Great Documentaries

[Dave-Vale]

Sicko by Michael Moore. A few years old but a real eye opener as to how fucked the American private healthcare system is.

Fucking awful.

Moore gets a lot of stick but he is a genuinely decent guy and a very good film maker.

 

[Magic]

Grizzly Man is rather weird but worth a watch. About a gent who lived amongst bears. You can guess the ending.

Gonna give a couple in this thread a go.

Wild west...

 

[mowgli]

The Celts : Blood,Iron And Sacrifice.
Watched this on BBCE last night the first of 3 on the subject. Presented by Neil Oliver who i always enjoy for his enthusiasm and Alice Roberts who knows her stuff i love documentaries like this on ancient history my favourite subject and was engrossed from start to finish,looking forward to next tuesday.

 

[Craig]

Got around to starting The Civil War (1990) and just finished the first episode. Loving it so far, I fancy myself pretty knowledgeable about the American civil war, it being one of my favourite episodes in history (by which I mean it interests me immensely, not that I enjoy mass slaughter and all that) but even after one episode I'm learning new aspects. It's brilliantly laid out I think, narrated lovingly with quotes from people who were there, obscure and famous, from diary entries and letters from the time, all while a fantastic myriad of music from the period plays in the background to photographs and illustrations depicting the players and places of the war. To top it all off I could listen to Shelby Foote all day every day, and I'm pretty sure I heard Hoyt Axton's voice at one point.

Will give my thoughts on the whole thing when I've finished it.

 

[Modernist]

Loads of amazing old documentaries out there , worked my way through a lot. So instead of listing those here's a few newer ones (last year or so) that I recommend. Still got loads of new ones to watch lol.
Happy Valley
examines the scandal that engulfed the Penn State Nittany Lions after it was determined that assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky had molested children for years
Finding Vivian Maier
A documentary on the late Vivian Maier, a nanny whose previously unknown cache of 100,000 photographs earned her a posthumous reputation as one of the most accomplished street photographers.
The Overnighters
Broken, desperate men chase their dreams and run from their demons in the North Dakota oil fields. A local Pastor risks everything to help them
Maidentrip
14-year-old Laura Dekker sets out on a two-year voyage in pursuit of her dream to become the youngest person ever to sail around the world alone.
the seven five
Meet the dirtiest cop in NYC history. Michael Dowd stole money and dealt drugs while patrolling the streets of 80s Brooklyn.

 

[SALTIRE]

Wouldn't mind seeing that Maidentrip, love the stories of exploration on the sea. Wasn't that the lass that got stopped from doing it originally due to her age?

 

[SaddlerJonny]

Anything by Louis Theroux, the man is so clever in the way he gets people to open up to him. Think Netflix has pretty much all of his stuff.

 

[Dave-Vale]

Posted about him in the Things We Like Thread.

Such a fantastic film maker.

 

[Craig]

Got around to starting The Civil War (1990) and just finished the first episode. Loving it so far, I fancy myself pretty knowledgeable about the American civil war, it being one of my favourite episodes in history (by which I mean it interests me immensely, not that I enjoy mass slaughter and all that) but even after one episode I'm learning new aspects. It's brilliantly laid out I think, narrated lovingly with quotes from people who were there, obscure and famous, from diary entries and letters from the time, all while a fantastic myriad of music from the period plays in the background to photographs and illustrations depicting the players and places of the war. To top it all off I could listen to Shelby Foote all day every day, and I'm pretty sure I heard Hoyt Axton's voice at one point.

Will give my thoughts on the whole thing when I've finished it.

Finished it a bit back. Don't really have much more to add, it's just consistently brilliant throughout and utterly gripping. Plan to watch The West (1996) next.

Anywho, main reason I came into the thread is I've just watched Last Days in Vietnam (2014). Came across it by accident while flicking through the channels. Basically the story of the evacuation at the US embassy in 1975 as the NVA was closing in on Saigon. Very good watch, recommended.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

The West is ace too. Only produced by Burns (directed by Stephen Ives), but same aesthetic, tone and weltanschauung. I might prefer it to The Civil War, but only really cos I'm more interested in the subject matter.

I dunno if you are arsed with 18 hours of Baseball (it does have yer boi Shelby in it mind, though nothing like as much...) but that is also very good in a worthy and syrupy sort of a way.

I side w/ the naysayers on Jazz, but The National Parks and The Dust Bowl are also well worth the time (I haven't got round to Prohibition yet).

I assume you've noticed given the comment about the Vietnam doc, but most of his stuff is in pretty heavy rotation on our version of PBS. Obv his subjects are more or less exclusively American but it's a shame they're tucked away on Sky channel whatever and so unknown over here. He'd make for a great season on BBC 4 or summat. Unflinching (well, relatively) documents of Americana that achieve the status of Americana in and of themselves.

 

[Craig]

Aye, first time I've come across PBS. The West starts on Monday at 9pm, I'll probably stream it though, as I like to binge watch this kind of thing. I will probably give Baseball a try too, like I've said it's not my favourite sport, but I can watch a documentary regardless of the subject sport if 30 for 30 is anything to go by.

I take it you're aware Burns is making a Vietnam series too? don't know about you but I find that whole war and period fascinating so will definitely be keeping an eye out for that, just a shame Shelby has passed, can you imagine his rumblings over the Tet offensive?

 

[SaddlerJonny]

Winter on Fire, it's on Netflix.

Can't recommend it enough, a bloody excellent documentary that doesn't pull any punches.

 

[Benito]

I recently watched the BBC documentary Black Roses about the killing of sophie lancaster in 2007 I remember reading about it when it happened and was shocked and saddened, truely horrific not ashamed to say a few manly tears were shed, defiantly worth a watch.

 

[Craig]

I watched Southern Rites (2015) last night. I wouldn't call it a great documentary, but it was a very interesting and uncomfortable watch. The main aspect of it is the murder of a young black man Justin Patterson at the hands of white man Norman Neesmith in South Georgia. Patterson had been invited to Neesmith's home by his mixed race adopted daughter and was shot by Neesmith when he discovered them. Neesmith got off with a 1 year sentence after a plea bargain. Also covered are the black local police chiefs unsuccessful campaign to be elected county sheriff, losing out to a white candidate with 30 years less experience by 100 votes that seemingly came from nowhere, and the segregated white and black proms in Montgomery county Georgia that were only integrated in 2011.

 

[JustinQPR]

If you're a gamer have a look at The King Of Kong.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0923752/?ref_=nv_sr_1

 

[HertsWolf]

Great fan of 'Coast' although, as with many documentaries, I always get frustrated they don't say more about each topic. Just watched an episode in which they retold the story of the Cleddau bridge collapse in Wales in 1970 and the building of the South Stack lighthouse. Is this kind of TV (not necessarily this actual series) being marginalised by reality TV these days? I only seem to see it on secondary channels now.

 

[Geosaddler]

Anything by Louis Theroux, the man is so clever in the way he gets people to open up to him. Think Netflix has pretty much all of his stuff.

Good shout Jonny. Think I'd already seen a few of these but discovered there are about 20 episodes on Netflix which I am chipping through. Really entertaining series and the subject matter is always interesting. He draws people out with a quiet and reserved method of journalism and pitches himself as naive on a lot of the subjects (even when we know he isnt!). He doesn't mind being laughed at which often lets down the guard of people he is interviewing. Its very rare he will offer an opinion during interviews even when talking to absolute total nutters like that Baptist Church. Watched the episode on the autistic children last night and that was one emotional rollercoaster. Well worth a watch. If you find an ep you are not keen on skip it and you'll soon come across one you like.

 

[SALTIRE]

Great fan of 'Coast' although, as with many documentaries, I always get frustrated they don't say more about each topic. Just watched an episode in which they retold the story of the Cleddau bridge collapse in Wales in 1970 and the building of the South Stack lighthouse. Is this kind of TV (not necessarily this actual series) being marginalised by reality TV these days? I only seem to see it on secondary channels now.

I always wonder what's in Neil Oliver's wee baggy when he toddles off. I find myself more interested in that than I do the episode at times!

 

[HertsWolf]

He's not in Coast now. I wondered if it was the same series (and I think it is) but he's not in it. Tbh, watched an episode last night and it was pants.
Neil Oliver's excellent. Didn't he start his acting life doing voiceovers for Shell adverts? Best Scottish export since Magnus Magnusson.

 

[spireite]

I always wonder what's in Neil Oliver's wee baggy when he toddles off. I find myself more interested in that than I do the episode at times!

I wouldn't think you'd like him Salty

 

[Habbinalan]

He's not in Coast now. I wondered if it was the same series (and I think it is) but he's not in it. Tbh, watched an episode last night and it was pants.
Neil Oliver's excellent. Didn't he start his acting life doing voiceovers for Shell adverts? Best Scottish export since Magnus Magnusson.

I thought he was Icelandic? The clue was in the name. Does the accent mean I'm wrong?

 

[HertsWolf]

I thought he was Icelandic? The clue was in the name. Does the accent mean I'm wrong?

Ég er bara að djóka. Hann bjó í Skotlandi.
He spent most of his life in Scotland actually.

 

[SALTIRE]

I wouldn't think you'd like him Salty

Aye he's alright, my mum loves him!

 

[spireite]

Aye he's alright, my mum loves him!

He was a big No voter wasn't he, I thought you considered those types traitors

 

[SALTIRE]

He was a big No voter wasn't he, I thought you considered those types traitors

Maybe he'll see sense when the next referendum comes round.

 

[Craig]

Finished The West, excellent stuff, not quite as good as The Civil War for me, but I reckon that's as much down to my interest in the subject matter as it is owt else.

Klansville USA. Pretty short telling of the KKK revival in North Carolina in the late 50's/early 60's and their leader Bob Jones. I thought it was interesting, but way too short to be memorably good.

 

[mowgli]

Watched the 4thand last episode of Britain's Bloody Crown a documentary series about The War Of The Roses on Channel 5 last night,outstanding!

 

[Craig]

Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014).
The story of two Israeli film makers and their low budget film company Cannon in the 80's and how their over the top ambition ultimately led to their downfall. Brilliant, a film company responsible for many a cult 80's classic and a whole lot of other shit. Was compelling viewing. 10/10

 

[blade1889]

We were here, 2011

On US Netflix.

Documentary exploring the HIV/Aids epidemic when it first hit San Francisco, the stigma attached and how little the government helped at first. Told through the eyes of 5 people that lived it and no one else. Very emotional watching. I'm interested in HIV/Aids anyway but sure most people could get something out of it. Won and was nominated for a whole host of best documentary awards.

 

[sl1k]

Not so much a documentary, but 'factual'.

Supercar Megabuild on the National Geographic Channel, which is basically a car porn show where Afzal Kahn (the dude behind 'Project Kahn' range of customised vehicles) oversees engineers that take on set challenges improving some of the sexiest cars around. They work on a V8 Vantage in the first episode with the aim to make it a road legal track car.

I had the pleasure of driving a Project Kahn supercharged Range Rover for a few days several years ago, and the only times I got out of it was to eat sleep and shit. It was a monster.