It's no secret that I am a bonafide documentary junkie. I couldn't even begin to know how many I've seen throughout my lifetime and I kind of don't want to know. But I would imagine it's somewhere in the upper hundreds. Ever since I was a kid, I loved to learn about anything outside of my middle-class community upbringing. It started with that show Rescue 911 (anyone else remember that show?) and I was hooked on true-life stories. I wanted to share four documentaries you probably haven't heard of that you really must see. They may not all be life-changing or soul-stirring, some are just downright ridiculous and funny. But if you have an open mind I think all five of these films are hard not to enjoy.
The Invention of Dr. Nakamats:
I stumbled across this one via Hulu Plus and had never heard of it before. And now it is probably one of my favorite documentaries of all time. This is the purest form of oddity I have ever witnessed and several times during the movie I found myself asking "Is this for real?" Yes. Yes it is. And every moment is more outrageous and strange than the one before. Totally fascinating and completely hilarious... definitely check this one out.
Born Rich:
I've seen this one several times and always find it so interesting, fascinating and at times profoundly sad. Directed by Jamie Johnson, heir to the Johnson&Johnson fortune, you get a pretty real and raw look inside the lives of some of the youngest and wealthiest people on the planet. Regular kids with fortunate upbringings who just happen to live very privileged lives... whether they like it or not.
The Best Worst Movie:
This one was quite a gem, haha! Focusing on the failure and eventual phenomenon of the ultra-camp Troll 2 movie, this documentary seeks to find out why one of the worst movies ever made has become such a cult classic all across the world with a die-hard following. Hilarious, amusing and disturbing in the best way possible... I clicked right over to watch Troll 2 as soon as this documentary was over. Both can be found on Netflix. And it really does pose an interesting question: Can a movie be so bad that it's actually really, really good?
Holy Rollers:
I was intrigued by the premise of this movie for months before I finally sat down to watch it. Being a rather "outside the box" type of Christian myself, I initially liked the concept of card-counting Christian blackjack players working the system in order to support their families, take money back from the casinos and make such a living that allowed them the time to focus on their individual ministries. However intrigued I was, I also felt very conflicted throughout most of the movie and definitely felt like it was one of the most thought-provoking things I've seen in awhile. Following their incredible journey and what they discover about life, truth and the business of gambling is really quite a treat.
If you watch any of these, let me know what you think!
These all sound super interesting. Thanks for the tips!
ReplyDeleteI love documentaries as well :) that holy rollers looks interesting. I'll have to check it out- thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletexo, samantha
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