Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie is a triumph of a biographical documentary thanks first and foremost to Michael J. Fox himself who carries the film on the shoulders of his own persona to a place of greatness.
The Eternal Memory
The intricate work done by Maite Alberti to weave together three potentially independent themes and stories into a single narrative revolving around this one couple in The Eternal Memory makes it an impressive documentary and one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
When We Were Kings
Muhammad Ali’s entire persona makes When We Were Kings an excellent film, but it’s the building around his story and the events of the “Rumble in the Jungle” that Leon Gast pulls off that elevate it to legend-making status and a film worthy of a spot among the greats.
Nostalgia for the Light
The unique perspective that Guzmán brings to his documentary makes for a fascinating study of the crossover of science, history, politics, and individuals, earning his film a place of greatness in cinematic history.
Amazing Grace
Aretha Franklin’s enrapturing performance takes the audience to church while showcasing her formidable abilities as one of the greatest musicians and vocalists of all time in this classic take on a new “concert” film, earning Amazing Grace a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Capturing the Friedmans
By exploring the inconsistencies of the American legal/judicial system and the confirmation bias inherent to many police investigations and interviews, Capturing the Friedmans asserts itself as one of the premier true crime documentaries.
Sherpa
You hate to say that Sherpa benefitted from an act of nature when that act of nature left sixteen people dead, but that act also provided the film with a much-needed catalyst to present the horrors of the reality that it wants to show the audience, ultimately earning it a spot among the greats.
The Beaches of Agnès
The Beaches of Agnès provides a wholistic look back at the filmmaker’s life and work, offering the audience a look inside the head of one of the most prolific and unique filmmakers in history, earning itself a spot among the greats in the process.
Paris Is Burning
Paris Is Burning wins the day thanks to the authenticity of its marginalized central players who remind the audience why they are worth telling a story about over and over with the anecdotes and dreams that they share with us, making this a wildly successful documentary and one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Amy
Amy’s celebration of Winehouse’s music, life, and career does justice to the incredibly talented young star who was taken too soon while also serving as a critique of the increasingly vocal public and our response to anything other than “perfection” from our celebrities, making it a documentary worthy of a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Banksy’s unique blend of social commentary, self-deprecation, and outright humor make his documentary about the world of street art and the artists that inhabit it a thoroughly entertaining ride, worthy of mention alongside the greatest films.
Murderball
Taking the elements of a good sports documentary and compiling them to form a moving film about resilience, humanity, disability, and, yes, sports is how the filmmakers turned Murderball into an all-time great documentary.
Searching for Sugar Man
By utilizing cinematography seldom seen in documentaries and by allowing its subject’s music to be the driving force of the documentary, Searching for Sugar Man wins the audience over easily and earns its place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Life Itself
Life Itself beautifully captures the story of legendary film critic Roger Ebert, using his life and death to showcase what it is that makes all of us want to keep on living, particularly at the movies, but in the other aspects of life too, earning it a spot among the greats.
Last train Home
Last Train Home excels through its focus on a unique and necessary subject and a filmmaking style closer to drama films than documentaries, setting itself apart in that world and earning a spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Taxi to the Dark Side
Taxi to the Dark Side presents a clear and unpleasant look at American military intelligence gathering practices, offering a clear moral (and sometimes practical) condemnation of our current modes of torture and incarceration, which earns the film recognition as a bold and great documentary.
Los Angeles Plays Itself
Andersen’s opus on the use, portrayal, and erasure of Los Angeles by the Hollywood film industry offers a unique perspective on that particular aspect of film history and film culture, inserting itself through a use of great films into a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Fire of Love
The execution of the concepts in Fire of Love is well done, giving the audience a visually pleasing documentary done in a fairly unique style that is worthy of its recognition as one of the Greatest Films of All Time.