Documentaries Make The Best Movies

I'm not a talented man. However, one of the few gifts God bestowed on me was my insatiable curiosity. I love learning. I'm constantly looking up names, dates, facts, figures, and other info. Though I love to read I am also a visual learner. I enjoy museums, parks, zoos, and the such.

One way to learn is through documentaries. I watch them all the time. They entrance me. Thankfully they are catching some momentum and becoming more popular. Therefore the quality is going up. Here are my top ten favorites in alphabetical order.

However, let me add that I did not include any Rated-R docs though I have seen a few edited ones that were really mesmerizing including "Shut Up and Sing," about one measly, random, and obscure remark by the Dixie Chicks that turned their own fans against them, and "Murderball," about quadriplegic rugby players, pretty violent but incredible stuff.


1. This is a new one on my list. The maker of this film was heartbroken to find out all of his heroes growing up used steroids. But he doesn't stop there, it is an examination of the hypocrisy in America when comes to putting anything in our bodies. One of my favorite parts was when he asked one guy who wanted to put a steroid awareness booth in every baseball stadium if he thought it was hypocritical to speak out against steroids but sell alcohol a few feet away.


2. These two people are nuts. It's a long, complex story but these two sick freaks deserve each other. Let's just say the story involves love, hate, betrayal, revenge, a human face, acid, jail, and back to love. I don't think you'll like either of these two but if you do let me know which one.


3. You can watch this entire doc online so check it out if you dare. It is deeply disturbing and one of the biggest reasons I converted to a vegetarian diet (next to my wife's example), however, it is important to point out that only 1/5 of the story addresses food. After watching this while doing paperwork at work I closed my office door, got down on my knees, and begged God for forgiveness for being so ignorant to what mankind is doing to His beautiful creatures without just cause. I just kept asking myself "How did we ever let it get to this point?!" Man, we are going to have some explaining to do when we finally face the Supreme Creator.


4. There are a lot of good war docs but this is my favorite. Robert McNamara was the Sec of Defense during the first part of the Vietnam War and his inside opinion of events is fascinating. He reflects back on the decisions made and the mistakes that followed. There is a lot our previous presidential administration could have learned from this film before they took us into a recreational war in Iraq but clearly they did not see it.


5. Sure, I'm a Mormon and we have our share of quirks but holy cow, these people are terrifying! This is about a camp for future Christian extremists disguised as a camp for kids. Two of my favorite parts were when they bring out the life-sized cardboard cut out of George W. Bush and when they go to see Rev. Ted Haggard rip on homosexuality only months before the world learned that the good Reverend had been hiring a male prostitute for years.


6. This is probably one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. It is unreal. Watch this pretty normal guy enter the world of competitive classic arcade game competition. You can probably imagine the kind of people your going to run into. Oooh, that Billy Mitchell with his mullet and hot sauce! For the first several minutes you'll be wondering if this is actually a mocumentary because people aren't really like this, right?


7. This might be the best doc a social worker can watch. I mean this story is the very essence of social work. This shy teenager was arrested and tried in Florida about 10 years ago. Apparently a few miles from his home there was a murder and he was picked up by the cops because he shared one characteristic with the perpetrator, they were both black. This kid was the wrong height and weight, wrong clothes, wrong age, and was arrested walking down the road several miles away from the crime only minutes after it occurred.


8. The ultimate second chance. I like punk rock and "The New York Dolls" was one of the early groups to pave the road for later groups. One hapless member of the group suffered from drug and alcohol addiction but was able to shake his mental health problems after joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was serving as a missionary at the LA Family History Center when he was given the opportunity of a lifetime to play one last show in London. I'm not going to lie to you, the ending is shocking and heartbreaking but after the credits the lead singer of "The New York Dolls" sings "A Poor Wayfaring Man."


9. Either you like Michael Moore or you hate Michael Moore but before you decide maybe you should actually watch one of his movies and I'd start with this one. It's not about those without healthcare insurance but those that have healthcare insurance and have to deal with these slimy companies wiggle and squeeze their way out of paying for their customers care. Heidi and I know the awful feelings one experiences as insurance companies do everything they can to avoid payments leaving sick people with the bill bringing a man, husband, and father to tears because he can't pay the medical bills, do you? It's a pretty sucky feeling so at least Moore is trying to address the issue here because it is messed up.


10. The guy on this cover is Cory Booker and he is one of my heroes. He is the current mayor of Camden, NJ and this film is about his journey. It is a political thriller and has a cold, ruthless feeling. Completely shocking this happens in US politics. I mean the stuff that his opponent, Sharpe James, does is ridiculous. Awesome and inspiring film.



BONUS: This playful film has a much bigger agenda than how gross it is to eat McDonald's everyday. It looks at the way Americans eat and yes, it is gross but very educational. Check out the book "Fast Food Nation" to go along with it because man, we got issues that need to be addressed or were simply doomed!

So that's it. There are some other good ones out there, any suggestions? We just checked out "What Would Jesus Buy?" and were waiting for "Man on Wire." This summer "Food, Inc." comes out and Heidi and I are excited to see it. Please, by all means, if you know one I really should see let me know.