifying.

Man on Wire and My Winnipeg are two other fantastic documentaries recently, and there has certainly been a few high quality non-fiction releases in the last while.

Prefabsprouter

As regards Documentaries the World at War was a pretty good. Maybe not enjoyable but with Laurence Olivier narrating and some gripping interviews with some of the veterans this made for compelling viewing.

Sabre0001

Have heard the King of Kong guy is a bit of a prat....but still want to see it

I recently saw FRAG: About the rise of professional video gaming. Features a small segment with retro gaming (i.e. the characters you would see in King of Kong) but then moves into the world of Quake, Counter-Strike, gaming tours, after parties and controversy!

Really interesting movie I thought with a sub-plot about a gamer who struggles with family strains, dodgy sponsors and his journey to be a pro gamer.

Sanjuro

The Fog Of War: Eleven Lessons From the Life Of Robert S. McNamara

Why We Fight

FruitLover

I liked Man Bites Dog. Very educational.

nacho libre

My Enemies Enemy
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0896952/

War Made Easy
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1015246/

Bigger Stronger Faster
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1151309/

ThOnda

War Photographer about James Nachtwey.

It is documentary about his work and his style of working with people. It could look a little harsh and unpleasant at the beginning, however if you take your time to see and listen further on, a lot of things will be explained.
On the other hand, he was described as "an actor" by few of his colleague photographers.

kraggy

Capturing the Friedmans is one of the best docs I've ever seen.

Also, Bus 176.

Check them both out if you haven't seen them.

kraggy

L31mr0d wrote: »

can't believe you didn't mention this documentary, probably one of the most eye opening, and shocking "flyonthewall" documentaries I've ever seen.

Earthlings
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358456/
Using hidden cameras and never-before-seen footage, EARTHLINGS chronicles the day-to-day practices of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit.

EDIT:

Forgot to mention another documentary, which is a good watch but should be taken with a pinch of salt:

Zeitgeist: The Movie
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1166827/
Documentary about a) the origin of christian faith b) how american banks have seized worldpower at the beginning of the 20th century c) how these 2 items are related to the wars fought in the 20th and 21st century.

Where can you get Earthlings? just checked Play.com, no luck


Scratch that. It's on Google video in full or in 3 parts on youtube if you wanna check it out

MightyCelestial

Good thread.

I haven't really watched all that many in my lifetime, but if I had to choose which were my favorites from the few that I've seen, these would be the ones:


10. Crumb - Meet an eccentric who takes the idea of artistic integrity to most purest/extremist definition & who comes from a family in which he comes off as the most normal one of the bunch.

9. Grizzly Man - While we're on the subject of taking things to the extreme, this film follows a man's journey into the world of the grizzly bear.
Or as some may say, his journey into the gullet of the grizzly bear.
Now don't quote me on this,
but I heard that there's a rumour that this guy's remains were fined a citation by park officials.
For breaking the forest rule that states "Do not feed the bears".

8. Fahrenheit 9/11 - Political partisanships aside, any Michael Moore film is good to watch just for the sake of watching a master documentary film-maker at work.

7. Roger & Me - Ditto.

6. Brother's Keeper - A town comes together for one of their own.
Well....
one of their own that came "outta the the abandoned basement of society", which we have all seem to deny exists. Until, the media comes arunnin' to shine it's light of "subjective truth" upon it.
A story that starts out macabrely weird & ends up macabrely moving.

5. Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse - With events like rented military helicopters being called off during a scene of Apocalypse Now, so they can go engage in an actual combat for an actual war that was going on at the time & then Martin Sheen having a heart attack between shooting scenes, all happening during the filming of this movie, the true story of how this movie was made is almost as surreal & engaging as actual the movie itself.

4. Jesus Camp - Back when I was a kid, I was sent to a Jesus camp for one summer.
I even earned a badge for being able to whistle thru my stigmatas.

3. Streetwise - An emotionally wrenching ending, because it's real life & not a script. This film focuses those who are easily forgotten & brings to the surface their reality & all the drama & emotion that the world of escapism entertainment can never really compare to.

2. 42 & Up - Taking the film segments of the various people chosen for this project as children & watching 'em up against the segments of them as adults, it's almost spooky on it's perspective & can beg the question, at what point in life do humans lose the expressionisms of freespiritness that naturally comes with being a child & become the more restrained walking representative of a crushed spirit that many adults can easily end up as?

1. Anne Frank Remembered - As with everyone else, sometimes, it gets pretty easy for me to forget how good I really have it in life. Every time I watch this movie, & hear the part when Anne writes in her diary of her waiting for things to get back to normal, as a viewer who knows that for her it never will, it serves as a great reminder to me that not taking things for granted is an act of appreciation that should never wait until tomorrow. The only existing moving-figure footage of Anne that is included in this documentary, truly serves to enhance the importance of this lesson of gratitude.

S.M.B.

Huh? Am I missing something here?

Tusky

Dark Days

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0235327/

Documentary about a community of homeless people living in abandoned subway tunnels under New York City. Shot in black and white with DJ Shadow music as the soundtrack. Brilliant.

MightyCelestial

S.M.B. wrote: »

Huh? Am I missing something here?

Nope.
I was on two different websites at the same time,
about to answer one about foriegn movies & the other about documentaries.
Got interrupted by a phone call. When I finished, I got the two sites mixed up. I put their response here & this response there.

I fixed it.
Sorry about the confusion.

S.M.B.

MightyCelestial wrote: »

Nope.
I was on two different websites at the same time,
about to answer one about foriegn movies & the other about documentaries.
Got interrupted by a phone call. When I finished, I got the two sites mixed up. I put their response here & this response there.

I fixed it.
Sorry about the confusion.

Ah I presumed that's what happened.

kraggy

Watched Earthlings last night folks and if it doesn't at least make you think of where your meat comes from and what the animals have gone through before going down your throat then there's something wrong.

Besides that, it provides a very philosophical way at looking at the earth and it's creatures. It exaines the treatment of animals, divided into 5 sections namely pets, entertainment, food etc.

Music by Moby and narrated by Joacquin Phoenix.

It's on Google video in full or Youtube in parts.

Watch it as soon you can.

L31mr0d

kraggy wrote: »

Watch it as soon you can.

I haven't met one person who's watched it in entirety who didn't get moved by it. I think what it does is unveils the fact that for us to eat meat or wear leather an animal has to suffer and die. I think a lot of people don't consciously make this connection. They see a live cow, then they see a steak on their plate, they don't see the part in between where the cow is slaughtered, gutted, beheaded and then dismembered to become this steak.

left_behind

Cocaine Cowboys
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0380268/

Fantastic documentary about cocaine wheeling and dealing in the 70s and 80s in USA. Its like watching the real life version of scarface and miami vice. The colombian godmother was 1 ruthless b****. The distributors 2 american tell some amazing stories. The hitman Rivi is one crazy mo fo.

Cocaine Cowboys 2 Hustlin' with the Godmother
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1176726/
Not as good as the first but goes into a weird relationship between the godmother and a street dealer from Oakland.

WooPeeA

I like documentaries that are shown in IMAX cinemas. Nothing better than safari ride or trip into the space in 3D..

But I'm a fan of Discovery Channel and NG. I really like documentaries.

kraggy

L31mr0d wrote: »

I haven't met one person who's watched it in entirety who didn't get moved by it. I think what it does is unveils the fact that for us to eat meat or wear leather an animal has to suffer and die. I think a lot of people don't consciously make this connection. They see a live cow, then they see a steak on their plate, they don't see the part in between where the cow is slaughtered, gutted, beheaded and then dismembered to become this steak.

And I'd imagine many of the people who did watch it were not able to finish it. Some harsh truthful images in there.

Miguel_Sanchez

L31mr0d wrote: »

Forgot to mention another documentary, which is a good watch but should be taken with a pinch of salt:

Zeitgeist: The Movie
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1166827/
Documentary about a) the origin of christian faith b) how american banks have seized worldpower at the beginning of the 20th century c) how these 2 items are related to the wars fought in the 20th and 21st century.

A pinch of salt? A truck load would be more like it.

Even a cursory glance through Wikipedia shows most of his 'facts' about the origins of Christianity to be complete arse. And the 9/11 stuff has been proven false many times over.

Above all that though it's poorly made and I would only recommend people watch it to show how not to make a documentary.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

charlie_says

Just watched that Earthlings doc. Harsh!

BopNiblets

This Is Spinal Tap!

Only recent ones I've seen are King Of Kong and Taxi To The Darkside, about POW treatment in The Iraq War Part II.

Tchaikovsky

'The Ghosts of Cite Soleil' - wonderful documentary about the 'most dangerous place on the planet', a slum area in Port au Prince, the capital of Haiti. It even puts Moyross in it's place!