The Twelve Best Documentaries (you’ve never heard of)
For every documentary film like March of the Penguins that catches the public’s imagination, there are dozens of exceptional examples which linger in relative obscurity. Consider setting aside a few hours for these films. It’s time well spent.
DVD ANVIL
Anvil! The Story of Anvil
At first, this film of middle-aged rockers embarking on a European tour seems like a mockumentary in the tradition of This is Spinal Tap, but it’s really a true story. Watch as musicians chase a fading dream in this inspirational and funny film.
DVD DEAR
Dear Zachary: A letter to a Son About His Father
It’s an intriguing premise—a filmmaker decides to make a movie for a childhood friend’s unborn son that shares anecdotes about his dad. Through the course of the film, the nature of the project changes in surprising and significant ways. To say this movie packs a devastating emotional punch is an understatement.
DVD FOG
The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara
Former Secretary of Defense McNamara shares some of the wisdom he gained while serving under presidents Kennedy and Johnson during the tumultuous 1960s. Veteran documentary filmmaker Errol Morris (The Thin Blue Line) gives McNamara an opportunity to reflect upon his actions in this fascinating film.
DVD GARDEN
The Garden
In the wake of the 1992 Rodney King riots in South Central Los Angeles, a 14 acre community garden was created to help heal wounds. More than ten years of careful cultivation by local residents brought a welcome green landscape and a bounty of fruits and veggies to this urban environment, but a legal action threatens to take it all away. This film covers the struggle of the locals as they fight for the new way of life they’ve come to love.
DVD GRIZZLY
Grizzly Man
You’re not sure whether to admire or scoff at the amateur grizzly researcher Timothy Treadwell who lives in a tent among the bears of Alaska. Treadwell has an infectious optimism which makes the film enjoyable, but his naiveté ultimately leads to trouble.
DVD IT
It Might Get Loud
Three generations of rock guitarists-Jack White (The White Stripes), The Edge (U2) and elder statesman Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)-have a great time talking shop and jamming on a Warner Bros. sound stage in Burbank. We get glimpses inside their home recording studios as they discuss their individual creative processes. The overall result is entertaining and informative.
DVD KING
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
In the 1980s, games like Pac-man, Asteroids and Donkey Kong were all the rage and arcades swallowed the allowances of a generation of teens. As this generation aged, they didn’t necessarily move on to Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. This film details the quest of a Seattle family man attempting to beat the world record for Donkey Kong, long held by video game legend Billy Mitchell. Who knew that arcade games would spawn such a competitive and factious subculture?
DVD STRANDED
Stranded : The Andes Crash Survivors in Their Own Words
You’re probably familiar with the 1993 drama Alive starring Ethan Hawke which chronicles the rugby-team survivors of a 1972 plane crash in the Andes. This documentary interviews survivors of that real-world crash and organizes an emotional trip back to the site with their family members. The harrowing events recalled by the survivors in this film, especially those surrounding cannibalism, are sensitively handled.
DVD STREET
Street Fight
Upstart Corey Booker tries to break into New Jersey politics by running for mayor of Newark. He’s got an uphill battle in unseating entrenched multi-term incumbent Sharpe James, who fights the young Ivy Leaguer with every tool at his disposal. It’s an engrossing story of an intense political battle taken to the streets of New Jersey.
DVD WACO
Waco: The Rules of Engagement
The 1993 siege and subsequent raid on the Waco compound of David Koresh and his group of followers by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) electrified the nation. As a spellbound television audience watched, fire broke out amid gunfire, and 26 members of the group died, including Koresh and several children. This documentary takes a new look at the evidence to see whether Federal agents acted appropriately and if violence could have been avoided.
DVD 629.2293 WHO
Who Killed the Electric Car?
Environmentally conscious all-electric cars like the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf are on the horizon in response to consumer demand. It may surprise you to learn that hundreds of Californians were driving leased General Motors electric cars in the late 1990s. Why don’t you still see these revolutionary cars on the streets? It’s because GM decided to discontinue the vehicle after about three years. This film looks into how this decision affected the devoted drivers of the cars, and what factors led to the demise of the program.
DVD YOUNG
Young@Heart
The Young@Heart Chorus is no ordinary performing troupe. They are a group of active senior citizens (one as old as 92) who share a love of music and performance. Their considerable talents and enthusiasm are harnessed by charismatic musical director Bob Cilman. But rather than singing show tunes and standards, Cilman entices them to embrace a wide variety of popular music—from James Brown to Coldplay. Getting to know the members of the choir via this film is a real treat.
