Top Ten Documentaries:
(everyone has their favorites... here’s ours)
 
  1. 1. King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters- it’s just plain fun; the documentary version of a Judd Apatow film
  2. 2. Dogtown and Z-Boys- a tightly weaved story that kicks ass
  3. 3. War/Dance- an inspiring and beautiful story that deserves more praise then it was given
  4. 4. Street Fight- political revelations from a debut director
  5. 5. Confessions of a Superhero- the equivalent of Errol Morris and Morgan Spurlock’s love child
  6. 6. The Fog of War- an honest portrayal of a black mark on U.S. political ideas
  7. 7. Gates of Heaven- peels back the layers of humanity
  8. 8. Gimme Shelter- a shocking portrayal of what should have been a great moment in musical history
  9. 9. Murderball- a tightly weaved story that kicks ass
  10. 10. Hoop Dreams- basketball is only the beginning of this tale of inner city struggles
Top Ten Documentaries for film buffs:
(Must see’s for those who know)
 
  1. 1. Gates of Heaven- one of the best crafted films I’ve ever seen
  2. 2. Gimme Shelter - the Rolling Stones are great, but it’s the camera work and editing that shine
  3. 3. Hoop Dreams- Steve James’ directorial debut may be his most influential
  4. 4. Manda Bala- Poignant and cool, a combination worth investigating
  5. 5. The Bridge- you won’t leave the theater the same
  6. 6. When We Were Kings- the perfect “storyteller” film... period
  7. 7. Confessions of a Superhero- part quirky fun, part insightful, totally worth your time
  8. 8. Koyaanisqatsi- a brilliant piece by any standard, though it’s not accessible to everyone
  9. 9. Harlan County U.S.A.- an influential work many directors will credit as shaping their ideals
  10. 10. War/Dance - It should have won an Oscar in 2008, so i give it honors here
Top Ten Documentaries for documentary newbies:
(Unsure if this genre is worth your time, check these films out to see why it is)
 
  1. 1. King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters- nerdy and yet the most fun you’ll probably have
  2. 2. Dogtown and Z-Boys- a modern hit that rivals the quality of any of the classics
  3. 3. Scratch- a rare combination of excellent filmmaking and entertainment
  4. 4. Murderball- almost as good as the number two on this list
  5. 5. Mr.Untouchable- it’s fun, it’s cool and it’s effective... the soundtrack ain’t bad either
  6. 6. Operation Homecoming- ignore your views, hear their stories
  7. 7. Step Into Liquid- no matter how much water’s in your backyard, this’ll make you wanna surf
  8. 8. Journey’s with George- not as good as Street Fight, but probably more accessible
  9. 9.  Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room- the research and interviews are almost endless
  10. 10. Who Killed the Electric Car?- one of the main reasons I fell in love with documentaries