[LUconn]

We've talked about a few of these before, but I was looking for some suggestions and figured we should collaborate.

I know we've talking about:

Man on Wire
King of Kong

I just watched "The Art of the Steal" last night. It was pretty good. Most likely one sided (I think all documentaries probably are), but still drums up enough emotion that you're pulling for the Barnes Foundation.

Really I think what makes a good documentary is that it doesn't bore you and it's not too over the top. Can anybody think of any others?

Any of the Discovery Channel produced docs on the space program has been pretty awesome

When We Left Earth and another one that I can't remember the name of

[Schfourteenteen]

You missed the best one:

Super Size Me

[RubberMallet]

super high me
okie noodling
metal: a headbangers journey

[Sly Fox]

I watched one a month or two ago on Texas barbecue narrated by Ann Richards of all people that was entertaining. It was something like Barbecue: A Texas Love Story or something like that.

If you want to go old school then 'Hands on a Hardbody' is another suggestion.

The proliferation of cable/fiber TV has left the long-form documentary in peril as 60-minute shows have replaced them for all intents & purposes.

[rueful]

How did I miss the discussion about man on wire? love that film. And my brother and his wife were at a concert in Seattle a few weeks back ( I think it was the Ataris) but anyways, they brought Steve Weibe out and had him play drums for a few songs haha

[ALUmnus]

If you want to go old school then 'Hands on a Hardbody' is another suggestion.

Will a search on this get through the filters at work? Doubtful.

[WinthropEagleFan]

"The Two Escobars"...one of the 30 for 30 ESPN Documentaries...Not really the same type of documentary as the ones you've listed, but I thought it was very good/interesting.

[LUconn]

Every single one of those 30 for 30 has been really good.

[From the class of 09]

Yeah before watching the 30 for 30 on Nelson Mandela I didn’t realize who factual they kept the movie Invictus. Originally I thought Invictus was one of those movies where they change the facts to make it more dramatic but they basically just stayed with the original story, which by itself is almost unbelievable.

[Liberty4Life]

I went to a friends house once and he just started watching "Riding Giants", a documentary about surfing. I wasn't interested at all, until I watched -- seriously, the movie was awesome.

It was up for an Oscar, but I think it lost to "The Fog of War", which is a documentary about former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara. Another winner.

I've never seen it, but I've heard good things about March of the Penguins.

And there is a movie coming out soon called "Waiting For Superman", about the public school system, which is supposed to be top-notch.

[Sly Fox]

March of the Penguins is beautiful but moves ridiculously slow.

Riding Giants is one of a number of great surfing flicks. Endless Summer started the genre.