Well-Documented

Documentaries got a bad rap for a long time. People thought they were boring exposes on subjects that either didn't matter, or no one really cared enough about to matter. In the last ten years, thanks to documentarians like Michael Moore and Morgan Spurlock, documentaries have been gaining more and more legitimacy not just with film buffs and auteur, but with the population in general. In my estimation there are five documentaries that everyone should watch at least once in their lifetime. For me, each one either opened my eyes, tugged at my heartstrings, or just was down right compelling; sometimes a documentary is all of these things.

"Spellbound" Directed by Jeff Blitz - The story of eight very different kids competing for the top prize in the 1999 National Spelling Bee. At first you can't possibly think that a movie about kids spelling words would be all that entertaining or special, but you'd be misinformed. This story has more tension and drama than some Hollywood big-budget films. Blitz pulls this off by not just showing the kids competing, but by spending ample time learning who each of these eight children are. We meet their parents and siblings, and Blitz gives them all plenty of time to show us their personalities. Everyone who's ever watched this film tells me that they end up picking a couple of kids to root for and that the fate of those kids in the competition has everyone on the edge of their seat as the conclusion draws near.

"American Movie" Directed by Chris Smith - This film is heartbreaking, hilarious, uplifting and befuddling, sometimes simultaneously. It's the story of Mark Borchardt, an aspiring filmmaker in Wisconsin. Mark's films are all extremely low-budget affairs, and the source material isn't exactly Academy Award worthy stuff. Mark is unrelenting in his passion which drives not only the production of his films, but the story of "American Movie." When Mark is knocked down to the point that most people would give up their dreams, he somehow finds the way to pick himself back up. Mark's best friend Mike Schank, a man with his own past demons but a genuine heart of gold gives this film another layer of depth; showing that there's someone who believes in Mark, though many, many don't. This film to me is an example of both the strength of human spirit, and the power of denial.

"The Art of the Steal" Directed by Don Argott - This film follows the story of the world's most sought after art collection. No, it wasn't the Louvre or the MOMA. It was the personal collection of Albert Barnes. Barnes founded an institute of art in a small Philadelphia suburb that his collection was intended to be displayed at, solely for the students of the school. The film shows us that since Barnes' death forces have been aligning to take this collection that was never meant to be moved into a museum, and do to do just that. The conflict arises when former students, knowing Dr. Barnes' wishes, try to bar the powerful political forces at work from moving the art collection. This film is surprising in its emotional gravitas. Not just for fans of art, this film is enchanting in the way the art collection itself becomes the central "character" in the film's story.

"Cocaine Cowboys" Directed by Billy Corben - Gritty and in your face, this film pulls no punches in its tale of the cocaine influx in Miami in the 1970s and 80s. The resources they were able to get on camera to be interviewed are impressive. These were the folks actually involved in the trafficking of cocaine into the United States at unprecedented levels. The story is reminiscent of a wild-west tale of guns, vice and non-stop danger. For a period of about ten years, cocaine was the medium by which a lot of business was done in South Florida, and the impact of that time period is still seen today. "Cocaine Cowboys" is a real-life Scarface and Godfather mash-up.

"I Like Killing Flies" Directed by Matt Mahurin - Shopsin's was a small family-run diner in New York's Greenwich Village. "I Like to Kill Flies" introduces us to the Shopsin clan, and most centrally to Kenny Shopsin. Kenny is as passionate about the food he cooks in his diner as Van Gogh was about his paints. Kenny is idiosyncratic and doesn't ever shy away from speaking his mind. He's also extremely lovable and relatable, which helps when you learn about the hard and fast limit of four people per party in his restaurant; a rule he enforces without mercy on even those who are visiting for the first time. Shopsin's is in the midst of moving from its current, tiny location to a newer location with more space and a newer look and feel. The crux of this film is the eternal struggle between success and leaving behind all you've built in order to grow even further. This film has one of the most surprisingly touching and heartbreaking moments I've seen in a documentary, and it shows the power a film can have over your emotions when it's done such a great a job of getting you to invest in its subjects.

So there you have it, those are my five must see documentaries. Think I missed anything? Drop me a comment!