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[Skibas_clavicle]

I'm a really huge fan of documentaries and I've seen a few really terrific ones. Most recently, The Devil and Daniel Johnston. If you haven't heard of this film, here is a brief outline taken from the film's/his website:


"Daniel Johnston is a manic-depressive genius singer/songwriter/artist, revealed in this portrait of madness, creativity and love.

The Devil and Daniel Johnston is a stunning portrait of a musical and artistic genius who nearly slipped away.

Director Jeff Feuerzeig exquisitely depicts a perfect example of brilliance and madness going hand in hand with subject Daniel Johnston. As an artist suffering from manic depression with delusions of grandeur, Daniel Johnston's wild fluctuations, numerous downward spirals, and periodic respites are exposed in this deeply moving documentary.

As a reclusive teenager growing up in New Cumberland, VA, Johnston began showing signs of unusual artistic ability at an early age. He religiously recorded his thoughts and stories onto cassette tapes, directed intuitive Super- 8 films starring himself in multiple roles ala Peter Sellers, and created expressive comic book-style drawings and animation in the basement of his family's home. However, in the eyes of his fundamentalist Christian family, Daniel simply wasn't contributing to society in a useful or productive way. After running off on a moped and joining a carnival, he landed in Austin, Texas, broke and alone. It was there he began to hone his musical career, recording folk songs on a series of homemade, lo-fi cassettes, which Daniel handed out free to fans, friends and journalists in the early 80s. With the help of a timely break and the thriving Austin music scene, Daniel managed to secure a brief spotlight on MTV making him a minor celebrity. But just as he was beginning to make a name for himself, his inner demons began to surface and Daniel's ongoing struggle with manic depression became more and more evident in his songs and drawings.

"The Devil and Daniel Johnston" artfully melds current footage, vintage performances, home movies, and dozens of recorded audiotapes from Daniel's life. Testimony from supportive friends and a deeply committed family add a rich layer to his personal history, but it is Daniel's poetic songs interwoven throughout the film, that tell their own passionate, haunting, and truly unforgettable story.

Now in his mid 40s, Daniel Johnston has grown into a prolific visual artist. His expressions have earned him worldwide recognition and critical praise, producing international exhibits where he continues to sell his vibrant and intimate sketches. He has recorded over ten full length albums, and his supporters have included Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain, who was often seen wearing a Daniel Johnston t shirt, Matt Groening, The Butthole Suffers, Sonic Youth, noted Minutemen/FIREHOSE bassist Mike Watt, David Bowie, Tom Waits, Beck, The Flaming Lips, and an ever-growing international cult audience."


Anyways, I thought this was a really great documentary and I would like to know what are some great documentaries you guys have seen and get some synposi (synopses?) or what they're about! Cheers!

[Inlander]

There's nothing quite like a really good documentary. I just rediscovered Etre et Avoir a little while ago (made a copy of it for a girl's birthday). It's a gorgeous French documentary from 2003ish about a year in the life of the teacher and pupils at a tiny school in the French countryside. Nothing much happens, but it's the ultimate feel-good film.

Got to run out to see a show at the Comedy Festival now, but more when I get back!

[Johnny Evilguy]

That sounds cool I'll check it out,

The documentaries I've seen recently, some in theaters...

Michael Moore Hates America - by Michael Wilson

Enron: The smartest guys in the room by Alex Gibney

The corporation by Mark Achbar

Wal Mart: The high cost of the low price by Robert Greenwald

Then theres the popular ones I think everyone heard or saw, especially the Michael Moore ones and the one from Al Gore.


There's an issue of whether a good documentary means it stays neutral or tries to stay as close to being unbiased as possible or if its plain entertaining...

A good "mockumentary" is "Its all gone, Pete Tong." Funniest movie I've seen in years, especially hits home to those who is fan of techno music.

[Johnny C]

DiG! is the finest music documentary I've ever seen. It follows The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols, two bands who the film starts following when they have big plans for a shared future. Their paths eventually diverge so sharply as to create not only a sharp contrast of success vs. artistic credibility, but also to illustrate the unusually extreme love/hate relationship between the frontmen of each band. I cannot emphasize enough how much of a joy this film is to watch, even in its most depressing moments, simply because the members of both groups are phenomenally well-illustrated people. The documentary, though narrated by Courtney Taylor-Taylor of The Dandy Warhols, manages to present everyone involved as people with real hopes, dreams, fears and everything else that makes them appear really human. It's fantastic.

Another music documentary you'll want to watch is Steve Earle: Just An American Boy, about the politically radical country legend best known for "Copperhead Road." It's filmed by Amos Poe, someone who was heavily involved in the New York punk scene in the mid-70's.

As for other documentaries, if you can find yourself a copy of Les Blank's Gap Toothed Women, it's a fun watch and simply centres around the titular characters. The Corporation presents some pretty interesting points though it's heavily didactic and biased as well. I enjoy watching Michael Moore's documentaries even if his methods are sometimes somewhat odious.

Oh, and for fans of Naomi Klein's No Logo, or people who have an interest in what the globalized economy does to smaller nations and how residents of said smaller nations are attempting to take back their economy and lives, The Take is a film for you to watch. Made by Klein and her husband Avi Lewis, it traces one recovered factory in particular by immersing itself in their world. I don't want to say too much and give things away because I want you to actively seek this film out and watch it! It's really great and gives you a serious edge in arguments about globalization by giving you hard facts combined with anecdotal evidence.

[Will]

Two documentaries that recently acquired from Netflix, I would highly recommend to anyone:

"Dark Days" is about a group of homeless folk who carved out a little community for themselves in the Amtrak train tunnels in New York. Amazingly enough, until Amtrak officials forced a shut-down, their 'home' even had such luxuries as electricities and running water...it's a pretty compelling film

"F*K" is a documentary about one of our favorite 4-letter words. I thought it was going to be a joke, but it's actually pretty fascinating. They take material from both sides of the free speech/responsible speech issue, both people who think you should be able to swear at leisure and people who think it's a word that should be outlawed. All in all, it's quite fascinating to watch.

[Desmonkey]

Ever heard of 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-out? i really enjoyed it and it's said that the movie is a really accurate portrayal of the actual events that took place. here's what it's about;

Based on a real event that took place in February 28th 1997 when two heavily armed men wearing body armor decided to rob the Bank of America in North Hollywood. Something goes wrong in the robbery attempt and the result is the most violent shootout in modern American police history. The two heavily armed men held the Los Angeles Police Dept., SWAT teams and other services at bay for 44 minutes in 1997

trust me, it's worth a watch and really beautifully made.

[mberan42]

Oh yeah, I forgot about FUCK. I wanted to see that. Maybe I'll rent it soon. Thanks for reminding me.

[fish across face]

A good "mockumentary" is "Its all gone, Pete Tong." Funniest movie I've seen in years, especially hits home to those who is fan of techno music.

FWIW I think you have to write it without the comma - 'It's all gone Pete Tong' - to get the right effect.  Pretty sure the title's suggesting good old superstar prog house DJ Pete Tong's name is rhyming slang for "wrong", rather than that he's lost his glory.

I really don't like most musician-related documentaries, but the best documentary I saw in a cinema was 'Theremin'.  It's about Leon Theremin, the guy who invented the bizarre electronic instrument you play without touching it.  Involves 50s sci-fi, a virtuoso theremin player doing classical pieces, the Beach Boys, and the KGB.  Seems in no way bad.

'My Best Fiend', the Werner Herzog doco about his relationship with actor Klaus Kinski is quite incredible.  If you're at all interested in Herzog's movies I wholeheartedly recommend this one.

[Johnny C]

Oh, damn, I forgot about The Aristocrats. Funny as hell.

[Utopian]

I went on a household outing with my old flatmates to see The Aristocrats in the cinema. I thought it was hilarious but not one of us shared the same opinion of it.

One doc I saw some time ago and would love to get my hands on is Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus. It's about a world so alien to my own; really fascinating, beautiful to watch and touching with lovely musical performances from people who are shockingly deprived in such a rich country.

[valley_parade]

I saw two sports docs last night. The first was "Spaceman", which was about former Red Sox and Expos pitcher Bill Lee and his trip to Cuba with an adult league from the San Diego area. It was a great look back at his career, and more importantly, his love of baseball. The dude's almost 60 years old and he still plays every chance he gets.

The second was "Once In a Lifetime", which was the story of the New York Cosmos of the old NASL. Pele, Carlos Alberto, Giorgio Chinaglia, Warner Entertainment, all that shit. Loved it. I recommend both highly.

[Inlander]

Got to run out to see a show at the Comedy Festival now, but more when I get back!

Okay, so it took me a while. If you're looking for Etre et Avoir, you might want to search for it under its English title: To Be and To Have.

A couple of other good docos off the top of my head:

Street Fight is a great documentary about the mayoral election a few years ago in Newark, New Jersey. It's one of those films that makes your blood boil and the overt injustice it depicts, and it also serves to remind you just how much democracy can be abused when nobody's really paying attention.

The Staircase, a.k.a. Death on a Staircase, is an amazing 8-part (as I recall) made-for-T.V. documentary series following a murder trial in the U.S., largely from the perspective of the defence team. The director is French. It's pretty depressing, I guess, but it's also incredibly gripping and possibly raises as many questions as it answers.