The Documentary Blog’s Top 25 Documentaries
Posted by Jay C on October 15th, 2007
Filed under: Features, News
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 10:39
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 12:44
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 12:45
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 13:58
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 17:07
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 15:43
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 18:01
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 22:18
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 22:19
Oh, and ‘Den Hemmelige Krig’, ‘Kampen om Staden’ and ‘Fogh bag facaden’ are TOTALLY missing from the list!
October 17th, 2007 22:27
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 23:32
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 00:14
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 00:26
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 01:16
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 00:46
WHAT?!?! No “Prince of Peace - God of War”?!?!! I hear they had a terrific editor.
October 20th, 2007 01:01
It just missed the cut at 26.
October 20th, 2007 17:44
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 07:03
Hmmm… Where are all the classics?
Dark Days
A Hole in the Head
The Killing of America
The Eleven Powers
October 23rd, 2007 10:05
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 07:44
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 10:27
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 14:09
sweet list jay.
This is a list that I plan to work through.
October 30th, 2007 15:48
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 11:50
I just love the classics!
November 3rd, 2007 01:02
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 19:40
And what exactly does Mondo Cane have to do with Grizzly Man and Gates of Heaven?
November 3rd, 2007 22:19
Nothing except that it’s a way better movie.
November 3rd, 2007 22:46
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 22:51
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 11:47
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 13:31
Also the absence of Kevin Macdonald is troubling, no ‘Touching the Void’ or ‘One Day In September’?
November 20th, 2007 17:00
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 13:41
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 18:41
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 20:12
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 16:46
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 23:18
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 23:27
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 01:41
Straight No Chaser
Gap Toothed Woman (Blank)
Sick
December 5th, 2007 04:53
Hearts Of Darkness should be in the top five (in my opinion). One of the greats.
December 9th, 2007 20:58
What about No Direction Home
December 10th, 2007 21:56
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 07:32
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 11:18
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 02:33
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 11:20
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/2 006/12/19/werner-herzog-dvd-edition-documentaries-and-shorts /
February 10th, 2008 16:54
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 19:29
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 09:27
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 11:25
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 23:26
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 23:52
http://www.documentarycorner.com/?p=57
sorry for double enter just want to make it clickable…
March 20th, 2008 16:38
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 00:03
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 19:13
“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 18:30
Surely this is a list of the top American documentaries, rather than the top documentaries?
March 27th, 2008 20:09
No Wiseman Films?
March 27th, 2008 20:43
Great list!
I was suprised that DRIVER 23 wasn’t mentioned. That’s my favorite.
March 27th, 2008 21:53
Titticut Follies?
March 28th, 2008 01:06
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 09:18
Surely you mean the top 25 AMERICAN documentaries?
March 28th, 2008 10:32
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 10:35
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 11:07
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 11:08
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 11:28
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 11:35
Harl Delos,
Thanks for pointing out the typo.
March 28th, 2008 13:31
Have you seen ‘Shermans march’? That would be in my top 25 for sure. Good site.
March 28th, 2008 13:35
Elliott: I haven’t. I’ll be looking for it.
March 28th, 2008 15:57
No Style Wars? That’s a great one.
March 28th, 2008 16:28
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 16:29
Oh… I also have to mention “Paris Is Burning.”
March 28th, 2008 16:33
@21: Yes, it was a great film.
March 28th, 2008 19:13
“Keep the River On Your Right” killed me. Anyone else?
March 28th, 2008 19:45
rl: I have that sitting on my shelf, ready to be watched. Hoping it’s as good as it sounds.
March 29th, 2008 18:35
THE FOG OF WAR.
Sure to become a classic.
Can’t be excluded from the Morris greats…
March 29th, 2008 18:38
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 18:40
Make a new list. Top 50. It would be a valuable resource to have around…
April 10th, 2008 20:43
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 23:35
harlan county, not “harland”
April 11th, 2008 11:04
mike, i realize the typo. thanks.
April 11th, 2008 11:19
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 11:26
Oh yeah and
Best boy
and
John’s not mad
Groundbreaking stuff
April 21st, 2008 03:28
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 11:46
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 14:05
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.