November 24, 2011
United States of Documentaries
Thanks to The Projector, I found this United States of Documentaries, a list compiled by POV on PBS. It lists one documentary movie for every state of the Union.
I've seen only seven of the 51 and have liked every single one. I'm planning on adding all the rest to my Netflix. I would also like to go through and document each one I see (as I see them). So look for that, if I ever get motivated enough to do it.
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.
Labels: cool shit, lists, movies, USA
by JHitts at 5:12 PM |
4 Comments:
Two things: First, it turns out there are like seven of these that aren't anywhere on Netflix (streaming, disc or otherwise). That's unfortunate, but I'll deal.
Second, another documentary I just saw that is nowhere on this list is When We Were Kings. It's not on there because it's about Ali and Foreman and the Rumble in the Jungle. For someone who only knows Ali as he is now — a kind of revered icon displaced from what he actually did — it's a pretty cool portrait of him at his height of popularity. Highly recommended (and also on Netflix Instant).
I'm delighted to see this list included American Movie, a doc that most anyone who loves film and has some connection to the Midwest will find endearing.
It tells the story of Mark Borchardt, an independent filmmaker who is struggling to complete a feature-length black and white horror film. He takes a break to focus on a shorter work to be used as seed money for the larger project.
Now that I think about it, the characters remind me a lot of the Fearless Freaks. Not just because Borchardt's best friend Mike Schank is a burned-out recovering druggie like some of the Coyne family, but also because Borchardt exudes a very Wayne Coyne-like charisma, generosity, and all-consuming passion for his art.
I've only seen 6. Planning to pursue these.
Everybody should watch Hoop Dreams. It's awesome.
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