My ramblr78 List of Best Documentaries (For The Adventurous Enthusiast)
I've watched a lot of documentaries and these are my personal picks (with comments) for the top 57 (and counting)!
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- StarsNeil deGrasse TysonChristopher EmersonKeythe FarleyAn exploration of our discovery of the laws of nature and coordinates in space and time.Well told, extremely engaging. Provides a concise history of mankind, narrated in an objective yet interesting manner. Must watch for everyone.
- DirectorWerner HerzogStarsWerner HerzogScott RowlandStefan PashovFilm-maker Werner Herzog travels to the McMurdo Station in Antarctica, looking to capture the continent's beauty and investigate the characters living there.I love adventure/exploration docs and Werner Herzog films, this film has both.
- DirectorShaun MonsonStarsJoaquin PhoenixUsing 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.Extremely powerful, a reflection on who we are and where we are going as a species. Is it time for a paradigm shift towards a gentler more peaceful world? I really hope this film will persuade you that it is.
- DirectorIra CohenA pilgrimage into the heart of India's greatest sacred celebration, the Kumbh Mela which takes place every 12 years. Filmmaker and poet Ira Cohen brings us face to face with an unforgettable gathering of holy men and into the heart of a visionary experience by rendering it as it really is: a circus of high madness, true devotion and showbiz savvy. The Kumbh Mela takes its name from the Hindu legend which tells how four drops of the gods holy elixir fell to the earth from a "kumbh" or pitcher during a struggle with jealous demons fighting in the heavens. The celebration takes place where those drops fell to the earth.Feels like watching life from another dimension. Maha Khumb, a spiritual event for Hindus which proclaims to wash their sins away in the three sacred rivers that connect once every 12 years. Disciplined and dedicated saints doing penance towards achieving moksha and spiritual enlightenment. Methods: questionable and subjective. Goal: enlightenment, the noblest path mankind can follow. have been to the last two Maha Khumbu Melas, in Allahabad in 2001 and in 2013 and yes, there are people like this (I mean the foreigners) Find it on You-Tube. Ecstatic docu.
- DirectorTerry ZwigoffStarsRobert CrumbAline Kominsky-CrumbCharles CrumbAn intimate portrait of controversial cartoonist Robert Crumb and his traumatized family.
- DirectorBrett MorgenStarsKurt CobainWendy O'ConnorDon CobainAn authorized documentary on the late musician Kurt Cobain, from his early days in Aberdeen, Washington to his success and downfall with the grunge band Nirvana.Extremely well crafted documentary, whether you care much for the subject matter or not (I surely do), worth seeing.
Brett Morgan, we need to see Dave Grohl's interview, please edit it back in :( - DirectorSteve JamesStarsWilliam GatesArthur AgeeEmma GatesA film following the lives of two inner-city Chicago boys who struggle to become college basketball players on the road to going professional.Amazing doc, should be on anyone's top doc list imho.
- DirectorTodd PhillipsStarsGG AllinMerle AllinBrian Unk HunterDocumentary about notorious punk rock performer GG Allin.This guy was the real deal. Amazing character, haters will hate but Kevin Allin was a messenger from another dimension. Just watched the film, I am still awestruck.
- DirectorRichard PressStarsBill CunninghamAnna WintourMichael KorsA profile of the noted and extraordinarily cheerful veteran New York City fashion photographer.Not a fashion fan personally, but Bill is an truly inspiring human being who never made compromises in his craft. One of the greatest and last of the original American Bohemians.
- DirectorRon FrickeStarsBalinese Tari Legong DancersNi Made Megahadi PratiwiPuti Sri Candra DewiFilmed over nearly five years in twenty-five countries on five continents, and shot on seventy-millimetre film, Samsara transports us to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes, and natural wonders.Opening scene a dance, closing scene a desert, life is a dance, an unwritten page is our future, we have a choice on where we want to go as human beings, it's still not too late to become the dream.
- DirectorJamie UysStarsPaddy O'ByrneHilarious documentary on the wildlife of the Namib Desert.great fun
- StarsDavid AttenboroughAlec BaldwinChadden HunterFocuses on life and the environment in both the Arctic and Antarctic.Wonderful series focusing on present day climate change and how the two poles become the epicenter for the future of our planet's environmental stability. Fantastic writing, narration, photography, extremely informative. I've watched many (most?) BBC/Attenborough collaborations and this one, for me, was the most engaging.
- 1983– 47mNot Rated7.5 (1.1K)TV EpisodeDirectorArthur GinsbergTom SpainStarsRichard KuklinskiMichael BadenRobert J. CarrollRichard Kuklinski was a devoted husband, loving father--and ruthless killer of over 100 people. You'll meet him in this powerful documentary that features one of the most vivid and disturbing interviews ever recorded--taped behind the walls of the prison where Kuklinski is serving two consecutive life sentences for multiple homicide.Another compelling and truly chilling character, this 40 min HBO interview is a must watch.
- DirectorWilliam T. StillStarsWilliam T. StillThe Money Masters is a 1996 documentary film that discusses the concepts of money, debt, taxes, and describes their development from biblical times onward.Released in 1996, it was the first docu in which several more were to follow in the fifteen years after, gives a historical and what proves to be a prophetic account of the shortcomings of America's economic policies (2008 crash and subsequent recession). Despite some dated theorys (gold standard) the film describes the history of how it all came to be, which is a HUGE fraud and the very thing our forefathers came here to escape; an aristocracy overseen by the landed banking class. Very dry, very low budget, VERY informative
- DirectorBanksyStarsBanksyMr. BrainwashSpace InvaderFollowing the style of some of the world's most prolific street artists, an amateur filmmaker makes a foray into the art world.Amazing doc about an experience from Banksy's life the true artist, others will imitate but nobody can measure up to Banksy, esp. that what's his name Hirst cough*
- DirectorErrol MorrisStarsStephen HawkingIsobel HawkingJanet HumphreyA film about the life and work of the cosmologist, Stephen Hawking, who despite his near total paralysis, was one of the great minds of all time.I watched this film at the age of 13, the first docu I had ever seen in a movie theater and still remember vividly the day, the movie theater in which I saw it and the inspiration I felt after watching it.
- StarsSteven AveryDolores AveryLaura NiriderFilmed over a 10-year period, Steven Avery, a DNA exoneree who, while in the midst of exposing corruption in local law enforcement, finds himself the prime suspect in a grisly new crime.
- DirectorCharles FergusonStarsMatt DamonGylfi ZoegaAndri Snær MagnasonTakes a closer look at what brought about the 2008 financial meltdown.Excellent docu about the financial meltdown of 2008, very dry, very informative and very accurate, pay attention and understand.
- DirectorGabriela CowperthwaiteStarsTilikumDave DuffusSamantha BergA documentary following the controversial captivity of killer whales, and its dangers for both humans and whales.Living wild intelligent creatures are not meant to be exploited, free the orca whale.
- StarsRon OllieBrittany WagnerJohn III FranklinIntense look inside the world of junior college football, chronicling the stories of players and coaches in the classroom and on the field.Love the human aspect of this film, great story, a must watch for sports fans especially football. Strong southern accent recommend watching with subtitles. Netflix keep these great serials and documentaries coming, giving HBO a run for its money :)
- DirectorGeorge ButlerRobert FioreStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerLou FerrignoMatty FerrignoArnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno face off in a no-holds-barred competition for the title of Mr. Olympia in this critically-acclaimed film that made Schwarzenegger a household name.
- DirectorFrank PavichStarsAlejandro JodorowskyMichel SeydouxH.R. GigerThe story of cult film director Alejandro Jodorowsky's ambitious but ultimately doomed film adaptation of the seminal science fiction novel.Salvador Dali, Orson Welles, Mick Jagger Oh My! At the one time, when all of the stars aligned, it pains me to know that a film this monumental was never made. Well crafted docu, in tune with the subject matter, nails the music, imagery and interviews.
- DirectorMatthew CookeStars'Freeway' Ricky RossSusan SarandonDavid SimonTen easy steps show you how to make money from drugs, featuring a series of interviews with drug dealers, prison employees, and lobbyists arguing for tougher drug laws.watched the docu twice found it even better the second time through
- DirectorRodney AscherStarsBill BlakemoreGeoffrey CocksJuli KearnsAn exploration of various interpretations of Stanley Kubrick's horror film, The Shining (1980).Intriguing conspiracy theory written on the greatest horror film of all time.
- DirectorAndrew DouglasStarsHarry CrewsJohnny DowdDavid Eugene EdwardsSearching for The Wrong-Eyed Jesus is a captivating and compelling road trip through the creative spirit of the the Southern U.S. Director Andrew Douglas's film follows "Alt Country" singer Jim White through a gritty terrain of churches, prisons, truck stops, biker bars and coal mines. This is a journey through a very real contemporary Southern U.S., a world of marginalised white people and their unique and home-made society. Along the way are road-side encounters with modern musical mavericks including The Handsome Family, Johnny Dowd, 16 Horsepower and David Johansen; old time banjo player Lee sexton; rockabilly and mountain Gospel churches - and novelist Harry Crews telling grisly stories down a dirt track.
- DirectorZach HeinzerlingStarsUshio ShinoharaNoriko ShinoharaAlex ShinoharaThis candid New York love story explores the chaotic 40-year marriage of famed boxing painter Ushio Shinohara and his wife, Noriko. Anxious to shed her role as her overbearing husband's assistant, Noriko finds an identity of her own.
- DirectorTerry ZwigoffStarsHoward ArmstrongTed BoganYank RachellAbout the obscure country-blues musician and idiosyncratic visual artist Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong, member of the last known black string band in America.Catch it on you tube while its still there, otherwise very hard to find.
- DirectorWerner HerzogStarsTimothy TreadwellAmie HuguenardWerner HerzogA devastating and heart-rending take on grizzly bear activists Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard, who were killed in October of 2003 while living among grizzly bears in Alaska.
- DirectorAnthony GeffenStarsConrad AnkerSusan RobertsonRobert MacfarlaneUses astonishing visuals to tell the intersecting stories of George Mallory, the first man to attempt a summit of Mount Everest, and Conrad Anker, the mountaineer who finds Mallory's frozen remains 75 years later.A little dry for my taste as a docu, but the story is so amazing to me thus the high ranking.
- DirectorMartin BellStarsAnnieEddieAntoineGritty documentary that looks at the lives of teenagers living on the streets of Seattle.Although not exactly the same in subject matter, I found this film much more interesting than the more publicised 'Dark Days' and made 15 years ealier.
- DirectorPenelope SpheerisStarsEugene TatuAlice Bag BandBlack FlagA look into the Los Angeles punk rock scene, that was largely ignored by the rock music press of the time.
- DirectorFrederick WisemanDocumentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman takes us inside the Massachusetts Correctional Institution Bridgewater where people stay trapped in their madness.
- DirectorJessica YuStarsHenry DargerDakota FanningLarry PineA documentary on Henry Darger, visionary artist, janitor, and novelist.
- DirectorLouie PsihoyosStarsRichard O'BarryLouie PsihoyosHardy JonesUsing state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.
- DirectorErrol MorrisStarsAlbert BitterlingRoscoe CollinsGeorge HarrisA documentary on the eccentric residents of Vernon, Florida.More eccentric people with some fantastic quotes to boot.
- DirectorCurt MorganStarsTravis RiceMark LandvikJohn JacksonTwo years in the making, this film gives snowboarder Travis Rice and friends the opportunity to redefine what is possible in the mountains.
- DirectorJacob YoungStarsWattie GreenDorsey WhiteJerry WhiteThis documentary short, produced for West Virginia public TV's "Different Drummer" series, introduces us to Jesco White, a hard-living, tap-dancing Boone County resident whose repeated run-ins with the law have interfered with his dream of becoming as renowned a "mountain dancer" as his late father, D. Ray White. We meet Jesco's three distinct personalities; the gentle and loving Jesse, the violent and dangerous Jesco, and the extremely strange Elvis. We also encounter various members of Jesco's family, all nearly as eccentric as Jesco himself. You will ask, "Are these people for real?" Yes, they are.
- DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsGreg KinnearBruce WillisCatalina Sandino MorenoAn examination of the health risks involved in the fast food industry as well as its environmental and social consequences.
- DirectorBarbara KoppleStarsJohn L. LewisCarl HornNorman YarboroughA heartbreaking record of the thirteen-month struggle between a community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line.
- DirectorJanus MetzDanish soldiers are sent to Afghanistan in 2009 for 6 months, to help stabilize the country against the Taliban. They're stationed on Armadillo military base in Helman province. Unlike other war movies, this is the real deal - no actors.Very similar to Restrepo I found this film more informative and educational than its English speaking counterpart.
- DirectorTellerStarsTim JenisonPenn JilletteMartin MullInventor Tim Jenison seeks to understand the painting techniques used by Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer.
- DirectorMark AchbarJennifer AbbottStarsMikela JayRob BeckwermertChristopher GoraDocumentary that looks at the concept of the corporation throughout recent history up to its present-day dominance.
- DirectorSarah PolleyStarsMichael PolleyJohn BuchanMark PolleyA film that excavates layers of myth and memory to find the elusive truth at the core of a family of storytellers.Slow start but after the first 30 mins or so it becomes a very interesting film about an ordinary family who find themselves in caught in the middle of an extraordinary situation. Very touching.
- DirectorMarshall CurrySam CullmanStarsDaniel McGowanLisa McGowanTim LewisA rare behind-the-curtain look at the Earth Liberation Front, the radical environmental group that the FBI calls America's 'number one domestic terrorist threat.'
- DirectorMichael MooreStarsMichael MooreJohnny FancelliChristina FancelliTo learn what the USA can learn from other nations, Michael Moore playfully "invades" them to see what they have to offer.Not a Michael Moore fan, but this was an entertaining albeit patronizing and unreliable inquisition into the basic governing systems of other countries, especially European social systems. Informative with a few enlightening quotes from his subjects.
- DirectorSimon KloseStarsGottfrid SvartholmPeter SundeFredrik NeijAn intellectual freedoms documentary based around the interpersonal triumphs, and defeats of the three main characters against the largest industry in the known universe. The media industry.Not a great docu in terms of content, but because it is a subject that is getting so much attention these days (and because I wouldn't have been able to watch a number of these outstanding films without it); thus the high ranking.
- DirectorSteven GorelickHelena Norberg-HodgeJohn PageStarsJan BarhamRonald ColmanEliana Amparo Apaza Espillico'The Economics of Happiness' features a chorus of voices from six continents calling for systemic economic change. The documentary describes a world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions. On the one hand, government and big business continue to promote globalization and the consolidation of corporate power. At the same time, all around the world people are resisting those policies, demanding a re-regulation of trade and finance - and, far from the old institutions of power, they're starting to forge a very different future. Communities are coming together to re-build more human scale, ecological economies based on a new paradigm - an economics of localization.More like the Economics of Localization (I'm all for localization ftr), but not the best docu in terms of subject matter, facts and qualified sources. Happiness is a subject that NEEDS to be discussed more as it is clearly lacking in this fast growing world at present. It is our responsibility to make our modern day system assist us in being happy which is more important than anything else in life. MUST WATCH.
- DirectorJames MarshStarsPhilippe PetitJean François HeckelJean-Louis BlondeauA look at tightrope walker Philippe Petit's daring, but illegal, high-wire routine performed between New York City's World Trade Center's twin towers in 1974, what some consider, "the artistic crime of the century".Although the story itself is intriguing, I found this film failed to convey the poetic act that it was trying to recount.
- DirectorWerner HerzogStarsDieter DenglerWerner HerzogEugene DeatrickGerman-American Dieter Dengler discusses his service as a U.S. naval pilot in the Vietnam War. Dengler also revisits the sites of his capture and eventual escape from the hands of the Viet Cong, recreating many events for the camera.
- DirectorDavis GuggenheimStarsAl GoreBilly WestGeorge BushFilmmaker Davis Guggenheim follows Al Gore on the lecture circuit, as the former presidential candidate campaigns to raise public awareness of the dangers of global warming and calls for immediate action to curb its destructive effects on the environment.The BBC Earth et al. series' are far superior to this, but credit must be given to Al Gore and co. for bringing the global warming issue to the mainstream forefront.
- DirectorDaniel DencikStarsPer Bak JensenJonas BergsøeBo ElberlingA grand and adventurous journey of discovery to the last white areas of the world map. But no matter how far we go and how hard we try to find answers, we ultimately meet ourselves and our own transience.Beautiful cinematography, lacks direction, seems intentional, real, some characters more interesting than others.
- DirectorMorgan SpurlockStarsMorgan SpurlockDaryl IsaacsChemeeka WalkerWhile examining the influence of the fast food industry, Morgan Spurlock personally explores the consequences on his health of a diet of solely McDonald's food for one month.As if we didn't know already...
- DirectorLuc JacquetStarsMorgan FreemanRomane BohringerCharles BerlingIn the Antarctic, every March since the beginning of time, the quest begins to find the perfect mate and start a family.
- DirectorPeter DavisStarsTin ChanChau DiemNgo Dinh DiemA startling and courageous landmark documentary that unflinchingly confronted the United States' involvement in Vietnam at the height of the controversy that surrounded it.More war, more needless deaths and shattered lives based on a false premise.
- DirectorAlastair FothergillMark LinfieldStarsJames Earl JonesPatrick StewartAnggunFeature-length version of the documentary TV series Planet Earth (2006), following the migration paths of four animal families.Moments of breathtaking imagery the first half somehow seems more captivating than the second. Planet Earth II coming next year, very excited.
- DirectorRobert GreenwaldStarsKaty Helvenston-WettengalScott HelvenstonDonna ZovkoRobert Greenwald looks at war profiteering in Iraq by private contracting companies Halliburton, CACI, and KBR.
- DirectorPeter JosephStarsChogyam TrungpaJordan MaxwellGeorge CarlinMythology and belief in society today, presenting uncommon perspectives of common cultural issues.Too far fetched with questionable facts and sources for my taste the first 20 or so minutes about the history of religion proved very enlightening.