I was talking to some of the boys the other day and I was surprised by all the sweet documentaries that people have not seen. Here are some choice cuts from the world of reality cinema.
Man on Wire
French dude tight rope walks between the still under construction Twin Towers. The guy who does it is absolutely insane and completely mesmerizing. The parents of Kevin Mahoney were left speechless.
The King of Kong
Bunch of nerds try to get the world record in arcade Donkey Kong. Some of them are totally lovable and others absolutely abhorrent. All are fantastically entertaining.
Spellbound
I have always loved to watch the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee, but to see all the stuff behind the scenes is really incredible.
Lost in La Mancha
Terry Gilliam (the director of Brazil, Twelve Monkeys, Fear and Loathing, and main Monty Python dude) tries to make an adaption of Don Quixote. He fails catastrophically and this documentary lets us all enjoy his misery.
Tokyo Olympiad
Documentary of the 1964 Toyko Olympics. I think it is the best sports have ever been captured on moving film.
Koyaanisqatsi
Pretty trippy documentary about the intersection between nature and technology made by an ex-monk named Godfrey Reggio with music by Phillip Glass. Sounds good doesn't it.
An Unreasonable Man
About Ralph Nader, one of the most interesting people of our life time and one of my favorites.
The Fog of War
Basically an extended interview plus file footage with Robert McNamara, one of the smartest dudes ever and the mind behind the Vietnam War.
The Lake of Fire
One of the only times I have been compelled to spend two and a half hours thinking about abortion. From the man who brought you American History X.
When We Were King
Watching pretty much anything with Muhammad Ali is entertaining. Watching him go to Zaire to fight George Foreman is about as entertaining as you can get plus there is some pretty heavy stuff about the conception of black people in America and Africa.
Hoop Dreams
Two boys and their dream of making it to the NBA.
And a bonus radio documentary:
Ghetto Life 101
Link to Archive
Kevin Mahoney hipped me to this radio documentary that is probably the most enjoyable and interesting radio program I have ever heard, and I listen to a lot of radio. A 13 and 14 year-old walk around the south side of Chicago with a tape recorder.
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1 comment:
Your list is beautiful, and you included Errol Morris's "Fog of War," but let's give an honorable mention to his "Gates of Heaven," which prompted Werner Herzog to film himself eating a shoe.
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