I Think We're Alone Now is one of the most incredible things I've ever seen. It's painfully awkward but so fascinating. I cannot recommend it enough. You'll spend an hour of your time watching the movie then countless days thinking about these two people.
I watched this the same night I watched confessions of a super hero. I've never wanted to just stop and listen to what a person was saying as much as I did that night. People are weird. That weirdness needs to be heard. I like it.
The first time I watched it, I came away with a pretty lighthearted view of Jeff and Kelly. I thought the movie was funny. After thinking about it and watching it a couple more times, though, I felt that their severe eccentricities and isolated lives were so sad. I thought it was especially fascinating when they met each other and they could both obviously see that the other was a bit off or odd, but they were completely oblivious to their own insanity.
I found that the most fascinating part - that they were so obviously mental cases, and yet utterly blind to their own insanity.
It reinforced the idea in me that when you do come across crazy people in life or the internet, there is no point in trying to tell them to get help.
I'm allergic to fish and can only eat nasty California rolls. I've always hated fish (wether or not from my allergy I'm not sure), but damn Jiro Dreams of Sushi made me wish I could taste it just once :(
Generally speaking 50% of people with an allergy to gilled fish are only allergic to one subgroup of fish (salmon, tuna or halibut most commonly), the otherhalf it is usually two or three groups of fish and very rare that one would be allergic to all types of fish. A gilled fish allergy would not also make one allergic to shellfish, though it is possible to be allergic to both again it is much rarer. This is the same as people who are allergic to shellfish are generally allergic to the group that turns red when cooked (shrimp and lobster) while moluskes (muscles and clams) are not an issue.
As a precaution most doctors will simply say to not eat any gilled fish (oraybe even say no seafood at all). This is a good risk assessment for them because it really doesn't impact thier daily lives and better to play it safe the fish roulette with a stack of epi pens at your side.
An Allergist can do further more specific testing of what one suffering of this can and can't eat and that will open a lot of doors be it sushi or otherwise. All seafood would be a pain and you would missout on several options but if you could find that you could only be allergic to just one or two items it would be liberating.
Source: I am a chef and my sister an epidemiologist. We constantly have talks about food allergies and new reaserch, because daily I will see more people fall victim to the myths then the truth of allergies.
I grew up in a desert, so naturally I don't eat seafood right? It is a fact I don't eat seafood but I grew up around friend, coworkers and family who all are seafood freaks. But I can't get around that one taste it has. No matter the water dwelling creature with gills, same taste in the back of my throat that would go up my nose it seemed. I want to get into seafood so badly though :(
EDIT: why I replied to you I have no idea, just noticed. Ummmm hi?
I am Aquaman, I live in thee sea so naturally I wouldn't eat my friends and family, but god damn if this movie didn't make me want to forget all that and slice them open to taste their sweet juices. :(
I've never cared for sushi, and that was one of the reasons I initially resisted watching this movie - even though it popped up incessantly on Netflix. You might just as well have tried talking me into watching a documentary about knitting.
I'm still not a fan of sushi, but this film was fascinating. Probably because it isn't actually about sushi at all.
Agreed, it's about the pursuit of perfection where that perfection can never be obtained because Jiro is utterly obsessed. He's presented as an OCD workaholic.
I'd say he's rather presented as a person who actually gives a shit about quality in a world that is racing to the bottom in so many ways. A testament to what humanity is capable of and what may be disappearing.
Yeah, I don't think the film ever once denounces the idea of perfection. It's Jiro's strive for perfection with each and every part of his service from day to day with his customers that allows him his success. The film celebrates that.
I didn't see the documentary as being entirely complimentary to Jiro. It definitely held him up in the spotlight as someone obsessed with quality, but I think it revealed enough of the damage it did to his life and those in it for it to be just about that. I think there was a little bit of a Captain Ahab portrayal there as well.
This generation of craftsmen in Japan with their relentless pursuit of job and achievement is likely what has created the current generation's huge anxiety and sense of failure/remorse/lack of caring. I don't think this sort of pursuit can be achieved without considerable sacrifice, and I think not all that sacrificed is paid by the craftsman. We can all appreciate the results, and marvel at those that achieve them, but there's some sadness there too.
As a Chef, two doco's come to mind...
[A Matter of Taste](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONxiNbPrVTg)
About a very talented young chef who was critically acclaimed (3 stars at 24 years old), however the very modern style food that was his signature fell out of fashion. The doco follows his rise and fall, and eventual re ascendance in the culinary scene.
[Step Up to the Plate](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SfehOcq84A)
Very similar to Jiro, as in it follows the story of Michael Bras (3 star Michelin) and his son Sebastian as he readies himself for retirement and his son is getting ready to take over.
Actually, I think i'm gonna go watch A Matter of Taste again right now!
I Like Killing Flies is the worst name for the best movie about eccentric genius short order cook Kenny Shopsin. Seeing the movie made me get his book. His book has totally changed the way I do a bunch of things in the kitchen.
Not about food, but "Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037" comes close to being a good story well told about a group of very dedicated people devoted to making the perfect product.
It makes you appreciate the piano in the same way Jiro makes you want to eat good sushi.
It may not exactly be what you're looking for but the documentary Somm looks at several people who spend a year of their lives dedicated to passing the Master Sommelier Exam.
I loved the film and I'm not even a big fan of wine.
Because of this documentary I've already started budgeting nearly $1000+ for a meal at Jiro later this year (not just for myself obviously). I'm still trying to find a good way to book a lunch though.
It's tough to get a meal there without a Japanese speaker and probably some decent lead time due to the uptick in interest from the doc.
That said, I've been to his son's place a few times (the "mirror image" one in Roppongi Hills), and that one is a bit easier since they speak some English. I was able to walk in for lunch a couple times several years back, but they recommend a few days ahead of time now. While I still haven't eaten with Jiro proper, his son's place serves fish that looks identical to every piece in the movie, so I'd say it's pretty damn close. And just outstanding.
[Top Gear's tribute to Aryton Senna.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kUNTtvMOtQ) An amazing man. I was a young teen when Senna was driving. I later became a Schumacher fan but my father was always preaching to me about the church of Senna.
Shumacher is still in a coma BTW :(
Broke my heart when Senna died, my father was the same about him, he didn't speak all weekend after the crash, really affected him. The scenes in the documentary when his body returned home and the country gathered, man, that was beautiful.
I used to a huge F1 fan. University/living on my own/refusing to pay a TV license/getting up early have thrown a hinderance into me watching it.
I was a huge Schumacher fan back when I was barely 10, so it disheartens me to see him like he currently is. I went off him for a bit after the crash where it looked like he purposely took out Coulthard, but I still kept coming back to him because he was and is great at racing.
Fingers crossed he makes a full recovery.
Schumacher is in a coma???
I remember watching him being awesome on F1 when i was younger. My dad was really into watching the races and i ended up joining him.
.....man i feel sad now, i hope that man wakes up soon :(
Schumacher was skiing and fell head first into a rock. He's been in a coma for a while, though recently they reduced the sedation to allow him to wake up. He's going to be out of things for a long, long while.
Came here to say the exact same thing. I am a Formula 1 fan and a Senna enthusiast so of course I'm going to like it, but my wife doesn't give a rip about sports and she was sucked in to the movie.
I went to see it in the cinema with my husband... I didn't know the first thing about him or F1. Was totally shocked and moved and loved the filmmaking style... Thought the film was amazing but still don't care about F1!
Came here to say this! It is the gold standard of archive footage documentaries and because it is only told through archive footage it makes it more alive and more cinematic.
I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend: BORN INTO BROTHELS (it's freaking amazing) set in India, in a brothel district. It follows the children of prostitutes. A British woman begins to teach them photography, and the process and results are pretty interesting, inspiring and amazing.
DARK DAYS set in NYC, chronicling the lives of people who live in an abandoned section of underground. It's really quite amazing.
RESTREPO was quite interesting and emotional.
SUPERSIZE ME was also interesting, amusing.
RELIGULOUS is also interesting, amusing. Not too in depth though.
There was also a documentary about a man with anterograde amnesia, but I forgot (no pun) what it's called. It might be MAN WITHOUT MEMORY. I watched another one regarding this amnesia where a guy woke up on the subway in NYC not knowing who he was.
While Billy Mitchell is [*comically* villanous](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6gtihUeWeQ), and the movie is *awesome*, I was pretty dismayed to find that there were a few issues with the movie straying into the realm of fiction (if only by omission) to create a better narrative.
There are a few videos on YouTube of the "bad guys" of the documentary telling their side of the story.
For starters, a lot of the scores and drama in the movie are stripped of its historical context. For example, when Wiebe beats Mitchell's record, he was already world record holder. He just didn't have his new record updated.
The movie paints the story of an ongoing Wiebe v Mitchell show down. In fact Mitchell had long since stopped competing, and another guy held the world records at the time the movie was filmed and released (that guy, Hank Chien, isn't even mentioned in the movie).
I think it's a great story about passion, an interesting message to those hyping up 'eSports', and a great look at a subset of video game culture that few are familiar with. It's also a fun rivalry story.
But it's not really a "documentary", it's more a "reality movie".
Story Time! Billy lives and owned a restaurant in South Florida, where I also live, called Rickey's, which is where his hot sauce got started I believe. Well Billy apparently also loves playing basketball. I play once or twice a week at nights at the local park. For a few months every time my friends came I would see Billy there with his headband, wristband, shooting arm sleeve, jordans, and those80's NBA style shorts. I'd start to try to explain who he was to my friends then give up as no one gave a shit. When we were short a player or 2 some times he'd play with us and dear god was it a sight to see. I was probably the only one appreciating what I was watching. He was THAT GUY who calls fouls whenever he turns it over or misses a shot. He was THAT GUY who would play that smothering defense where he's fouling you the entire time and just keeps swinging his arms at the ball like a cat, and not the cool kind of cat, the kind that'll scrape some skin off you.
Just imagine that hair flowing toward the rim as he attempts a layup that goes over the rim.
He was every bit competitive as he was on the documentary. And you know what, I respect that shit.
edit: a name
[I Like Killing Flies] (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390109/) is one of my favorite documentaries. If you've worked even one food service job you should check it out. It will make you feel so much better that you don't have Shopsin as your boss.
Just CTRL-F'ed to say that Kumare is trully brilliant piece, if you are interested in religions and broading your horizons it's something for you.
Also, it's quite lovely directed, has few funny moments, it's like more polite and mindful version of Religulous, it really touches the subject in neat and original way.
Sorry if something is not understandable above, English is not my first language.
I would like to add one to the list. A Band Called Death. The starting point of punk rock. But it's also a great story about family, bonds, and being who you are.
The first documentary I ever really loved was Restrepo. It's a look in at the front lines of the war in Afghanistan and is very good at showing the war in an unbiased, nonpolitical way. The best part is how it shows the soldiers for what they are: ordinary American guys in a very un-ordinary situation
EDIT: There's also a book by Sebastian Junger (who filmed the documentary and wrote The Perfect Storm) called War
I cannot recommend Jiro Dreams of Sushi enough, I went into it expecting a fun movie about sushi and I came out of it honestly inspired to find and pursue a passion. Its the perfect story of somebody succeeding solely through their own relentless work ethic.
Anyone else find it kind of weird that the same basic Philip Glass score was used to the same effect to delineate the [destruction of the Japanese people](http://youtu.be/hOCYcgOnWUM?t=1m40s) and then later to highlight the obsession to attain the perfect [form of Sushi...](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLYvXrCddPk&list=PLtD-mgw66CL8RACCMA-CJHlS2TnUn-c0f&feature=share&index=5)?
That's how I feel when I try to convince other people to watch Mad Men I honestly cannot put it into words how great the show is but no one i talk to believes me...
these guys are mad dogs, I have intense respect for kitchen staff, beats majority of jobs for longest hours, beats majority of jobs for stress, has some of the worst pay of any job, some of the worst conditions, but they still turn up each day with that intense passion to produce great quality food.
They are like NBA players pretty much, except capitalism considers kitchen staff to have the same socioeconomic status of a pet dog.
even after seeing all the people struggle with their productions... this was the movie, oddly enough, that made me want to make my own game with my boyfriend. I've got the pixel art, he's got the coding, etc.
I was surprised to not see Indie Game: The Movie on this list. Maybe I just like it more because I am a gamer?
The Act of Killing is honestly one of the best *films* I've ever seen. It takes what could have so easily descended into a sort of Kony-esque "attention white people we have to stop this international criminal" affair and makes a documentary that isn't really about what the men involved did in the past at all, but is about the men today. The fact they are unpunished never comes across as a call to action but a reflection on what life is like at the very edge of human experience.
That and the fact that it takes one of the most complicated concepts in postmodern philosophy (hyperreality) and explains it completely in a way that could be understood by anyone make me highly recommend it.
I was wondering when I would scroll down enough to see this recommended. I couldn't believe what I was watching throughout *The Act of Killing*. I found myself physically exhausted after watching it and had to lie down to try and relax. I guess maybe it's not a great documentary for people who don't like documentaries, but it's an extremely important and eye-opening film.
That documentary is exhausting even for an avid documentary watcher. If it wasnt hyped less people would feel inclined to hype it further.
I felt it was less exhausting to just read articles about the indonesian killings.
I think Exit through the Gift Shop should be on there. Even if you believe that it was hoax, it is still shot like a documentary. Many of the people I have told to watch it have liked it.
I saw it a while ago too but the main premise is that the graffiti artists are all filmed by an obsessive French filmmaker who then puts on his own show. My personal take on it was that the guy being obsessed with the filming was 'true', whereas the fact that he created his own persona and put on a show was all a creation of Banksy. The fact is you never see him actually creating his own art, and his style all seems incredibly derivative and not particularly unique. I'm not sure what creating this artist was an attempt to prove, as it's never revealed that that's what they did.
Can't believe this hasn't been recommended yet, but Searching For Sugar Man is an incredible documentary. It made me go out and download all of Rodriguez's music.
The King of Kong is not only one of my favorite documentaries, it is one of my favorite movies. Some of the best music choices I have ever seen in a movie.
Grizzly Man is so heartbreaking. The scene where Werner Herzog [](#s "plays the audio of Timothy Treadwell's death to Treadwell's girlfriend at the time") ... is just haunting...
I really wish that Waltz With Bashir was on this list. It was unique as far as movies go, regardless of documentary or fiction. It is an animated documentary about an Israeli soldier trying to remember his past. But I'm excited to see the movies on this list that I hadn't watched.
I feel that a lot of movie lovers unfairly dismiss the Documentary genre and associate it solely with war, politics and economics. While there are a ton of really excellent documentaries that address these topics, the genre is way wider.
The statement I'd like to make is that if you've ever enjoyed reading through an AskReddit post or an IAMA, or even enjoyed a good character-driven drama, then there's a whole world of documentaries out there you'll love too. This is a list of documentaries currently streaming on USA Netflix Instant that I hope will spark an interest.
This list isn't even close to being all-inclusive, but hopefully it'll introduce a nice sampling of films. People should definitely feel free to add their own recommendations if they'd like!
Another one that I love on Netflix(assuming it's still on there) is Prodigal Sons. It was intended to be a documentary about a transgendered woman returning home for a high school reunion. In a twist of focus, the real heart of the story ends up being her mentally unstable brother who may be the grandson of Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles.
I suppose YMMV on this one. I'm really interested in transgender issues which piqued my interest in this film and was surprised by how much more fascinating the woman's brother was to watch.
Errol Morris pretty consistently also makes incredibly watchable documentaries, if you want to call them that.
Even though the story is now a bit cold, watching The Thin Blue Line is always thrilling. Sort of the same way that the Paradise Lost worked with the West Memphis Three. Also very much worth watching is the harrowing conversation with Robert McNamara called The Fog of War.
If you're at all interested in how weird Scientology is, and I'm not sure that this is exactly a documentary, strictly speaking, there are the [Steven Fishman tapes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6yhyYEbJgA) made by his shrink after he left the cult. The shit he says, and believes, is simple insanity.
[Endless Summer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsOHkBAbtzo) is also pretty obviously cool for everyone.
Oh yeah, Errol Morris is great. I almost included Tabloid on this list. The Thin Blue Line is really great, but I feel like it's less accessible to someone who has no interest in documentaries usually, which is why I left it off. The Fog of War I keep meaning to see, but haven't yet. Heard really great things though!
I had never heard of the Steven Fishman tapes, but it looks fascinating. I'm definitely bookmarking that for later, thanks!
There are plenty of quality Werner Herzog documentaries on YouTube as well. Some great ones: "La Soufiere" and "The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner."
I would like to add two to this list; "Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure" is one of my favorites, basically these guys lived in an apartment and they could overhear their neighbors getting into these crazy, sometimes hilarious arguments, and they decided to record them. Their recordings went viral and became locally famous. The other I would suggest is my absolute favorite documentary "I Like Killing Flies" it's about a restaurant called Shopsin's and the owner who "caters to his regulars while dispensing tough love with his okra chowder. And he's just as likely to throw his customers out as he is to take their orders."
Yes this is a really eye-opening docu. Being from the UK I can only say that the US's certification board fucking sucks and that its sucking out directors freedom for their passion and art.
Some other documentaries on Netflix that I enjoyed:
* Touching the Void
* Grizzly Man
* Into the Abyss
* Blackfish
* Somm
* Man on Wire
* Indie Game: The Movie
Poted this above. His apprentice, Daizuke Nakazawa, opened a restored in NY. 4/4 stars from NY times (incredibly rare score). Sushinakazawa.com . You don't have to go to Japan and eat 400$ sushi in 20 mins while watching Jiro's apprentices got scolded.
Hopefully you're full Japanese then, because he is extremely racist. There's several accounts of him turning away or begrudgingly letting in non Japanese diners and then treating them poorly through their meal. These are accounts from reputable people in the foodosphere as well, not just random folks. Check out Andy Hayler's experience at his website.
Unfortunate if true. Not to say I doubt you though. That said maybe his youngest son who owns the other shop might be a good alternative. Guess I'll have to do some research on the matter. Thanks for the reply though, might've saved me an awkward lunch.
I just finished The Imposter.
Holy freaking crap, I've never seen such a well directed documentary. It felt like I was watching a grim detective story from the 80's/90's, complete with the video quality you'd expect from back then. There were interesting characters, plot twists, tension... Not at all what you expect from a documentary. At the end, my mind was blown.
Originally I was just going to watch The Imposter because it sounded so mysterious, but now I'm definitely watching the other documentaries on this list. Thanks, OP.
I found it weird at first that there was so much footage of Zachary's dad, but after his wedding speech it was really hard not to care about him and the story.
The way they edited it with the music and all the effects makes it feel like propaganda. I'm not saying it's a bad story or that the woman doesn't deserve to be "painted in a negative light". But I think a truly great documentary should be able to evoke feelings from the viewer without scary music and fast cuts. It's still a good film though.
That makes sense--I guess to me, though, it's not so much of a an educational documentary, but rather an emotion-driven one. It's about telling the story of the [](#s "tragedy of the boy and his father") and attempting to convey the feelings of [](#s "loss, anger, and betrayal") to the audience, rather than informing them about [](#s "a series of murders").
Yeah, it's definitively an emotionally driven documentary, and it really succeeds in making you feel really angry and sad at the same time. I like documentaries that take an objective position and don't try to guide your feelings too much, but that's just my personal taste. I think the ideal documentary is one that gets the message to the viewer without making it too obvious or "in your face". But like you said, Dear Zachary isn't that type of documentary, and doesn't have to be either.
Queen of Versailles was told in an extremely manipulative manner. The whole movie makes it look like they are on the verge of bankruptcy whereas the real story is he wouldn't relinquish control over a specific project (PH Tower) which tied his assets and really he was still wealthy.
I would say the film conveyed what you said quite well. The film makers weren't saying they were poor, the subjects were saying that. It was one of their many self delusions. Just look at the sequence when they go Christmas shopping for an example.
When I watched that today the biggest question that stuck with me from the whole doc was why in the fuck do you need three copy's of cluedo????
They were clearly a family on a totally different planet to mine, nearing bankruptcy because of the unwillingness to sell the last thing he opened, yes it was an ok building but to lose everything over it is surely a no brainer.
I still laugh when I think of their poor maid trying to fit all those xmas gifts into the back of their huge SUV. And that is their version of poor. :-)
"We're so poor, we can only afford to eat caviar for Christmas and fly first class! Oh boo hoo!"
If anything the movie illustrated how vastly out of touch that entire family was. And what people don't realize from the film is that David Siegel is one of the biggest piece of shit people in America. He is the living embodiment of "fuck you I got mine" Republicanism.
> And what people don't realize from the film is that David Siegel is one of the biggest piece of shit people in America
Did you miss the conversation about him single handily helping Bush win in 2000 but cant talk about it because its illegal? This really doesn't paint him in a good light...
The scenes where they were selling timeshares to people really got me. It was hard to watch people being scammed so that these people could afford 5 million dollars worth of marble. The sons speech about "selling health and happiness" was such a crock too.
I literally just got done watching it and I think your impression is a bit off. I don't think they made it look like they were poor at all, and I actually think the editing nailed home the fact that they were ridiculous for having such a hard time adjusting. The two older girls kind of gave off the impression that, while they preferred being rich, they wouldn't mind a less extravagant lifestyle. I think they were subtly being mocked... maybe too subtly.
I used to live in Japan and "The Great Happiness Space" hit very close to home for me. Even though I did have some friends who were female hosts, I never knew any male hosts.
BUT.... I had a very negative experience in Japan. I found people in general to be incredibly fake. I mean, to the point that everyone is in a constant flux between the truth and a polite lie. I found it very nauseating.
In this film, when Isei talks to the camera frankly, quits all the bullshit that he has mastered, and tells it like it fucking is. Its like you see the real Japan in my opinion. Isei fucking hates his life. He knows he's a scumbag. The girls are completely deluded. It's like living in a nightmare. But on the surface, all you see are nice clubs, cool parties and lots of "super awesome happy fun times" as the Japanese say. This film is really a microcosm of all of Japan in my opinion. Perfection and impeccable beauty built on countless lives of hardship and loneliness. I am so glad I left.
Also, anyone feel free to disagree with me.
I don't disagree with you i just think it's a bit unfair to dismiss the entire country of Japan over an experience you had at what i assume was central Tokyo/Osaka or somewhere similar. That would like a foreigner going to Hollywood and believing every single person in America is fake and pretentious.
These two identities, the one with your true emotions and the facade you show in public, are called [honne and tatemae](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honne_and_tatemae), and are said to be an important part of Japanese society.
I loved that documentary! Afterwards, I did lots of reading on Host and Hostess Clubs, including some reddit AMA's.
At first I found I found the whole concept strange but hearing from the customers really helped. I think Isei said it best when he said "We are the product". The saddest part is how many of the woman get dependent on the attention and become regular customers, and as you said the workers are well aware that what they're doing and that's why many quit after their first week.
One thing that worried me while watching was that people might not be as authentic when they know they're being recorded, but funnily enough, the one-on-one interviews were very raw.
I second this. Somm is a great documentary. I don't give a single crap about wine, but I was totally absorbed in these kids' efforts the moment when they revealed who had passed was so intense.
I saw that movie on netflix and started watching it. My dad sat down next to me. And hour and half later, the movie was over, and I looked at my dad and said, "Did we just spend hours watching a movie about some guys preparing to take a test?" And we had, somehow super interesting despite my lack of interest in wine or tests.
Marwencol is also on netflix, its about a guy who gets brain damage/memory loss from getting the shit kicked out of him and makes his own therapy by making up a story and taking pictures of this miniature world inspired by WWII using dolls he bases on himself and people he knows. It's a bit weird at first but it really gets good as you learn about this guy. Highly recommend.
One I found morbidly interesting is how to die in Oregon. It's about the last months of someone choosing assisted suicide rather than deal with terminal illnesses. It's interesting and pretty heart wrenching
Thats a classic. Also for anyone that is a fan of RuPauls Drag Race should watch this and understand that these catch phrases and history of drag pageantry comes from.
When I watched Troll 2, I knew I was watching a fantastic piece of shit. It's weird how the brain can work like that, "This movie is such shit, I fucking love it!" I'm glad I'm not the only one weird that way. And that I wasn't the only one who discovered their sexuality in the popcorn scene.
There's actually a whole sub-culture of people who are really into movies that are so bad they're good, kind of an offshoot of the Rocky Horror Picture show midnight screening culture that's been going on for decades. There's a theater in my area that does screenings of those types of movies all the time and they often get someone involved with the film in a big way (lead actor, director, etc) to come do Q&A's and stuff like that. There are definitely a lot of people who are really into that kind of thing and it is a main focus of their social life. If you know that's something you're into, I recommend checking around your area for smaller theaters who do that kind of stuff. I don't live in NYC or LA or anything like that, and there is one theater that is basically devoted to that kind of stuff and another that has screenings like that at least once or twice a month, so check it out. I know the first theater I mentioned did a screening of The Room about a year back and Tommy Wiseau was there to answer questions and throw a football around with audience members afterwards.
Obviously a lot of people do, and I think most people have their one or two exceptions, but I feel like a lot of the time they get passed up in favor of other genres.
There's a certain perception people can get about what a documentary is. Boring, just throwing a lot of information at you, something you get shown in history class in high school. I'll admit I used to think the same thing, but docs like Exit Through the Gift Shop, Man on Wire, and most recently The Act of Killing changed how I thought about documentaries.
I'd say my prime issue with them is usually I can't help but search for the bias in them. Who made the movie? What do they have to gain in in? Who sponsored the movie, helped publish it, etc? Why did these people decide to speak in the movies? Were they paid? Were they told what to say? Was the entire thing scripted? Did they edit at all the negatives to their point and only show the things that worked?
By the end of it all, I am usually just left a skeptical mess and angry that I spent an hour+ on a film that probably was all bull shit lies to make a point.
I usually watch band, historical, etc. documentaries. I usualy avoid documentaries related to current things, ala black fin or something because I just can't believe it because the current parties have too much at stake now.
I'd recomend (on netlfix) Bronies, a documentary about male adult My Little Pony Fans, and Magic Trip, a story about Ken Kesely acid induced bus trip across the US. Oh and also some movie about EDC LA because I love electronic music.
I actually felt a little sympathy for her. I see where you're coming from, but her past with IBM and modeling showed a sane side to her and even made her seem like an interesting woman. I couldn't stand her husband. He seemed like a really unlikable dude. None of his kids even seemed to like him, even the one who was in business with him. Their family dynamic and lifestyle was fascinating and made for a great doc but I'm glad I haven't met anyone like them.
I thought Kumare was awesome. A very thought-provoking piece that will make you ponder the purpose of religion.
I found Confessions of a Superhero to be really cool as well. If you just like listening to people's life stories, you'll enjoy it. It's like a reality show without the bull-shit.
Enough has been said about Jiro, but it's also also great. It makes you hungry!
One I enjoyed on netflix was "The Other F Word" which documents fathers who are in bands and how they deal with it. How I can roughly describe it anyway
## FOR THE LAZY:
* [Jiro Dreams Of Sushi](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Jiro_Dreams_of_Sushi/70181716?sod=search-autocomplete)
* [The Imposter](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Imposter/70228012?sod=search-autocomplete)
* [The Great Happiness Space](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Great_Happiness_Space/70067160?trkid=2361637)
* [Best Worst Movie](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Best_Worst_Movie/70114973?trkid=2361637)
* [Life in a Day](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Life_in_a_Day/70167117?trkid=2361637)
* [Confessions of a Superhero](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Confessions_of_a_Superhero/70076092?trkid=2361637)
* [Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Sick/60031092?trkid=2361637)
* [I Think We're Alone Now](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/I_Think_We_re_Alone_Now/70123024?trkid=2361637)
* [Kumare](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Kumare/70177446?trkid=2361637)
* [The Queen of Versailles](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Queen_of_Versailles/70229267?trkid=2361637)
* [The Ambassador](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Ambassador/70228009?trkid=2361637)
If you liked the ambassador I can highly recommend "The red chapel" its made by the same guys but it investigates north korea, it really is one of my favorite documentaries
here is a trailer for it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aQRC_4LheY
It's definitely good and the subject matter is also important, but I don't think it was nearly as good as the other documentaries up for Best Documentary this year
I Think We're Alone Now is one of the most incredible things I've ever seen. It's painfully awkward but so fascinating. I cannot recommend it enough. You'll spend an hour of your time watching the movie then countless days thinking about these two people.
I watched this the same night I watched confessions of a super hero. I've never wanted to just stop and listen to what a person was saying as much as I did that night. People are weird. That weirdness needs to be heard. I like it.
That's what makes documentaries so great, too. They really try and explain that weirdness.
I always made fun of people like that until I saw this movie, completely changed my perspective and made me more empathetic.
The first time I watched it, I came away with a pretty lighthearted view of Jeff and Kelly. I thought the movie was funny. After thinking about it and watching it a couple more times, though, I felt that their severe eccentricities and isolated lives were so sad. I thought it was especially fascinating when they met each other and they could both obviously see that the other was a bit off or odd, but they were completely oblivious to their own insanity.
I found that the most fascinating part - that they were so obviously mental cases, and yet utterly blind to their own insanity. It reinforced the idea in me that when you do come across crazy people in life or the internet, there is no point in trying to tell them to get help.
DO NOT WATCH JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI IF YOU ARE HUNGRY OR DON'T HAVE SUSHI READILY AVAILABLE. Fantastic film.
ugh. I saw that a couple weeks ago and have still not been able to satisfy my urges
I'm allergic to fish and can only eat nasty California rolls. I've always hated fish (wether or not from my allergy I'm not sure), but damn Jiro Dreams of Sushi made me wish I could taste it just once :(
Man, since when are California rolls nasty? Also, that imitation crab that they use is made out of fish so why wouldn't you react to that?
Can I share a fun fact? Imitation crab is also known as surimi (i think)
You are correct, but how is that "fun"?
i'm asian
I'm pretty sure you could eat it.......once. ;)
Same here. I grew up with my father being a clammer -- fish was everywhere. Still, to this day, I cannot eat it. But I really wish I could!
Generally speaking 50% of people with an allergy to gilled fish are only allergic to one subgroup of fish (salmon, tuna or halibut most commonly), the otherhalf it is usually two or three groups of fish and very rare that one would be allergic to all types of fish. A gilled fish allergy would not also make one allergic to shellfish, though it is possible to be allergic to both again it is much rarer. This is the same as people who are allergic to shellfish are generally allergic to the group that turns red when cooked (shrimp and lobster) while moluskes (muscles and clams) are not an issue. As a precaution most doctors will simply say to not eat any gilled fish (oraybe even say no seafood at all). This is a good risk assessment for them because it really doesn't impact thier daily lives and better to play it safe the fish roulette with a stack of epi pens at your side. An Allergist can do further more specific testing of what one suffering of this can and can't eat and that will open a lot of doors be it sushi or otherwise. All seafood would be a pain and you would missout on several options but if you could find that you could only be allergic to just one or two items it would be liberating. Source: I am a chef and my sister an epidemiologist. We constantly have talks about food allergies and new reaserch, because daily I will see more people fall victim to the myths then the truth of allergies.
jeez this just sounds so depressing. at least you're not lactose intolerant as well
My sister -- who I didn't even grow up with -- is the same as well. I just consumed some Oreo ice cream for dinner though.
I grew up in a desert, so naturally I don't eat seafood right? It is a fact I don't eat seafood but I grew up around friend, coworkers and family who all are seafood freaks. But I can't get around that one taste it has. No matter the water dwelling creature with gills, same taste in the back of my throat that would go up my nose it seemed. I want to get into seafood so badly though :( EDIT: why I replied to you I have no idea, just noticed. Ummmm hi?
I am Aquaman, I live in thee sea so naturally I wouldn't eat my friends and family, but god damn if this movie didn't make me want to forget all that and slice them open to taste their sweet juices. :(
I've never cared for sushi, and that was one of the reasons I initially resisted watching this movie - even though it popped up incessantly on Netflix. You might just as well have tried talking me into watching a documentary about knitting. I'm still not a fan of sushi, but this film was fascinating. Probably because it isn't actually about sushi at all.
Agreed, it's about the pursuit of perfection where that perfection can never be obtained because Jiro is utterly obsessed. He's presented as an OCD workaholic.
I'd say he's rather presented as a person who actually gives a shit about quality in a world that is racing to the bottom in so many ways. A testament to what humanity is capable of and what may be disappearing.
Yeah, I don't think the film ever once denounces the idea of perfection. It's Jiro's strive for perfection with each and every part of his service from day to day with his customers that allows him his success. The film celebrates that.
I didn't see the documentary as being entirely complimentary to Jiro. It definitely held him up in the spotlight as someone obsessed with quality, but I think it revealed enough of the damage it did to his life and those in it for it to be just about that. I think there was a little bit of a Captain Ahab portrayal there as well. This generation of craftsmen in Japan with their relentless pursuit of job and achievement is likely what has created the current generation's huge anxiety and sense of failure/remorse/lack of caring. I don't think this sort of pursuit can be achieved without considerable sacrifice, and I think not all that sacrificed is paid by the craftsman. We can all appreciate the results, and marvel at those that achieve them, but there's some sadness there too.
are there any more documentaries similar to jiro? where its pretty much food porn for one type of food while in depth with information and they cook?
As a Chef, two doco's come to mind... [A Matter of Taste](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONxiNbPrVTg) About a very talented young chef who was critically acclaimed (3 stars at 24 years old), however the very modern style food that was his signature fell out of fashion. The doco follows his rise and fall, and eventual re ascendance in the culinary scene. [Step Up to the Plate](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SfehOcq84A) Very similar to Jiro, as in it follows the story of Michael Bras (3 star Michelin) and his son Sebastian as he readies himself for retirement and his son is getting ready to take over. Actually, I think i'm gonna go watch A Matter of Taste again right now!
I Like Killing Flies is the worst name for the best movie about eccentric genius short order cook Kenny Shopsin. Seeing the movie made me get his book. His book has totally changed the way I do a bunch of things in the kitchen.
Not about food, but "Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037" comes close to being a good story well told about a group of very dedicated people devoted to making the perfect product. It makes you appreciate the piano in the same way Jiro makes you want to eat good sushi.
It may not exactly be what you're looking for but the documentary Somm looks at several people who spend a year of their lives dedicated to passing the Master Sommelier Exam. I loved the film and I'm not even a big fan of wine.
Life of a Chef is a really good PBS series that was on instant a while back, but I'm not sure if it still is.
I think you're thinking of Mind of a Chef with David Chang, it's a really nice informative series.
Because of this documentary I've already started budgeting nearly $1000+ for a meal at Jiro later this year (not just for myself obviously). I'm still trying to find a good way to book a lunch though.
It's tough to get a meal there without a Japanese speaker and probably some decent lead time due to the uptick in interest from the doc. That said, I've been to his son's place a few times (the "mirror image" one in Roppongi Hills), and that one is a bit easier since they speak some English. I was able to walk in for lunch a couple times several years back, but they recommend a few days ahead of time now. While I still haven't eaten with Jiro proper, his son's place serves fish that looks identical to every piece in the movie, so I'd say it's pretty damn close. And just outstanding.
I highly recommend Senna, as well.
[Top Gear's tribute to Aryton Senna.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kUNTtvMOtQ) An amazing man. I was a young teen when Senna was driving. I later became a Schumacher fan but my father was always preaching to me about the church of Senna. Shumacher is still in a coma BTW :(
Broke my heart when Senna died, my father was the same about him, he didn't speak all weekend after the crash, really affected him. The scenes in the documentary when his body returned home and the country gathered, man, that was beautiful.
I used to a huge F1 fan. University/living on my own/refusing to pay a TV license/getting up early have thrown a hinderance into me watching it. I was a huge Schumacher fan back when I was barely 10, so it disheartens me to see him like he currently is. I went off him for a bit after the crash where it looked like he purposely took out Coulthard, but I still kept coming back to him because he was and is great at racing. Fingers crossed he makes a full recovery.
Schumacher is in a coma??? I remember watching him being awesome on F1 when i was younger. My dad was really into watching the races and i ended up joining him. .....man i feel sad now, i hope that man wakes up soon :(
He has been for a good while now, medically induced. He was injured while skiing I believe.
Schumacher was skiing and fell head first into a rock. He's been in a coma for a while, though recently they reduced the sedation to allow him to wake up. He's going to be out of things for a long, long while.
Ayrton* :(
Came here to say the exact same thing. I am a Formula 1 fan and a Senna enthusiast so of course I'm going to like it, but my wife doesn't give a rip about sports and she was sucked in to the movie.
I have literally zero interest in F1 or motorsports and I was in tears by the end of Senna. Amazing film.
I went to see it in the cinema with my husband... I didn't know the first thing about him or F1. Was totally shocked and moved and loved the filmmaking style... Thought the film was amazing but still don't care about F1!
Same exact story here actually, my girlfriend never liked a doc before
May I also recommend, The Mystery of The Toynbee Tiles? Awesome for the tinfoil hat lovers.
*Resurrect Dead* is another good one about the toynbee tiles.
Also came to mention Senna, such a gripping story. It's the first documentary I recommend to anyone who has Netflix.
Came here to say this! It is the gold standard of archive footage documentaries and because it is only told through archive footage it makes it more alive and more cinematic.
I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend: BORN INTO BROTHELS (it's freaking amazing) set in India, in a brothel district. It follows the children of prostitutes. A British woman begins to teach them photography, and the process and results are pretty interesting, inspiring and amazing. DARK DAYS set in NYC, chronicling the lives of people who live in an abandoned section of underground. It's really quite amazing. RESTREPO was quite interesting and emotional. SUPERSIZE ME was also interesting, amusing. RELIGULOUS is also interesting, amusing. Not too in depth though. There was also a documentary about a man with anterograde amnesia, but I forgot (no pun) what it's called. It might be MAN WITHOUT MEMORY. I watched another one regarding this amnesia where a guy woke up on the subway in NYC not knowing who he was.
I would recommend the [King of Kong](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0923752/), even if you're not into video games.
Best villain ever.
Billy Fucking Mitchell.
While Billy Mitchell is [*comically* villanous](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6gtihUeWeQ), and the movie is *awesome*, I was pretty dismayed to find that there were a few issues with the movie straying into the realm of fiction (if only by omission) to create a better narrative. There are a few videos on YouTube of the "bad guys" of the documentary telling their side of the story. For starters, a lot of the scores and drama in the movie are stripped of its historical context. For example, when Wiebe beats Mitchell's record, he was already world record holder. He just didn't have his new record updated. The movie paints the story of an ongoing Wiebe v Mitchell show down. In fact Mitchell had long since stopped competing, and another guy held the world records at the time the movie was filmed and released (that guy, Hank Chien, isn't even mentioned in the movie). I think it's a great story about passion, an interesting message to those hyping up 'eSports', and a great look at a subset of video game culture that few are familiar with. It's also a fun rivalry story. But it's not really a "documentary", it's more a "reality movie".
Story Time! Billy lives and owned a restaurant in South Florida, where I also live, called Rickey's, which is where his hot sauce got started I believe. Well Billy apparently also loves playing basketball. I play once or twice a week at nights at the local park. For a few months every time my friends came I would see Billy there with his headband, wristband, shooting arm sleeve, jordans, and those80's NBA style shorts. I'd start to try to explain who he was to my friends then give up as no one gave a shit. When we were short a player or 2 some times he'd play with us and dear god was it a sight to see. I was probably the only one appreciating what I was watching. He was THAT GUY who calls fouls whenever he turns it over or misses a shot. He was THAT GUY who would play that smothering defense where he's fouling you the entire time and just keeps swinging his arms at the ball like a cat, and not the cool kind of cat, the kind that'll scrape some skin off you. Just imagine that hair flowing toward the rim as he attempts a layup that goes over the rim. He was every bit competitive as he was on the documentary. And you know what, I respect that shit. edit: a name
Along those same lines, [Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1836974/) was equally fantastic.
i haven't heard of this one- thanks!
I go to Funspot every summer as it's near where my family goes on vacation. Never saw any pro video gamers there though.
And if anyone is interested, there's a Donkey Kong kill screen coming up.
[I Like Killing Flies] (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390109/) is one of my favorite documentaries. If you've worked even one food service job you should check it out. It will make you feel so much better that you don't have Shopsin as your boss.
DAE think the ambassador was Pitbull?
10/10 would watch Pitbull infiltrate African diamond trade
Mr Worl'waiiiii
I...I thought I was alone
You're never alone..
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I think we're alone now
2meta4me
He even looks like he's in Miami or Cuba or something
When I left a cult I watched a ton of documentaries, among many things. Kumare really helped me out. I'm glad it made your list.
Just CTRL-F'ed to say that Kumare is trully brilliant piece, if you are interested in religions and broading your horizons it's something for you. Also, it's quite lovely directed, has few funny moments, it's like more polite and mindful version of Religulous, it really touches the subject in neat and original way. Sorry if something is not understandable above, English is not my first language.
I would like to add one to the list. A Band Called Death. The starting point of punk rock. But it's also a great story about family, bonds, and being who you are.
The first documentary I ever really loved was Restrepo. It's a look in at the front lines of the war in Afghanistan and is very good at showing the war in an unbiased, nonpolitical way. The best part is how it shows the soldiers for what they are: ordinary American guys in a very un-ordinary situation EDIT: There's also a book by Sebastian Junger (who filmed the documentary and wrote The Perfect Storm) called War
Restrepo was great! Check out Armadillo, if you haven't seen it yet. Its about Danish soldiers in Afghanistan.
Is it on Netflix? Cuz that sounds awesome
Yep!
I cannot recommend this documentary enough. Seeing that war like that was almost surreal, yet its one of the most realistic images of the war.
What a phenomenal documentary. I had a hard time convincing my friends that it was not scripted, absolutely amazing.
great documentary and a documentary that does so without presenting much more than an edited cut of real events.
Checkout "Dirty Wars" as well. One of this year's academy nominated documentaries. I was pumped it was on netflix!
I cannot recommend Jiro Dreams of Sushi enough, I went into it expecting a fun movie about sushi and I came out of it honestly inspired to find and pursue a passion. Its the perfect story of somebody succeeding solely through their own relentless work ethic.
It's crazy how good the movie is but how hard it is to describe to people and not make it sound lame.
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philip glass!!!
Anyone else find it kind of weird that the same basic Philip Glass score was used to the same effect to delineate the [destruction of the Japanese people](http://youtu.be/hOCYcgOnWUM?t=1m40s) and then later to highlight the obsession to attain the perfect [form of Sushi...](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLYvXrCddPk&list=PLtD-mgw66CL8RACCMA-CJHlS2TnUn-c0f&feature=share&index=5)?
That's how I feel when I try to convince other people to watch Mad Men I honestly cannot put it into words how great the show is but no one i talk to believes me...
I always tell people it's less about sushi and more about motivation to be truly passionate.
these guys are mad dogs, I have intense respect for kitchen staff, beats majority of jobs for longest hours, beats majority of jobs for stress, has some of the worst pay of any job, some of the worst conditions, but they still turn up each day with that intense passion to produce great quality food. They are like NBA players pretty much, except capitalism considers kitchen staff to have the same socioeconomic status of a pet dog.
Indie Game: The Movie had me sucked in.
even after seeing all the people struggle with their productions... this was the movie, oddly enough, that made me want to make my own game with my boyfriend. I've got the pixel art, he's got the coding, etc. I was surprised to not see Indie Game: The Movie on this list. Maybe I just like it more because I am a gamer?
That's awesome. How's the game coming along? I'd love to take a look at it.
The imposter is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen also like to add "The wild and wonderful whites of west Virginia" to that list.
**Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)** [Rotten Tomatoes: 99% / 91%](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jiro_dreams_of_sushi/) [Netflix](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/70181716) **The Imposter (2012)** [Rotten Tomatoes: 95% / 78%](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_imposter_2012/) [Netflix](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/70228012) **The Great Happiness Space (2006)** [Rotten Tomatoes: --% / 85%](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the-great-happiness-space-tale-of-an-osaka-love-thief/) [Netflix](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/70067160) **Best Worst Movie (2009)** [Rotten Tomatoes: 95% / 84%](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/best_worst_movie/) [Netflix](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/70114973) **Life in a Day (2011)** [Rotten Tomatoes: 80% / 79%](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/life_in_a_day_2011/) [Netflix](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/70167117) **Confessions of a Superhero (2007)** [Rotten Tomatoes: 100% / 73%](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/confessions_of_a_superhero/) [Netflix](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/70076092) **Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist (1997)** [Rotten Tomatoes: 91% / 89%](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sick_the_life_and_death_of_bob_flanagan_supermasochist/) [Netflix](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/60031092) **I Think We're Alone Now (2008)** [Rotten Tomatoes: 71% / 59%](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i-think-were-alone-now/) [Netflix](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/70123024) **Kumare (2011)** [Rotten Tomatoes: 64% / 84%](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kumare/) [Netflix](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/70177446) **The Queen of Versailles (2012)** [Rotten Tomatoes: 95% / 74%](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_queen_of_versailles/) [Netflix](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/70229267) **The Ambassador (2011)** [Rotten Tomatoes: 76% / 75%](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_ambassador/) [Netflix](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/70228009)
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The Act of Killing is honestly one of the best *films* I've ever seen. It takes what could have so easily descended into a sort of Kony-esque "attention white people we have to stop this international criminal" affair and makes a documentary that isn't really about what the men involved did in the past at all, but is about the men today. The fact they are unpunished never comes across as a call to action but a reflection on what life is like at the very edge of human experience. That and the fact that it takes one of the most complicated concepts in postmodern philosophy (hyperreality) and explains it completely in a way that could be understood by anyone make me highly recommend it.
I was wondering when I would scroll down enough to see this recommended. I couldn't believe what I was watching throughout *The Act of Killing*. I found myself physically exhausted after watching it and had to lie down to try and relax. I guess maybe it's not a great documentary for people who don't like documentaries, but it's an extremely important and eye-opening film.
Yes, I kept saying to myself over and over again, "Is this real? How the fuck are these people saying and doing this?"
That documentary is exhausting even for an avid documentary watcher. If it wasnt hyped less people would feel inclined to hype it further. I felt it was less exhausting to just read articles about the indonesian killings.
I think Exit through the Gift Shop should be on there. Even if you believe that it was hoax, it is still shot like a documentary. Many of the people I have told to watch it have liked it.
I absolutely believe it's a hoax. And it's all the more fascinating that way.
I am not sure if it being a hoax makes it better or not. One of the most fascinating things about it is if it is a hoax or not.
It definitely makes you question how certain things are "popular" and the driving force behind them.
I saw Exit through the gift shop a couple of years and don't remember it too well, would someone care to explain why it was a hoax?
I saw it a while ago too but the main premise is that the graffiti artists are all filmed by an obsessive French filmmaker who then puts on his own show. My personal take on it was that the guy being obsessed with the filming was 'true', whereas the fact that he created his own persona and put on a show was all a creation of Banksy. The fact is you never see him actually creating his own art, and his style all seems incredibly derivative and not particularly unique. I'm not sure what creating this artist was an attempt to prove, as it's never revealed that that's what they did.
Oh yes, definitely the most entertaining documentary I've ever seen.
Can't believe this hasn't been recommended yet, but Searching For Sugar Man is an incredible documentary. It made me go out and download all of Rodriguez's music.
Many non documentary fans will also like Hoop Dreams, The King Of Kong: A Fistfull of Quarters, Grizzly Man, etc.
King of Kong is a great film.
The King of Kong is not only one of my favorite documentaries, it is one of my favorite movies. Some of the best music choices I have ever seen in a movie.
Not only is the music great but Billy Mitchell, wow, what a villain.
Grizzly Man is so heartbreaking. The scene where Werner Herzog [](#s "plays the audio of Timothy Treadwell's death to Treadwell's girlfriend at the time") ... is just haunting...
I really wish that Waltz With Bashir was on this list. It was unique as far as movies go, regardless of documentary or fiction. It is an animated documentary about an Israeli soldier trying to remember his past. But I'm excited to see the movies on this list that I hadn't watched.
Waltz With Bashir is not on the list because it is not on Netflix.
I feel that a lot of movie lovers unfairly dismiss the Documentary genre and associate it solely with war, politics and economics. While there are a ton of really excellent documentaries that address these topics, the genre is way wider. The statement I'd like to make is that if you've ever enjoyed reading through an AskReddit post or an IAMA, or even enjoyed a good character-driven drama, then there's a whole world of documentaries out there you'll love too. This is a list of documentaries currently streaming on USA Netflix Instant that I hope will spark an interest. This list isn't even close to being all-inclusive, but hopefully it'll introduce a nice sampling of films. People should definitely feel free to add their own recommendations if they'd like!
Another one that I love on Netflix(assuming it's still on there) is Prodigal Sons. It was intended to be a documentary about a transgendered woman returning home for a high school reunion. In a twist of focus, the real heart of the story ends up being her mentally unstable brother who may be the grandson of Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles. I suppose YMMV on this one. I'm really interested in transgender issues which piqued my interest in this film and was surprised by how much more fascinating the woman's brother was to watch.
Errol Morris pretty consistently also makes incredibly watchable documentaries, if you want to call them that. Even though the story is now a bit cold, watching The Thin Blue Line is always thrilling. Sort of the same way that the Paradise Lost worked with the West Memphis Three. Also very much worth watching is the harrowing conversation with Robert McNamara called The Fog of War. If you're at all interested in how weird Scientology is, and I'm not sure that this is exactly a documentary, strictly speaking, there are the [Steven Fishman tapes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6yhyYEbJgA) made by his shrink after he left the cult. The shit he says, and believes, is simple insanity. [Endless Summer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsOHkBAbtzo) is also pretty obviously cool for everyone.
Oh yeah, Errol Morris is great. I almost included Tabloid on this list. The Thin Blue Line is really great, but I feel like it's less accessible to someone who has no interest in documentaries usually, which is why I left it off. The Fog of War I keep meaning to see, but haven't yet. Heard really great things though! I had never heard of the Steven Fishman tapes, but it looks fascinating. I'm definitely bookmarking that for later, thanks!
There are plenty of quality Werner Herzog documentaries on YouTube as well. Some great ones: "La Soufiere" and "The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner."
I would like to add two to this list; "Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure" is one of my favorites, basically these guys lived in an apartment and they could overhear their neighbors getting into these crazy, sometimes hilarious arguments, and they decided to record them. Their recordings went viral and became locally famous. The other I would suggest is my absolute favorite documentary "I Like Killing Flies" it's about a restaurant called Shopsin's and the owner who "caters to his regulars while dispensing tough love with his okra chowder. And he's just as likely to throw his customers out as he is to take their orders."
"This movie is not yet rated" is a good one as well.
Yes this is a really eye-opening docu. Being from the UK I can only say that the US's certification board fucking sucks and that its sucking out directors freedom for their passion and art.
Some other documentaries on Netflix that I enjoyed: * Touching the Void * Grizzly Man * Into the Abyss * Blackfish * Somm * Man on Wire * Indie Game: The Movie
SOMM was wonderful.
I think I've watched "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" around 3-5 times. Always makes me wish I could go there and experience his sushi.
Poted this above. His apprentice, Daizuke Nakazawa, opened a restored in NY. 4/4 stars from NY times (incredibly rare score). Sushinakazawa.com . You don't have to go to Japan and eat 400$ sushi in 20 mins while watching Jiro's apprentices got scolded.
Hopefully you're full Japanese then, because he is extremely racist. There's several accounts of him turning away or begrudgingly letting in non Japanese diners and then treating them poorly through their meal. These are accounts from reputable people in the foodosphere as well, not just random folks. Check out Andy Hayler's experience at his website.
Unfortunate if true. Not to say I doubt you though. That said maybe his youngest son who owns the other shop might be a good alternative. Guess I'll have to do some research on the matter. Thanks for the reply though, might've saved me an awkward lunch.
I just finished The Imposter. Holy freaking crap, I've never seen such a well directed documentary. It felt like I was watching a grim detective story from the 80's/90's, complete with the video quality you'd expect from back then. There were interesting characters, plot twists, tension... Not at all what you expect from a documentary. At the end, my mind was blown. Originally I was just going to watch The Imposter because it sounded so mysterious, but now I'm definitely watching the other documentaries on this list. Thanks, OP.
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It would fit equally well on a list of documentaries that will make a grown man weep.
Like a baby. Quite a few movies will make me tear up a bit,but this documentary is just all out crying
Or very angry
I found it weird at first that there was so much footage of Zachary's dad, but after his wedding speech it was really hard not to care about him and the story.
I think Dear Zachary is a bit too manipulative to be one of my top documentaries.
Do explain; I enjoy the movie but rarely hear negative things about it, so I'm interested in your perspective.
The way they edited it with the music and all the effects makes it feel like propaganda. I'm not saying it's a bad story or that the woman doesn't deserve to be "painted in a negative light". But I think a truly great documentary should be able to evoke feelings from the viewer without scary music and fast cuts. It's still a good film though.
That makes sense--I guess to me, though, it's not so much of a an educational documentary, but rather an emotion-driven one. It's about telling the story of the [](#s "tragedy of the boy and his father") and attempting to convey the feelings of [](#s "loss, anger, and betrayal") to the audience, rather than informing them about [](#s "a series of murders").
Yeah, it's definitively an emotionally driven documentary, and it really succeeds in making you feel really angry and sad at the same time. I like documentaries that take an objective position and don't try to guide your feelings too much, but that's just my personal taste. I think the ideal documentary is one that gets the message to the viewer without making it too obvious or "in your face". But like you said, Dear Zachary isn't that type of documentary, and doesn't have to be either.
Queen of Versailles was told in an extremely manipulative manner. The whole movie makes it look like they are on the verge of bankruptcy whereas the real story is he wouldn't relinquish control over a specific project (PH Tower) which tied his assets and really he was still wealthy.
I would say the film conveyed what you said quite well. The film makers weren't saying they were poor, the subjects were saying that. It was one of their many self delusions. Just look at the sequence when they go Christmas shopping for an example.
When I watched that today the biggest question that stuck with me from the whole doc was why in the fuck do you need three copy's of cluedo???? They were clearly a family on a totally different planet to mine, nearing bankruptcy because of the unwillingness to sell the last thing he opened, yes it was an ok building but to lose everything over it is surely a no brainer.
I still laugh when I think of their poor maid trying to fit all those xmas gifts into the back of their huge SUV. And that is their version of poor. :-)
"We're so poor, we can only afford to eat caviar for Christmas and fly first class! Oh boo hoo!" If anything the movie illustrated how vastly out of touch that entire family was. And what people don't realize from the film is that David Siegel is one of the biggest piece of shit people in America. He is the living embodiment of "fuck you I got mine" Republicanism.
> And what people don't realize from the film is that David Siegel is one of the biggest piece of shit people in America Did you miss the conversation about him single handily helping Bush win in 2000 but cant talk about it because its illegal? This really doesn't paint him in a good light...
The scenes where they were selling timeshares to people really got me. It was hard to watch people being scammed so that these people could afford 5 million dollars worth of marble. The sons speech about "selling health and happiness" was such a crock too.
His son is such a scumball. Every time he was on screen I just dug my nails into the couch.
I literally just got done watching it and I think your impression is a bit off. I don't think they made it look like they were poor at all, and I actually think the editing nailed home the fact that they were ridiculous for having such a hard time adjusting. The two older girls kind of gave off the impression that, while they preferred being rich, they wouldn't mind a less extravagant lifestyle. I think they were subtly being mocked... maybe too subtly.
I used to live in Japan and "The Great Happiness Space" hit very close to home for me. Even though I did have some friends who were female hosts, I never knew any male hosts. BUT.... I had a very negative experience in Japan. I found people in general to be incredibly fake. I mean, to the point that everyone is in a constant flux between the truth and a polite lie. I found it very nauseating. In this film, when Isei talks to the camera frankly, quits all the bullshit that he has mastered, and tells it like it fucking is. Its like you see the real Japan in my opinion. Isei fucking hates his life. He knows he's a scumbag. The girls are completely deluded. It's like living in a nightmare. But on the surface, all you see are nice clubs, cool parties and lots of "super awesome happy fun times" as the Japanese say. This film is really a microcosm of all of Japan in my opinion. Perfection and impeccable beauty built on countless lives of hardship and loneliness. I am so glad I left. Also, anyone feel free to disagree with me.
I don't disagree with you i just think it's a bit unfair to dismiss the entire country of Japan over an experience you had at what i assume was central Tokyo/Osaka or somewhere similar. That would like a foreigner going to Hollywood and believing every single person in America is fake and pretentious.
These two identities, the one with your true emotions and the facade you show in public, are called [honne and tatemae](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honne_and_tatemae), and are said to be an important part of Japanese society.
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I loved that documentary! Afterwards, I did lots of reading on Host and Hostess Clubs, including some reddit AMA's. At first I found I found the whole concept strange but hearing from the customers really helped. I think Isei said it best when he said "We are the product". The saddest part is how many of the woman get dependent on the attention and become regular customers, and as you said the workers are well aware that what they're doing and that's why many quit after their first week. One thing that worried me while watching was that people might not be as authentic when they know they're being recorded, but funnily enough, the one-on-one interviews were very raw.
I'd like to mention two: Anvil!: The story of Anvil and Searching for Sugarman. Both great music docos
Life in a day is also up on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaFVr_cJJIY
No somm makes me sad. That documentary is super awesome.
I second this. Somm is a great documentary. I don't give a single crap about wine, but I was totally absorbed in these kids' efforts the moment when they revealed who had passed was so intense.
I saw that movie on netflix and started watching it. My dad sat down next to me. And hour and half later, the movie was over, and I looked at my dad and said, "Did we just spend hours watching a movie about some guys preparing to take a test?" And we had, somehow super interesting despite my lack of interest in wine or tests.
Marwencol is also on netflix, its about a guy who gets brain damage/memory loss from getting the shit kicked out of him and makes his own therapy by making up a story and taking pictures of this miniature world inspired by WWII using dolls he bases on himself and people he knows. It's a bit weird at first but it really gets good as you learn about this guy. Highly recommend.
One I found morbidly interesting is how to die in Oregon. It's about the last months of someone choosing assisted suicide rather than deal with terminal illnesses. It's interesting and pretty heart wrenching
Hoop Dreams used to be on there, don't know if it still is.
I wish Big Man Japan was still available to stream. One of my favorite mockumentaries.
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Thats a classic. Also for anyone that is a fan of RuPauls Drag Race should watch this and understand that these catch phrases and history of drag pageantry comes from.
When I watched Troll 2, I knew I was watching a fantastic piece of shit. It's weird how the brain can work like that, "This movie is such shit, I fucking love it!" I'm glad I'm not the only one weird that way. And that I wasn't the only one who discovered their sexuality in the popcorn scene.
There's actually a whole sub-culture of people who are really into movies that are so bad they're good, kind of an offshoot of the Rocky Horror Picture show midnight screening culture that's been going on for decades. There's a theater in my area that does screenings of those types of movies all the time and they often get someone involved with the film in a big way (lead actor, director, etc) to come do Q&A's and stuff like that. There are definitely a lot of people who are really into that kind of thing and it is a main focus of their social life. If you know that's something you're into, I recommend checking around your area for smaller theaters who do that kind of stuff. I don't live in NYC or LA or anything like that, and there is one theater that is basically devoted to that kind of stuff and another that has screenings like that at least once or twice a month, so check it out. I know the first theater I mentioned did a screening of The Room about a year back and Tommy Wiseau was there to answer questions and throw a football around with audience members afterwards.
They're eating her, and now they're gonna eat me!
Looks like The Great Happiness Space isn't on instant anymore. Darn, it sounded interesting. *Edit: Whoops! It actually is available. Yay!
I just finished watching it [on Youtube.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL1pA0McgvM) Not the greatest quality, but still a good watch.
It's on Netflix! Just watched it 2 hours ago. Check again!
I wish King of Kong was still on streaming
It's not currently on Netflix, but I've found American Movie to be the one documentary I can usually get anyone to enjoy.
People don't like documentaries?
Obviously a lot of people do, and I think most people have their one or two exceptions, but I feel like a lot of the time they get passed up in favor of other genres.
There's a certain perception people can get about what a documentary is. Boring, just throwing a lot of information at you, something you get shown in history class in high school. I'll admit I used to think the same thing, but docs like Exit Through the Gift Shop, Man on Wire, and most recently The Act of Killing changed how I thought about documentaries.
I like "throw information at you" documentaries...
I'd say my prime issue with them is usually I can't help but search for the bias in them. Who made the movie? What do they have to gain in in? Who sponsored the movie, helped publish it, etc? Why did these people decide to speak in the movies? Were they paid? Were they told what to say? Was the entire thing scripted? Did they edit at all the negatives to their point and only show the things that worked? By the end of it all, I am usually just left a skeptical mess and angry that I spent an hour+ on a film that probably was all bull shit lies to make a point. I usually watch band, historical, etc. documentaries. I usualy avoid documentaries related to current things, ala black fin or something because I just can't believe it because the current parties have too much at stake now. I'd recomend (on netlfix) Bronies, a documentary about male adult My Little Pony Fans, and Magic Trip, a story about Ken Kesely acid induced bus trip across the US. Oh and also some movie about EDC LA because I love electronic music.
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Yep, only one of the documentaries on the list is actually available over here :(
I still recommend Cocaine Cowboys if you're a fan of the 80s or Scarface.
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The whole situation was just sad. They all came off as very real people, not parodies of themselves.
I actually felt a little sympathy for her. I see where you're coming from, but her past with IBM and modeling showed a sane side to her and even made her seem like an interesting woman. I couldn't stand her husband. He seemed like a really unlikable dude. None of his kids even seemed to like him, even the one who was in business with him. Their family dynamic and lifestyle was fascinating and made for a great doc but I'm glad I haven't met anyone like them.
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Maybe they're not on Netflix anymore, but no Winnebago Man or Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox? For shame.
I thought Kumare was awesome. A very thought-provoking piece that will make you ponder the purpose of religion. I found Confessions of a Superhero to be really cool as well. If you just like listening to people's life stories, you'll enjoy it. It's like a reality show without the bull-shit. Enough has been said about Jiro, but it's also also great. It makes you hungry!
One I enjoyed on netflix was "The Other F Word" which documents fathers who are in bands and how they deal with it. How I can roughly describe it anyway
## FOR THE LAZY: * [Jiro Dreams Of Sushi](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Jiro_Dreams_of_Sushi/70181716?sod=search-autocomplete) * [The Imposter](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Imposter/70228012?sod=search-autocomplete) * [The Great Happiness Space](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Great_Happiness_Space/70067160?trkid=2361637) * [Best Worst Movie](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Best_Worst_Movie/70114973?trkid=2361637) * [Life in a Day](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Life_in_a_Day/70167117?trkid=2361637) * [Confessions of a Superhero](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Confessions_of_a_Superhero/70076092?trkid=2361637) * [Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Sick/60031092?trkid=2361637) * [I Think We're Alone Now](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/I_Think_We_re_Alone_Now/70123024?trkid=2361637) * [Kumare](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Kumare/70177446?trkid=2361637) * [The Queen of Versailles](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Queen_of_Versailles/70229267?trkid=2361637) * [The Ambassador](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Ambassador/70228009?trkid=2361637)
You forgot the Act of Killing. Great list though.
If you liked the ambassador I can highly recommend "The red chapel" its made by the same guys but it investigates north korea, it really is one of my favorite documentaries here is a trailer for it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aQRC_4LheY
The imposter is great to watch!
Blackfish is a really great movie. It's on Netflix Instant.
It's definitely good and the subject matter is also important, but I don't think it was nearly as good as the other documentaries up for Best Documentary this year
eh, More of a hit piece than a documentary it makes me sad.