A couple of weeks ago (Yikes. The post is right underneath this one, dated October 5th. My blogging is definitely lacking.) the International Documentary Association released it’s list of ‘Top 25 Documentaries of All Time’, and although their list did cover some essential territory, there were a few surprises that I felt didn’t really belong. (Supersize Me??) So I thought it’d be fun to throw up my own list here on The Documentary Blog, covering what I consider to be essential films that are both personal favourites and ‘must-see’ recommendations for friends. Here it goes:
1. Gates of Heaven (Morris, 1980)
2. Salesman (Maysles, 1968)
3. Vernon, Florida (Morris, 1982)
4. Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (Berlinger - Sinsofsky, 2000)
5. Land of Silence and Darkness (Herzog, 1971)
6. Burden of Dreams (Blank, 1982)
7. Thin Blue Line, The (Morris, 1988)
8. Grey Gardens (Maysles, 1975)
9. Hoop Dreams (S James, 1994)
10. American Movie (C. Smith, 1999)
11. Gimme Shelter (Maysles, 1970)
12. The Devil and Daniel Johnston (Feuerzeig, 2005)
13. The Staircase (Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, 2004)
14. The Up Series (Almond/Apted, 1964 – 2005)
15. Grizzly Man (Herzog, 2005)
16. Crumb (Zwigoff, 1994)
17. Harlan County U.S.A. (Kopple, 1976)
18. For All Mankind (Reinert, 1989)
19. Hell House (Ratliff, 2001)
20. Project Grizzly (Lynch, 1996)
21. Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie (Kuran, 1995)
22. Don’t Look Back (Pennebaker, 1967)
23. Hearts & Minds (Davis, 1974)
24. Capturing the Friedman’s (Jarecki, 2003)
25. Stevie (James, 2002)
So there you have it. What do you think? Anything missing? Anything up there that you think doesn’t deserve to be there?
October 16th, 2007 at 10:39 am
Nice list, Jay. There are a few on there that I need to check out. Making a list like this is extremely hard. The truth is I love the documentary genre so much that a doc has to be pretty bad for me not to like it.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Yeah no. 11 is missing! (Is it reserved for Spinal Tap?)
I’ve seen 4 of your top 6 and I liked all of them. I would put Burden of Dreams above Paradise Lost though. I think I’d even put Some Kind Of Monster above Paradise Lost 2. I think Dark Days is missing on the list though, that’s still one of my favourites. And also the Jonestown documentary. I know it had alot of stock footage, and focuses on the phenomenon more than something like Gates of Heaven, but I really thought that as far as a interview-retrospective documentary (if that’s a genre) it was excellent. Very sober, calm and just telling the story of these people. And I really liked the style, especially the ending where they showed the microphones.
I’m curious as to why you think Gates of Heaven is the best. I liked the second half of the movie alot, but the first half I felt was very muddled and hard to follow. I didn’t really understand what was going on in that part, and almost fell asleep. But it does have awesome cinematography and the characters in the 2nd half feel very honest and endearing.
I’m not one to make lists like this, and I can’t really figure out what would be my number 1.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Oh and I think maybe you should include Triumph of the Will to stir up some controversy and get the traffic going.
October 16th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Oh, whoops. I must’ve accidentally deleted one when re-arranging in my wordpress post. I’ll fix that when I get home from work.
October 16th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Sadly i haven’t seen most of the docs you listed. Only The devil and Daniel Johnston and Capturing the Friedmans which I think they are brilliant.
I don´t know if you know the doc. “Step Across the Border” about the avantgarde guitarist Fred Frith. I think it’s beautiful but a little hard to follow due to its improvise method (and specially if you don’t know his music). Still worth a look I think. Just in case, I have a review, sadly only in Spanish, of it here. Cheers
October 17th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Interesting list. Missing: Anything not in English. Shoah. Night and Fog. Anything not American aside from the Up series and Project Grizzly - the latter of which is one film on your list I most emphatically disagree with.
October 17th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Hey Eric,
Actually, Werner Herzog’s ‘Land of Silence and Darkness’ is in German and is also a German production, and for what it’s worth, ‘Staircase’ is also a French production (”Soupçons”). And to get really picky, ‘Burden of Dreams’ is in Spanish, English and German.
Personally, i’m not very concerned about what language a film is in. I just like what I like I guess, and it just happens that i’ve mostly been exposed to English language documentaries. I will agree my top 25 is very ‘American’. A top 50 would have definitely seen a mention for Night and Fog, among others.
October 17th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
I guess I shouldn’t try and stir up conversation about the movies on the list, but rather throw european movies out there that you haven’t seen? Or do you just don’t think Gates of Heaven needs defense?
I’m breaking your balls abit here I know, but I love talking about movies (as hard at that may seem to comprehend, as debates I enter always end up being about something else) and I don’t know anybody else who has seen Gates of Heaven. I thought somebody who thought it was the best movie ever made in the world would tell me some good stuff about it, but if you think it’s too big and you can’t really be bothered I totally understand that. It would just be nice to have it recognised in some kind? I mean when I totally rave about how stupid Jaws is, you make a list of defenses! I guess that’s more deserving?
October 17th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Oh, and ‘Den Hemmelige Krig’, ‘Kampen om Staden’ and ‘Fogh bag facaden’ are TOTALLY missing from the list!
October 17th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
As much as I love the Maysles Bros. and SALESMAN, that’s how much I detest GREY GARDENS. I also think that while GIMME SHELTER is a wonderful film, it’s just not Top 25 for me. I also think that while HOOP DREAMS is a masterpiece, STEVIE is definitely not in that class (though still enjoyable).
I would insert ROGER & ME, SHERMAN’S MARCH, and perhaps DARWIN’S NIGHTMARE.
October 17th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
Henrik,
Sorry about the lack of response to Gates of Heaven. It’s rare that I work up enough enthusiasm or energy to write long responses to comments. I guess i’m just lazy.
Anyways, for me Gates of Heaven and Vernon, Florida could probably be interchangable for that number one spot. In fact, i’d say the top ten of my list could probably switch around in different orders. That’s the problem with lists, you can only have one number one. But seeing as Gates of Heaven is my number one, i’ll say that I love it for it’s passion, humour, visual style and story telling. And by story telling, I’m talking more about the people within the film telling the stories rather than the film’s story as a whole.
The woman on the porch talking about her son is golden. What’s even better is the moment when the car screeches off in the background, and then follows up with a comedically timed honk. I love it.
Chris: I can see where you’re coming from with Grey Gardens. Regarding Stevie, I agree it’s probably not top 25 material in regards to classics or masterpieces, but for me, it was an intense watch and is definitely worthy of my own personal top 25.
Thanks for the comments!
October 18th, 2007 at 12:14 am
I don’t mean to an asshole on here (maybe that’s too late but whatever) but when you actually post a top whatever list in a public forum you have to be ready to defend it publically!
I have to say that passion, humour, visual style and story telling doesn’t really cut it for me. I like to go deep. But as I was told in my Culture- and communicationanalysisclass, when you decide to be analytical towards art, you lose the joy in becoming lost in the world it creates. In other words, ignorance is bliss, and there is no use in arguing ignorants that their favorite pieces of art aren’t the best ever made.
I’m not saying you are ignorant, I actually honestly believe you are not at all, but your defense of the movie was alittle vague. I’m sorry I can’t be there to talk to you face to face, I really am because my face is exceptionally beautiful, but this is all I got.
October 18th, 2007 at 12:26 am
Vague is the new specific. Didn’t you hear?
I guess I just think when it comes to great documentaries, Gates of Heaven is a film that just doesn’t need much defending. It speaks for itself. If it’s not your thing, that’s cool.
Ever since my colon cancer scare, I just don’t want to spend precious time arguing over such things.
(that’s a joke.)
October 18th, 2007 at 1:16 am
I get the joke. I just enjoy talking about the movies. The more you talk, the deeper you go, and in my opinion, the deeper you go the more worthy the movie is of discussion.
I really liked the second half of the movie. I just hope the long-haired brother found love.
October 20th, 2007 at 12:46 am
WHAT?!?! No “Prince of Peace - God of War”?!?!! I hear they had a terrific editor.
October 20th, 2007 at 1:01 am
It just missed the cut at 26.
October 20th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Nice job. I’ve stumble upon your site/blog and I’m really impressed. I’m also passionate documentary films lover and I appreciate your work.
I also have a site about documentaries (click on my name to check it out)
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:03 am
Hmmm… Where are all the classics?
Dark Days
A Hole in the Head
The Killing of America
The Eleven Powers
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:05 am
I’ve had the ‘what makes a classic’ debate way too many times recently, but I will say this:
Dark Days is more of a classic than Gates of Heaven, Harland County U.S.A., Salesman, Gimme Shelter and Don’t Look Back?
Either way, thanks for the comment. Dark Days is a great film. Haven’t seen The Eleven Powers or Hole in the Head. The Killing of America was to be lent to me by someone, but they never gave it to me. Not sure if it would fall into my category of classic though. But again, this list is just my personal favourites.
October 25th, 2007 at 7:44 am
Great list. It’s nice to see the early Errol Morris film rank highly. I’d add F for Fake, Style Wars, Sherman’s March, Brother’s Keeper, and Rivers and Tides. I think Street Fight will also be seen as a classic someday.
October 25th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Hey Josh,
Just recieved your DVD. I hope to have a review up soon.
Good call on F is for Fake and Style Wars. Both were almost in my top 25, definitely in my top 50. Haven’t seen Street Fight. I’ll have to check it out.
October 27th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
sweet list jay.
This is a list that I plan to work through.
October 30th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Jay - Thanks for the list - It’ll keep me busy getting through it.
One , which I think should be added, is Amy Berg’s “Deliver us from Evil”. This was one of the most powerful/ disturbing / emotional documentaries I’ve seen in a long time.
November 1st, 2007 at 11:50 am
I just love the classics!
November 3rd, 2007 at 1:02 am
I saw Mondo Cane today, and I think it is not only a fantastic piece of art, but a poignant and unavoidable achievement in documentary film-making. If you have seen it, there is no excuse for not having it on the list when you have movies like Grizzly Man or Gates of Heaven up there.
I know it’s all subjective… But lists like these are definite.
November 3rd, 2007 at 7:40 pm
And what exactly does Mondo Cane have to do with Grizzly Man and Gates of Heaven?
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Nothing except that it’s a way better movie.
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:46 pm
Nice list Jay…Boy it’s hard to whittle it down to 25. There’s great political docs (”A Perfect Candidate”, “Street Fight”, “Deadline”), sports ones (”Dogtown And Z-Boys”, “Go Tigers!”), on filmmaking itself (”Visions Of Light”, “Hearts Of Darkness”, “Celluloid Closet”) or even just images (Koyannisqatsi, Lessons Of Darkness, Man With A Movie Camera).
Did you see the International Documentary Association’s Top 25 Documentaries of all time list? I much prefer yours, but like any list that’s compiled from a number of people, it’ll likely reduce itself to widely seen films.
I note that I didn’t list a lot of foreign language docs either…I’d love to see a list of some of the best of those.
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Whoops…I just noticed that you actually have an entire post dedicated to the IDA’s list..I guess you did see it…B-)
Haven’t checked in here for awhile so I was catching up from the top and working my way down. My comment still stands though - like the AFI lists or even the recent Online Community’s list of favourite films, anything that takes a number of people’s lists as input into something all encompassing will likely become a list of more obvious and popular picks (individual lists will have interesting unknown picks, but those just won’t get reflected in the end result).
November 20th, 2007 at 11:47 am
A fine list, agree with all the ones on the list I have seen, interested to check out ‘The Salesman’
Would strongly recommend adding Spike Lee’s ‘When the Levees Broke’. It kicks all sorts of ass, and is the fastest four hours I have spent in a theater.
November 20th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Also the absence of Kevin Macdonald is troubling, no ‘Touching the Void’ or ‘One Day In September’?
November 20th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I’m a big fan of both ‘Touching the Void’ and ‘One Day In September’, and they’d definitely make it onto a top 50 list.
November 21st, 2007 at 1:41 pm
I caught Macdonald’s latest doc, My Enemy’s Enemy at TIFF, and it was a bit jarring because much of it is in french, and there is a lot of fast exposition coming at you at the beginning, but then it settles into a groove and it is a really fascinating look at the nine lives of Klaus Barbie. Macdonald is able to find these great stories and thread them out, like some engrossing bar-room tale.
November 23rd, 2007 at 6:41 pm
I don’t understand how you could not include ‘The Sorrow and The Pity’ which for me is the modern benchmark and breakthrough for all recent documentaries.
Not including any of Philibert’s docs like ‘Etre et Avoir’, ‘Every Little Thing’ or ‘Land of the Deaf’ tells me you are not too up on docs made outside the US unless they happen to be released in the US.
Your list has some excellent docs but at least half the list should not be included when compared to docs made outside the US.
November 23rd, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Hey Bruce,
Thanks for the comment. As I stated in my post, this is a list of my personal favourite documentaries. To say that half of my list should not be included almost sounds as though you’re attempting dictate what I should or shouldn’t like (which I’m sure you’re not). How could I not have included ‘The Sorrow and the Pity’? Well, I haven’t seen it. In fact, there’s many films I haven’t seen. Probably in the hundreds of thousands. However, based on your glowing recommendation, I will try and check it out.
As for docs released outside of North America, you’re right, I don’t see many. Hell, in the area I live, it’s even a struggle to see my own countries films. (Canada) But I try to catch them when I have the opportunity.
Even if I had the opportunity to run The Documentary Blog full time for a living, I’m sure I wouldn’t have the time or the resources to see every single documentary that one person or another might consider a ‘classic’ or a ‘must see’.
Thanks again for your comment.
November 24th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
LOVE your list
Too late to get in on the debate?
I’m a Doc freak. But though I understand the “importance” of, say… SALESMAN and the EARL MORRIS flicks, they don’t do much for me (actually I like the Vietnam one, he did more).
Glad you gave PARADISE LOST 2 a high position. If you’re gonna put the UP films as a series, why not call it
PARADISE LOST: THE CHILD MURDERS AT ROBIN HOOD HILLS (1996) / PARADISE LOST 2: REVELATIONS (2000 Berlinger & Sinofsky) ? Unless your not crazy about part 1. I dig their BROTHERS KEEPER too.
I think of THE STAIRCASE as a TV film, which is cool (I like * MURDER ON A SUNDAY MORNING (2002 Lestrade) even more) but then what about the monster-epic awesome PBS series…
* EYES ON THE PRIZE (Hampton 1987)
GRIZZLY MAN and THE DEVIL & DANIEL JOHNSTON all -time top 25?
STEVIE and PROJECT GRIZZLY?
Okay we all have our ones we like that others may not.
But it’s kinda goofy, considering you’re missing…
*** THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK (1984 Epstein)
Have you seen that?
When I was a kid that flick and…
* ROGER & ME (1989 Moore) and
* HEARTS OF DARKNESS: A FILMMAKER’S APOCALYPSE (1991 Hickenlooper)
really turned me on to docs and all three I would have top 25, I was also really turned on by…
* VISIONS OF LIGHT: THE ART OF CINEMATOGRAPHY (1993 Glassman) and
* WHEN WE WERE KINGS (1996 Gast)
I find it a bit trite to call a recent film ALL-TIME 25 because sometimes I get overly excited and then as time goes by maybe it doesn’t hold up for me
BUT for sure I’d have (you must find a copy if you haven’t seen) the great flick….
* THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED (2003 Bartley, O’Briain).
Man, is it incredible (do a goggle search, there is some Venezuela solidarity web site that for a few bucks will mail you a copy)
Other kinda recent ones you should consider
* THE LAST DAYS (1999 Moll)
* ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER (1999 Macdonald)
* THE FILTH AND THE FURY (2000 Temple)
* INTO THE ARMS OF STRANGERS: STORIES OF THE KINDERTRANSPORT (2000 Harris)
* DOGTOWN AND Z BOYS (2002 Peralta)
SMALL TOWN ECSTASY (HBO 2002 Blumenfield )
Okay I can’t stop… even more recently I dug….
ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM
LOS ANGELES PLAYS ITSELF
JESUS CAMP
OVERNIGHT
DIG!
FAHRENHEIT 9/11
CONTROL ROOM
METALLICA: SOME KIND OF MONSTER
TARNATION
WHY WE FIGHT
BOB DYLAN: NO DIRECTIONS HOME
Just glad to see other folks enjoying and talking about Documentaries too,
November 24th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Hey Sweeneyrules,
Thanks for the comment. You’ve listed a number of movies that I really love as well, and would definitely make a personal top 50 list.
A few I haven’t seen as well: Los Angeles Plays Itself, Into the Arms of Strangers, and The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. I’ll be sure to check them out.
The only glaring disagreement I think we have is your inclusion of Tarnation, a film that I absolutely hated.
Other than that, good stuff overall!
November 26th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
A few that I don’t think have been mentioned…
For Film History (in addition to Visions of Light):
Hollywood (VHS only)
Cinema Europe
I would also add to Sweeney’s list:
War Made Easy
The Corporation (DVD is excellent)
I actually think the Triumph of The Will ought to be req’d viewing, for what it tells us about propaganda.
Vietnam:
In The Year Of The Pig
Michael Apted:
Incident At Oglala
Music:
Say Amen Somebody
Honestly, Michael Moore’s films are great cinema. The IDA honors are well deserved.
December 1st, 2007 at 1:41 am
Straight No Chaser
Gap Toothed Woman (Blank)
Sick
December 5th, 2007 at 4:53 am
Hearts Of Darkness should be in the top five (in my opinion). One of the greats.
December 9th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
What about No Direction Home
December 10th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Great list - thanks! Some favorites:
*Sherman’s March
*The Cruise
*Beaver Trilogy (sorta a documentary)
*Gleaners & I
*Hands on a Hardbody
*House is Black
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:32 am
Thanks for the list, just watched “King of Kong” and feel it should be up there.
It really isn’t about video games, the tension, the competition, the sacrifice, the cliqiness of groups was capture beautifully.
On the surface the object may seem mundane but the human mind will make it central to ones survival and ability to cope.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:18 am
Hey from24ft,
Although King of Kong didn’t make my top 25 documentaries list, it did make my top ten films of 2007 list. I agree with everything you said about it.
January 25th, 2008 at 2:33 am
The Gleaners and I, most definitely
Oh, isn’t it Harlan COunty, not Harland County?
And “Capturing the Friedmans,” not “Friedman’s.?”
More for you to seek out:
A Tale of the Wind (Joris Ivens)
Africa, I Will Fleece You (Jean-Marie Teno)
Shoah
Los Angeles Plays Itself is not yet on video, but sometimes plays in theatres. As it is made almost entirely of clips from Hollywood films, licensing has raised certain issues in getting it released thus far. I hope you can see it, as it is great. The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood seems to run it at least once a year.
Be sure to look into Herzog’s other documentaries. He has an amazing one on spirituality in Russia, the title of which currently escapes me.
January 25th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Hey Adam,
Woops. Typos be damned.
As for Herzog’s other documentaries, I’m actually a huge fan and was lucky enough to receive a copy of his recently released short films and documentaries box set. It’s amazingly great. The only downside is its price. (almost $350 after exchange!)
Here’s a link to my review of it:
http://www.thedocumentaryblog.com/index.php/2006/12/19/werner-herzog-dvd-edition-documentaries-and-shorts/
February 10th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Paradise Lost 2 is an awesome movie…
Have you guys seen Darius Goes West?
I saw it last year at a film festival and I think its kinda underground, but I heard it won like 25 awards on the circuit. Its the best documentary I’ve ever seen…
February 10th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
THANK YOU CHARLES! ive been preachin darius for months! i dont realy see a film like that ever getting the credit it deserves though. its TOO independent. oh and king of kong was pretty good too. HOOP DREAMS is my fav on that offical list though no doubt about it!
February 28th, 2008 at 9:27 am
This is a great list, and quite an undertaking to put together. Of course, everyone will have their own favorite that they personally would add if it was *their* list. My addition is The Great Happiness Space: Tales of an Osaka Love Thief. If you haven’t seen this, based on the other movies on the list, I think you’d like it!
I LOVE Hell House, but I also think Devil’s Playground, about Amish teens on Rumspringa can hold its own with Hell House!!
Anyway, I came across your site while Googling “Guys and Dolls”. Great stuff!
February 28th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Thanks for joining in on the discussion Kyria A.!
I’ve also seen Devil’s Playground, but Hell House just had that quirkiness to it that I can’t resist.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:26 pm
I personally think the a movie like StyleWars should be on a list like this. its a great portrait of new york and its young and it had a great impact on the spreading of hiphop culture all over the world and still has 25years later. and its great!:) see it here!http://www.documentarycorner.com/?p=57 (direkt link to the full movie)
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:52 pm
http://www.documentarycorner.com/?p=57
sorry for double enter just want to make it clickable…
March 20th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I am a producer for the local pbs station in Austin Texas. I had the privilege to talk with Morgan Spurlock who was promoting his new film, Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?
Feel free to check out the vlog:
http://www.klru.org/docubloggers/?p=262#more-262
March 22nd, 2008 at 12:03 am
First off, congrats for your blog Jay C. This does feel like a bit of an americanized list. But frankly, the IDA (INTERNATIONAL documentary association) list is much more questionnable and includes 3 films by Michael Moore out of the top 25 all-time documentary films. Man this guy must be the greatest documentary filmmaker that was ever put on this earth. (please note sarcasm here)
But in any case, a top 25 IS a pretty big challenge. Might I add: some direct cinema films by Michel Brault or Gilles Groulx i.e. “Pour la Suite du Monde”, or “Tokyo Olympiad”. Come to think of it, Riefenstahl’s Olympia should be there no?
That was just my two cents!
Jay C, how about a top 25 list of documentary directors?
March 24th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
“Jay C, how about a top 25 list of documentary directors?”
That would be a good idea. Based on the great response to this top 25, I’ll have to start putting something together for that.
March 27th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Surely this is a list of the top American documentaries, rather than the top documentaries?
March 27th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
No Wiseman Films?
March 27th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Great list!
I was suprised that DRIVER 23 wasn’t mentioned. That’s my favorite.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Titticut Follies?
March 28th, 2008 at 1:06 am
I have seen about 15 or these, several of them are my favorites as well.
I second the reccomendation of Sick: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan Supermasochist, which is one of the most graphic and yet most moving films I’ve ever seen.
Without any hesitation though, my #1 is “Streetwise,” a 1984 documentary by Martin Bell about homeless kids in Seattle. It is only available on VHS.
March 28th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Surely you mean the top 25 AMERICAN documentaries?
March 28th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Mike and ‘Pageturners’:
Surely, I mean my PERSONAL top 25 documentaries. A list that will be ever changing.
And by the way, Land of Silence and Darkness isn’t American, so how could it be an American list?
ryan: You can catch me and a friends review of Sick somewhere on this site. Although overall I wasn’t totally into it, I did think the last 30 minutes was some of the most powerful stuff I’ve ever seen.
Matt S: Titicut Follies is on my list of films I haven’t seen that I should. Unfortunately I’ve been finding it hard to actually get a copy to watch, due to Wiseman’s refusal to release his work on DVD.
Kilgore Trout: Drive 23…is that the one about a band? Andrew from Row Three gave me a copy of that a while back. Embarrassingly, I have yet to watch it. It’s on my massive to do list though.
Just a disclaimer to those of you upset over your favourite films not being on this list: I’m in no way any sort of voice in the documentary world. I’m just a guy who likes documentaries and runs a blog. This happens to be my list of my personal favourite documentaries of all time. Don’t get me wrong though, I totally encourage you to dispute my choices.
I wouldn’t even dare to create a list of the most important documentaries of all time because I haven’t seen them all. However, I do encourage you to share your nominees for such a list in this comments section.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:35 am
And as far as the American comments…if you’d prefer looking at it that way, feel free. I have no problem with it. These are some of my favourite films, not matter what country they come from. Keep in mind, this is only TWENTY FIVE of my favourite documentaries. Maybe I should think about putting together a top 100 list?
March 28th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Titicut Follies is on my list of films I haven’t seen that I should. Unfortunately I’ve been finding it hard to actually get a copy to watch, due to Wiseman’s refusal to release his work on DVD.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Gah, sorry about that.
Anyway, Wiseman’s films came out on DVD last year. They seem to be between $30 and $35 for individual purchase.
http://www.zipporah.com/films
March 28th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I think I know the reason why “Wordplay (2006)” didn’t end up on your top 25 list.
It has something to do with the fact that you listed “Paradise Lost 2: Revalations” at number 4, but you linked to a different title, “Paradise Lost 2: Revelations”
March 28th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Harl Delos,
Thanks for pointing out the typo.
March 28th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Have you seen ‘Shermans march’? That would be in my top 25 for sure. Good site.
March 28th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Elliott: I haven’t. I’ll be looking for it.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
No Style Wars? That’s a great one.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Glad to see a couple people mentioned Frederick Wiseman. His stuff is finally available, and should definitely be represented here.
Also glad to see at least two people mentioned “Gleaners & I.” Great film!
March 28th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Oh… I also have to mention “Paris Is Burning.”
March 28th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
@21: Yes, it was a great film.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
“Keep the River On Your Right” killed me. Anyone else?
March 28th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
rl: I have that sitting on my shelf, ready to be watched. Hoping it’s as good as it sounds.
March 29th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
THE FOG OF WAR.
Sure to become a classic.
Can’t be excluded from the Morris greats…
March 29th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
And Sound and Fury, about a deaf family who deny their deaf daughter a Cochlear implant despite her wanting to hear birdies and babies crying. I never knew there was discrimination against hearing people until watching this. Made me angrier than almost any of the docs abover…. not entirely well done, but the subject matter was enough to carry it…
March 29th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Make a new list. Top 50. It would be a valuable resource to have around…
April 10th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
What about Woodstock (1970) by Michael Wadleigh? I don’t know where it would rank for me but it’s definitely up there. A monumental documentary that influenced a lot of editing techniques for years to come.
April 10th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
harlan county, not “harland”
April 11th, 2008 at 11:04 am
mike, i realize the typo. thanks.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Nice list Jay C,
Seen everyone of those bad boys and they all deserve top 35 in my book. Looks like I’ll have to buy you a beer next time you come visit Iceland.
Some I would like to add.
Changes
http://www.timamot.com
Fog of war
Mein liebster fiend
Deliver us from evil
The world according to sesame street
Control room
Jesus Camp
oh man I could be at this all day…
April 11th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Oh yeah and
Best boy
and
John’s not mad
Groundbreaking stuff
April 21st, 2008 at 3:28 am
I’ve only seen about half that list, but the half I am familiar with is all gold. My one suggestion would be to remove Grizzly Man and add Sherman’s March. I really loved Grizzly Man, but I didn’t really see it as an achievement in filmmaking. It was like a documentary version of Dumb and Dumber.
May 12th, 2008 at 11:46 am
ridiculously american-centric! I know you say above, 1 of them isn’t american… but go and see some european films! like…
gallivant by andrew kotting
my body by margreth olin
georgi and the butterflies by Andrey Paounov
sisters in law by kim longinotto
the minders by shaun macallister
..proper, intense, imaginative story-telling
and i totally disagree with ‘the devil and daniel johnston’… great character, disappointing film
May 12th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
janeamy,
Seeing as this is my personal list, it is forever changing. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to check out the films you’ve recommended.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Some additional european & misc. greats:
Vertov, Man with the Movie Camera
Chris Marker, Sans Soleil
Alain Resnais, Night and Fog (Nuit et Brouillard)
Chris Marker, Cat Without a Grin (Fond de l’air est rouge)
Harun Farocki, Images of the World and Impressions of War (Bilder der Welt und Inschrift des Krieges)
Hartmut Bitomski, Pictures of Germany (Deutschlandbilder)
Wim Wenders, Tokyo Ga
Robert Kramer, Starting Place
Trinh T. Minh-ha, Naked Spaces
Artur Aristakisjan, Palms (Ladoni)
Jean Rouch, The Mad Masters (Les Maitres fous)
Craig Baldwin, Sonic Outlaws
Kluge et al, Germany in Autumn (Deutschland im Herbst)
Wim Wenders, Lightning Over Water
May 29th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Jay, I think you’d get a kick out of Night & Fog.
I can also recommend Primary, generally considered the first Direct Cinema film. It’s an hour of following the primary elections of 1960 in Wisconsin, featuring a campaigning John F. Kennedy. Look in the end credits for some familiar names.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Hey Henrik,
I actually own Night & Fog and I have watched it. It was very good.
As for Primary, it’s a film I’ve been meaning to catch. I requested it as a screener about a year ago, but received every other one of my requests except that one. I also missed it at this years Hot Docs festival.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:19 am
There was this documentary that was funded by some cult, i forget what it was called but it was about creationisim. Jay, do you know what i’m talking about? Have you seen this? Is it any good?
May 29th, 2008 at 11:29 am
What the Bleep Do We Know?
If that’s what you’re talking about, I turned it off the moment Marlee Matlin started playing basketball with ghost children.
May 29th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
yeah thats what i’m talking about. playing with ghost children, haha ( I really am laughing).
May 29th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
I personally feel the first “Paradise Lost” is better than the second.
Love “Stevie.” It is very undrerated.
But most of all I feel like ” Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr.” by Errol Morris is a huge one to leave out as is “Manda Bala (Send a Bullet)” and “Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price.”
I also personally love, love, love “American Movie.” It’s number one on my list.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
“Best Boy” is a fantastic watch as well.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Hey CCF:
I think I like Paradise Lost 2 better because it covers the majority of 1 in flashbacks, and the ‘character’ of Mark Byers really comes to light in the second one.
Unfortunately, I saw Manda Bala about four months after writing this list. Whenever I decide to update it, it will definitely be on there.
I love Mr.Death, but it’s not one my favourite of Morris’ filmography.
Haven’t seen Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. Can’t say I’m too interested, but I’m sure I’ll check it out at some point.
Best Boy is great, and of course I love American Movie.
May 31st, 2008 at 6:13 pm
No fast cheap and out of control? Thats one of my favorites. Are you planning on seeing Standard Operating Procedure?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Arrrghhhh discussing these kinds of lists is hard because for me, I have so many favorites that I can’t decide. So let me just say thank you for including Hell House!!!! That is probably one of the most underrated documentaries in recent history. It should’ve received the distribution and publicity that Jesus Camp got.
July 13th, 2008 at 8:44 am
I haven’t seen a number of these films but rest assured my Netflix queue has been lengthened. A change I would make were this my personal top 25 is the inclusion of the David Attenborough surveys. I think a great documentary teaches us to look at something in a different way and the David Attenborough surveys especially “The Life of Mammals” and “The Private Life of Plants” were particularly moving, inspiring, and beautiful.
Thanks so much for this Jay.
July 14th, 2008 at 12:32 am
You’re welcome Justin!
July 25th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I really believe that no “Favorite Documentary Film List” could possibly be complete with out including a film by one of the one of most important documentary filmmakers of all time Robert Gardner. In fact, I am surprised that no one has already mentioned his best known works; “Dead Birds” (1964) which is considered a classic of its genre and has been selected by the Library of Congress for inclusion on its list of most important American films. Also “Rivers of Sand” (1974) and “Forest of Bliss” (1986). These films are especially amazing to see on the big screen and can be found being played in independent theater’s and Film Festivals all around the world. They are distributed on DVD by the Documentary Educational Resources (DER). I strongly encourage anyone interested in film, art and humanity to check out them out. For more info Gardner has a great website http://www.robertgardner.net
PS. Thanks for the list, I am adding them to netflix asap!
August 3rd, 2008 at 1:58 am
I realize that I’m getting into this discussion quite late, but I second the nominations of Best Boy and Brothers Keeper.
August 10th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
[…] few months ago I assembled a list of my personal top 25 documentaries of all time. The response was overwhelming, and although there were many readers that were satisfied by my […]
August 12th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Just started getting into the Up series, and it is indeed awesome. I am at 21 Up, just curious to know if any of the characters die in future installments (without naming names)
Have you seen the American Up series?
also Linklater is doing something similar called Boyhood, following one person up until he is 19 I think.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
You don’t want me to spoil it do you???
As for the American Up series, I haven’t seen any. Actually, I think I remember seeing an African Up as well.
I hadn’t heard about the Linklater project. I’ll definitely have to keep my eyes peeled for that one. Thanks for the heads up!
August 19th, 2008 at 12:25 am
There’s a danish project called Year 0, following four families who all had babies in the year 2000, up untill their kids grow up in 2018. Unfortunately for the producers of the show, the unlikely thing happened that the families all had girls! So I’m sure that was annoying to them, and I haven’t bothered with watching any of the programs (they do a series of 6 episodes a year or something) because I generally don’t bother with TV, but I guess for a fan of the UP series, it might be of interest.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:44 am
I know I am very late to this list, but I am surprised that it doesn’t include The Endless Summer. It’s light and fun, but it is one of those documentaries that consistently make me reevaluate my life each time I watch it.
September 6th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Lots of great titles on your list, but it’s pretty focused on USA. How about Jean Rouch’s seminal Chronical of a Summar, Dziga Vertov’s Man With A Movie Camera, Michel Brault and Pierre Perrault’s Pour La Suite du Monde, Heddy Honigmann’s The Underground Orchestra, Patricio Guzman’s masterful The Battle Of Chile, Jennifer Baichwal’s Manufactured Landscapes, Molly Dineen’s The Lie of the Land, Kim Longinotto’s Divorce Iranian Style or The Day I Will Never Forget, Nicolas Philibert’s Etre et Avoir, Herzog’s Lessons of Darkness, Claude Lauzmann’s Shoah, Kevin Macdonald’s Touchig the Void, Nick Broomfield’s Aileen documentaries, almost anything by Johan vander Keuekn….to name a few. I saw an amazing Indian documentary the other day at the Montreal World Film Festival called Children of the Pyre…I watch a lot of docs and that one really blew me away.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Chronicle of a summer is probably the best. I recently saw Blood of the animals, which is a short french doc from 1949, and it was amazing as well. French documentaries seem to always have a great voice-over and a sober style to them that is awesome. Weird, because french fictional films (and french music and painting and architecture) is usually very extravagant, saucy and trying to be bigger, more beautiful, more engaging and it usually just comes off as annoying. I haven’t seen much french fictional cinema that I enjoyed at all, but alot of the documentaries from France I think are awesome!
September 16th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Jay…
Great list. I have seen many of them, however will check out the ones on the list I have yet to see.
Right now I am PASSIONATE about the one I just watched a couple days ago. ‘The Staircase’.
I just have to talk to others who have seen it.
I can’t seem to let it go. Now…that’s a great doc that will do to a person!
Anyway…I sincerely believe and intuitally so, that they have imprisoned a good man unjustly.
I know it’s crazy…but I want to help him!
I have a pretty well thought out theory that the real murderer was, infact, in the film.
I woke-up in the middle of the night with the insight…have mulled it over every possible way…and keep coming up suspecting one person. I have tried to research it online…but there is very little available as far as additional info goes. Much of it is repetitious.I have a dear friend who is a crimial defense lawyer in NYC…and I just emailed him to find out if he is familiar with the case…and if not…asked him to watch it and let me know his thougths. My brother-in-law is a retired states attorney in Illinois and I have requested he watch it and let me know what he thinks. Two friends on two different sides that might help to illuminate me…and listen to my theory. Anyway…do you have any thoughts on the subject…or does anyone else who visits your blog? I really want an honest exchange of thoughts.
Again…this is what GREAT doc making is all about.
Thanx…& have a good one!
jennifer
September 16th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Well I think that’s one reason I love the Staircase…it’s a film that pulls you back and forth between innocence and guilt for the entire running time. In the end, I’m really not sure what to think about the result. There seems to be some pretty good evidence against him, but it doesn’t really seem to be THAT solid. I think that simply getting to know the subject and his family so well might actually affect your thoughts on his guilt…it’s hard to watch him interacting with his loved ones in a seemingly normal fashion, pleading his innocence to everybody around him, and not be somewhat persuaded to lean towards the ‘innocent’ side of things. But like I said, the weird coincidences are pretty overwhelming at times. It literally is emotionally confusing.
Keep me posted on what your brother-in-law says and I’d be interested to hear what your theory is for the ‘real’ killer!
September 17th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Jay…
Neither my brother-law or friend in NYC has responded to my emails yet. I will certainly keep you posted as to their take on it.
I agree about the push pull of innocence and guilt. It was primary in keeping it riviting.
However…for me it swung toward innocence almost from the get go. It was the grave amount of blood that kept a moments doubt. My partner reserved his opinion to the end…and it was guilty…but not without a shadow of doubt. It is hard to overlook everyones (family and friends) opinion of the man…and not a one could see this as possible aspect of the mans basis goodness. When Michael spoke, his communications were constantly based in ‘common sense’. Pragmatically so. He is also clearly an intelligent man. In combination, what common sense intelligence would kill, presumably the second time, in the exact same manner? That makes absolutely zero sense. In fact…I told my partner that if he really wanted to do away with her…why did he not push her into the pool they were sitting next to? Why go through all the trouble of elaberating the murder. If it were me…I would have kept it just that simple. She was drinking, had consumed valium and unbeknownst to me mis-stepped into the pool
after I left her to go to bed.
Anyway…from all accounts they seemed to have a very good thing going between them personally and financially. Why would I want to end that?
My wife knows I am gay…and still wants the relationship. I am in a position of incredible freedom within the relationship. It makes no sense to end it.
It was not until the end…and watching the extras that I came to suspect Kathleens biological daughter Caitlin. These are the points I would make regarding that.
She was an only child. Therefore until the marriage she was the center of her mothers world. Only children are usually pretty spoiled that way. I know. I have an only child and he was the center of my world until he grew up and left for college. He is still abit envious of my current relationship.
She had detailed knowledge of how the first death occured in Germany. Easily a copy-cat set-up.
She is clearly money and status hungry.
She would have gained alot of money through her mothers death. And…in researching her online I came to learn that she infact, sued
Nortel (!) for giving her stepfather money…and when he filed for bankruptcy, she sued to have it halted…because he would lose everything, including her inheretence through material goods (ie: sale of the home etc.).
At no point during the film did they mention where she was that night. Even if she had an ironclad alibi…she could have hired a killer.
Having lived in their home she would have intimate knowledge of their habits, their plans,and the layout of the home.
Her demeanor was cold and distant during the trial. Not that of a grieving child. Did you see her far away stare during the proceedings? In the interview during the extras…the one year anniversary of her mothers death, they show her laughing at the beginning. The one year anniversary of my mothers death was a crushing reminder. I did not laugh that day.
I believe that the prosecutor and his team got to her…fed her their theory…and she saw personal gain at the end. Oh…by the way…she also directly sued Michael for wrongful death…in an attempt to garnish his personal monies.
It all adds up for me…that the girl should have been and should still be under scrutiny.
I know it is difficult to believe that a child would kill their own parent…however…it has happened before. In example, the Menendez brothers, to mention the most famous case.
I believe she is a sociopath. They have no conscience other than what they can gain from any situation.
So…there you have it…my thoughts on it.
Michael has exhausted his appeals and sits in jail for the rest of his natural life. To me…a crying shame and a gross failure on the part of american ‘justice’.
Again…I will check back when my two friends who will have opposing thoughts get back with me.
Thanx for listening. Have any thoughts to my theory?
Have a good one!
j
October 10th, 2008 at 2:16 am
Just wanted to give thanks for the recommendation on the film junk podcast for Salesman. I was pleasantly surprised by this film.
December 17th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Hello
Very few of these films are non-English language or even non-American…
Its a bit disheartening
January 13th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Channel 4’s 50 greatest documentaries can be seen here http://ipb.quicksilverscreen.com/index.php?showtopic=86884
January 21st, 2009 at 8:24 pm
[…] not sure I’d put Gates of Heaven at #1, but there are some great picks on this list of essential documentary films. Check it […]
February 12th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Great list - some of which I have seen and loved, others I haven’t seen and will definitely keep an eye out for (not always easy here in Canada, as you have alluded to yourself).
I get a kick out of the people demonizing you for the lits being “too American.” There are people desperate to find something to be Anti-American everywhere - even in someone’s personal list (of perhaps the least commercial genre of movies).
I was surprised I had to scroll down the comments almost halfway before someone also mentioned “Paris is Burning”, which I saw in the early ’90’s and found riveting. And although I am not a surfer (or skater), I think “Riding Giants” was an even better film than “Dogtown”. There is also a documentary called “Shadow Boxer” about Lucia Rijker (a former female boxing world champion from Holland, who played the fearsome opponent in “Million Dollar Baby”) which I found very interesting - probably not top-25 material, but good.
Thanks for the thought-provoking list!
Rob
Victoria BC
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:45 am
[…] read all the rave reviews out there, and seen the movie ranked in the top of several “best documentaries ever” lists, and rated 8.3 at Documentary-Review.com, so my expectations were high. Which probably […]
March 11th, 2009 at 12:04 am
I know Morris is all over this list, but Fog of War gets better and better every time I watch it…
March 27th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
“World at War” (1973). Yes, it’s in 26 parts, on 11 discs, but it’s the best documentary ever. It took four years to make, and cost almost a million pounds. Watch it and see for yourself.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Recently saw “Dear Zachary,” though no one has mentioned it anywhere here, we think it was a triumph and a great testament to the persistence of human spirit and love’s determination in the faceless face of man’s inhumane laws….Though it does not have a fairy tale ending, it is none the less inspiring and well worth a watch.
June 29th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Great list…seen most of them. Some top 25 contenders not included (or at the very least deserve honourable mention):
The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl
Titicut Follies
The Atomic Cafe
Manufactured Landscapes
Sherman’s March
Jupiter’s Wife