Rick Reuben wrote:

sassi wrote:The Architecture of Doom. The best documentary about the Nazis ever.

Totally awesome. Also, Mein Kampf, from 1961. All archival footage.

Definitely much of what has already been mentioned: any Adam Curtis, any Errol Morris, Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land, revolution will not be televised ( hugo chavez ), I Am Cuba, The Take, Orwell Rolls Over In His Grave.

I Am Cuba is awe-inspiring.

three pages and no mention of Mondo Cane? Come on now.

My favorite documentaries would include:

Most of the Mondo Cane films
Of The Dead
Mondo Magic
Death Scenes
World's Greatest Hoaxes
Great White Death
Air Jaws
The Killing Of America
Some Kind Of Monster (to a point)
The Godfathers Of Mondo
Decline Of Western Civilization Series
Anything Target Video put out in the 80s
Alien Autopsy: Fact Or Fiction


I like documentaries. Mostly the fucked up kind.

Also,

Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator by one Helen Stickler.

A fascinating look at the life of Mark 'Gator' Rogowski, a one-time professional skater who lost his way and eventually commited murder (in case you didn't know).

Lot of great interviews in this. Gator's patently ditzy ex-girlfriend provides a lot of (unintentional) comic relief, and Tony Hawk provides a level-headed assesment of Gator and his life. Some nice insights into skate culture and its rise in popularity, too.

Project Grizzly - guy trying to build a "grizzly bear proof" suit of armor.

jrrobinson wrote:Titicut Follies.

dir. by Frederick Wiseman

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062374/

Fuckin' ay!

Frederick Wiseman in general!

He and the Maysles Brothers (RIP, David) are easily among the top five best documentary filmmakers in the United States.

http://www.zipporah.com/

Adam Curtis' documentaries are pretty extraordinary.

The Trap: What Happened to our Dream of Freedom, The Power of Nightmares, and Century of the Self are all brilliant. I remember watching them all in the space of a week and getting a bit freaked out.

My Best Fiend like someone said, is brilliant.

There was a crushingly depressing documentary on British television many years ago about a phoographer trying to kick his heroin addiction. I think it was called Cold Turky and I think there were a lot of Will Oldham songs used. I'd like to see that again one day.

I just saw one called 638 Ways to Kill Castro which details some of the hilarious plots hatched to off Castro and prevent him from gaining power.

Some were completely off the charts, like dosing him with LSD so he would freak out on a TV broadcast, or ways to poison him so his beard would fall off.

Last weekend I watched Standing in the Shadows of Motown. It's a great documentary.

http://www.standingintheshadowsofmotown.com/

Even if you're not interested in Motown's music it's an interesting film.

I felt stupid for not knowing anything about James Jamerson before now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Jamerson