Sean gave me the heads up on a great article over at The Onion’s A.V. Club. A handful of their staff has put together a top 25 list that they’re calling “I might have a whole new life, next time you see me”: 25 worthwhile documentaries about ambitious outsiders”. What a great basis for a list! I love outsider documentaries, and they’ve managed to incorporate many of my personal favourites into their list. Some notable mentions: Project Grizzly (#7), Danielson: A Family Movie (Or, Make A Joyful Noise Here) (#10), Benjamin Smoke (#13), Slasher (#20), and of course, American Movie at number one on the list. Here’s the overall collection of films:
1. American Movie (1999)
2. The Cruise (1998)
3. Sick: The Life And Death Of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist (1997)
4. Crumb (1995)
5. The Devil And Daniel Johnston (2005)
6. Dancing Outlaw (1991)
7. Project Grizzly (1996)
8. Grizzly Man (2005)
9. The King Of Kong (2007)
10. Danielson: A Family Movie (Or, Make A Joyful Noise Here) (2006)
11. Tribute (2001)
12. How To Draw A Bunny (2002)
13. Benjamin Smoke (2000)
14. Jandek On Corwood (2003)
15. New York Doll (2005)
16. I Like Killing Flies (2004)
17. You’re Gonna Miss Me (2005)
18. Driver 23/Atlas Moth (2002)
19. Wesley Willis: The Daddy Of Rock ‘N’ Roll (2003)
20. Slasher (2004)
21. Mayor Of The Sunset Strip (2003)
22. Stone Reader (2002)
23. Mr. Death: The Rise And Fall Of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (1999)
24. My Kid Could Paint That (2007)
25. The Nomi Song (2004)
There’s a handful of films on here I have yet to see. Definitely a great resource for those of us interested in quirky characters who exist on the fringe. I’ve racked my brain for any films that they’ve forgotten… I really enjoyed ‘Friends Forever’, which I think could easily fall into their ‘ambitious outsider’ category. Also, I think I’d include Errol Morris’ ‘Gates of Heaven’ in there and ‘Flyerman’. Todd Philips ‘Hated: GG Alin and the Murder Junkies’ is a must see as well. As for more recent possible entries, I thought ‘Audience of One’ was a strong entry into the ‘outsider makes a film and everything falls apart around him’ category. What do you guys think? Any films you’d like to see added or removed from their list? Too American perhaps?
It looks pretty solid, a bit too American centered maybe, Haven’t seen all of the films on there so…. But I miss John’s not mad, My best fiend, Best boy and Grey Gardens.
ha I was gunna mention Grey Gardens too. I guess that’s an Insider to Outsider story – amongst other things. My fave for this category anyway.
Hmm “Metal – A Headbangers …” could have qualified in theory surely?
The Real Dirt on Farmer John is another that could have slipped in at the bottom.
Yeah, I saw this, too, and immediately added the ones I hadn’t seen to my Netflix list. This is one of my favorite sub-categories of docs. Grey Gardens is one of my all time faves, but I’d hardly call the Edies “ambitious”. A few others that are good and might fit, but may not necessarily make the top 25:
-Okie Noodling
-Wordplay, Spellbound, or Word Wars
-Mad Hot Ballroom
-How’s Your News?
Henry Darger: In the Realms of the Unreal – Darger wasn’t ambitious, but people have been on his behalf.
The Emperor’s Naked Army Marches On – Japanese peace activist Kenzo Okuzaki profiled in this Kazuo Hara film
Oh, and Ralph Nader: An Unreasonable Man was a terrific doc, much better than I expected.
I was also going to mention Wordplay, Spellbound and Realms of the Unreal.
The list is predominantly American, but it’s the AV Club – it’s bound to be. Not a criticism, just a fact.
My Kid Could Paint That? Really?
Paradise Lost anyone??
Excellent list!!! I’ve only seen a few from the list…
1. American Movie (1999)
4. Crumb (1995)
5. The Devil And Daniel Johnston (2005)
8. Grizzly Man (2005)
9. The King Of Kong (2007)
23. Mr. Death: The Rise And Fall Of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (1999)
Would Robert Evans of The Kid Stays in the Picture be considered an ambitious outsider? If so, then that film should be on the list.
My favorite has to be Devil and Daniel Johnston. I had the pleasure of interning for the editor (Tyler Hubby) and the DP (goes by Fortune) recently. Really nice guys!!! The editing and cinematography in Daniel Johnston really was amazing, although that wasn’t the film I interned with them on. Wish it was hahaha!!!
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I would like to include Surfwise