Over the years I have seen many films, some which I would never care to see again and some I can see over and over. Most of them are documentaries and although I may have disagreements with some aspect of them, I generally find all of them worth watching. Below, I made a list of my favorite ones with a little synopsis of each. They are in no particular order.
If there are some you enjoy, please write a little something and I will add it to the list.
Update: The Thin Blue Line
Update #2: docs added with synopsis from remikane and mudslide
Update #3: Militainment, Inc and The Power of Nightmares
Here is a list of films/docs tha were recommended but with no synopsis:
War, Inc
Sir, No Sir
Cover Up: Iran-Contra Story
Why We Fight
The Corporation
Body of War
Trials of Henry Kissinger
Documentary based off the book about Secretary Kissinger during the Vietnam War and his rise to be SOS. This film showed his involvement in the escalation of the Vietnam War, bombings of Cambodia, overthrowing the government of Chile, and played a role in the East Timor atrocities. In essence, the documentary lays out a trial against him for crimes against humanity. Don't expect this to be on a repubs list of must see movies.
The Fog of War - Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara
An interview with Robert McNamara's JFK's and LBJ's Secretary of Defense. McNamara discusses his role in the firebombing of Japan, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War. Whether you love him or hate him, you must see this. One of the most compelling parts of this doc for me is when he talks about the nuclear attacks on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Tens of thousands of lives were lost, but the bombings of Tokyo and other cities caused more casualties than the nukes did. This doc focuses on the complexities and unpredictability of wars.
13 Days
I think we all have seen this movie about the Cuban Missile Crisis. This film shows the divisions within out government about how to handle the crisis and the split between the White House and military. Makes me think, "what would have happened if the Bush admin was in charge?" Oh brother. Gotta love Kevin Costner :)
Who Killed he Electric Car?
Did you know that in the mid 90's GM put out a line of electrc cars called the EV1? Cost 60 cents to charge and got about 100 miles. They didnt sell them but only leased the cars. Eventually, they stopped making them and refused to allow people leasing them to buy them. All the cars were eventually crushed and throughout California there are still abandoned recharging stations. This documentary discusses who is to blame. They point out many potential defendents: the consumer, the government, the oil industry, the car manufacturing industry, fuel cell cars, batteries, the California Air Resources Board (CARB). A definite must see.
SiCKO
Michael Moore's film about the health care industry. As a liberal, I loved it. The unbiased part of me thinks he could have done without a few of his antics such as going to Guantanamo. IMO, that wasn't needed in the film. Documentary talks about people getting screwed and shows health care systems in Canada, England, and France. My favorite part is showing that Dr's in Europe get bonuses if a percentage of their patients have low cholesterol or do not smoke. My parents, who usually roll their eyes when I discuss anything political actually talked to me about this film. To me, it paints health care as a moral issue as it should be.
Fahrenheit 9/11
Need I say anything about this one? I think we have all seen it. As with SiCKO, I think there are a few parts that could have been left out where Moore may have gone a little to far which just gave the riht wingnuts a chance to focus on instead of the doc as a whole.
Recount
An HBO film about the 2000 recount in Florida. I just watched this 2 weeks ago and debated whether I should. I thought, "Obama just won and I am happy. Do I really wanna get pissed off by watching this?" I'm glad I did. Plus, Kevin Spacey is one of my favorite actors. Gotta love him in Usual Suspects!!!
UPDATE:
The Thin Blue Line - thanks to DParker for this
Another documentary by Errol Morris, who made The Fog of War. This brilliant examination of a wrongful conviction in Dallas, Texas, exposes virtually all of the fault lines in the criminal justice system. It had the side effect of causing the release of an innocent man from prison. Finally, it is a beautiful piece of art.
It is certainly a must-see for all proponents of the death penalty, who should be aware of how easily the system can err.
From Remikane:
Super Size Me
Morgan Spurlock's insightful take on fast food
Wordplay
a crossword puzzle enthusiasts dream (recently spoofed on the Simpsons)
Bigger, Stronger, Faster*
about steroid use not just in sports but by normal, everyday guys growing up influenced by the the popularity and adoration of action heros like Arnold Schwartzenegger, Sylvest Stallone and Hulk Hogan.
Gunner Palace
groundbreaking doc about the war in Iraq
Home Front
shows the struggles of Iraq vets returning home with debilitating injuries like amputations, PTSD, blindness, disfiguring burns etc. It's heart-breaking but the work of the Wounded Warrior Project to help financially, legislatively and emotionally is highlighted and makes you just want to see the vets & their families get more help than they are.
The Devil Came on Horseback
a firsthand account of the conflict in Darfur thru the eyes of the only American observer (a former military officer) in the African Union.
From Mudslide:
Jesus Camp
This presents the experiences of a number of children- and their families- who attend an annual summer camp in Devil's Lake, North Dakota which trains fundamentalist kids how to be stalwart little soldiers in "God's Army"...
From JeremyA:
Miliatainment, Inc and The Power of Nightmares