What's Up, Doc-umentary?

I think it was back in the mid-90`s when I really developed a taste for documentary films. I had, at the time, upgraded my cable package to include Bravo channel, and it was there that I discovered some great real-life stories on celluloid. The local public library was a useful source for docs on DVD, and a new fellow film fan friend fed me even more ideas. In my younger years, I caught a couple of music concert docs on television, but I think that was the extent of it until the 90`s. 

Community cable TV hero Cap'n Video! Like David Lee Roth

meets Jackass.... long before Jackass came along. What a ride!

A good documentary is one that makes you feel something, even if it's confusion. Like the first entry on my list below, Fast, Cheap and Out of Control. It's not an emotional story by any stretch, but boy, does it ever keep you on your toes. The quirky format and "misuse" of techniques will baffle you at first, but once you understand these new "rules", you can settle in and.... um, actually learn something. For this doc will inform you like few do. A challenging yet fascinating film.

Then there's The Cove, which uncovers mysterious and nefarious doings in Japan. I genuinely went through some stuff as I watched... at times I was seething, and at others I had a lump in my throat. The film-makers, along with the daring conservationists, pretty much risked life and limb to get this "dolphin slaughter" footage down and to share it with the world. You can't help but admire the guts and conviction of the people who made The Cove happen.

Lower on my list is Anvil! The Story of Anvil, a curious doc about a relatively unknown-to-the-world band who originated in 1980's Canada. Their heyday  of minor celebrity long past, Anvil forged on, gigging and recording while also holding down Joe jobs. This was not a glamorous life. But the story here is more about Lips and Robb (the remaining members of the 80's lineup) trying to mount a European tour to finally achieve the success that eluded them for so long. Intermingled with the band's crazy antics and squabbles are moments that are kind of sad. And you sort of feel bad for these creative guys who just can't quite get their act together.

It took some work to recall at least some of the many documentaries I`ve seen over the years. I`m sure I missed some notable ones, but here are the biggies (my favourites), in no particular order, that come to mind:

Fast, Cheap and Out of Control - the weirdest and most fascinating doc I`ve seen. Do it.
Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill - crazy, fun, odd, lovable, quirky and hard to believe.
Exit Through the Gift Shop - an education in graffiti, street art, Banksy.... total coolness. 
The Cove - this really rattled my reality and made me both sad and angry at this frikkin` world!
Metal: A Headbanger`s Journey - a colourful and comprehensive history of heavy metal music
Global Metal - Sam Dunn`s 2nd stunning metal doc, now exploring the genre across the world
Jodorowsky`s Dune - he was insanely creative, and perhaps insane. But inspiring beyond belief.
Beauty Day - quirky to the extreme profile of public access TV's Cap'n Video's stunts in the 90's
Crumb - underground comic artist supremo & his wacko family, friends & ladies. Oh, the ladies.
Stop Making Sense - masterful presentation of the Talking Heads` extraordinary concert show
I Dream of Wires - how the modular synthesizer revolutionized popular music over the decades
Riding Giants - visually spectacular look at the kings of surfing & their quest for the perfect wave

Rockin`and rollin`with metal master Lemmy, of Motorhead

The Kids Are Alright - rock legends The Who smash guitars & write enduring songs - great fun!
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - an exciting time capsule of the Fab Four`s touring years 
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage - an intimate and funny love-letter to loyal legions of Rush fans
YesYears: A Retrospective - detailed look at the storied career of the Brit prog-rock legends
Life Itself - famed film critic Roger Ebert`s revealing, inspiring, and sad life story. A must-see!
Anvil! The Story of Anvil - wacky, funny, &inspiring comeback for unsung Canadian metal band
Searching for Sugarman - the stuff of legends & myths. Entertaining, and life-affirming. 
Muscle Shoals - the secret recording studio of the greatest musicians of all time.. fascinating!
Lemmy - in-depth profile of the leader of the influential Motorhead and how he lived the lifestyle
Everything or Nothing - intriguing story of how super-spy James Bond became a cinematic icon
Project Nim - the study of a chimp in his city home, with human parents, learning to sign
When We Were Kings - the days leading up to Ali`s Rumble in the Jungle boxing event
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters - there`s a new Donkey Kong champ in town. 
March of the Penguins - captivating film of the penguin trek and struggle for survival 
Grizzly Man - he lives among grizzlies, just waiting for the day when something goes wrong. 
Woodstock - a few folks played some tunes in a muddy field back in the 60`s and made history

You will notice that there are no Michael Moore docs here.... I watched a handful of his earlier films years ago and sort of got tired of his schtick, The way he pushed buttons to get reactions from both sides of controversies rather than take a more objective and tactful approach, Especially if he wanted to help solve problems. I became less and less impressed with his directorial style, wishing he`d just document something and not turn it into a three-ring circus. Oh, well, Moore`s got his audience.