Expand Your Mind, Through Your Television…

I don’t know if you know this about me, but I am in love with documentaries. I love to rent them, I love to watch them, and I hypothetically love to illegally stream them on my computer.

Many people run to the internet to read up on the latest statistics, political, and social issues- but I feel like not enough people think to rent the latest documentary film rather than the latest Gerard Butler he-man action flick (Yes, I watched 300. Yes, I ogled the glittery ab muscles and pectorals. But we’re trying to expand, here people!)

Documentaries can be both entertaining and insightful, and not enough people know that. This world would be a better place if every single person in the western world watched a documentary (preferably one of the ones on my list, and not one of those ‘Weed Isn’t Bad, It’s Good!’ documentaries).

Sure, there are a lot of bad documentaries out there, but there are many, many, that deserve to be seen. So, in my desperate attempt to educate the world, here are some of my favorite documentary films, and those I recommend that you watch. Soon.

Religion

Religulous- Religulous is a somewhat humorous take on a very difficult and touchy subject. God. It is created by and stars political satirist, Bill Maher. Mainly attacking the Christian and Catholic beliefs system, it does touch on other religions. The only downside of this documentary is that Bill Maher is definitely a biased host, and his interview skills tend to be more of an attack. A good documentary to watch if you yourself are pretty easy-going when it comes to talking about religion, and you yourself have none.

Jesus Camp – An eye-opening documentary into the world of the evangelical religion and how children are brought into it, mainly focusing on their summer camps. This documentary is very unique in that it is completely un-biased. There is no host, there is no narrator, and there is no ‘right or wrong’ presented to you. An evangelical could watch the film and find it to be an accurate depiction, whereas the general public will see it as, well.. watch and find out.

Deliver Us From Evil – This documentary tells the story of Oliver O’Grady, who admitted to sexually abusing and/or raping over 25 young children in California during the 1970′s and 90′s. This film not only touches on the dispicable acts of him and other priests, but the active efforts the Catholic church and Vatican took to cover it up. This film is chilling, and a definite must-watch.

Global Warming and Environmental Issues

The Age of Stupid – One of the most polished and well presented documentaries I have ever seen. Definitely a high budget. It is hosted by Pete Postlethwaite, who played Kobayashi in ‘The Usual Suspects’. It is kind of a shock-umentary in the fact that it is ‘set’ in the future, and tries to terrify you into the effects of global warming, and to take action now, to prevent the events proposed in the film from happening.

Who Killed the Electric Car -Did you know that Tom Hanks owned an electric car before it was snatched away from him? Yeah, we’ve had the technology for a complete, gas-free car for some time. Major car compaies even released models and put them in the hands of prolific celebrities to make them catch on. But, The mighty dollar won, and we chose monetary gain over the future of our children’s children. This movie is very well-made, insightful, and more people should watch it.

Food

SuperSize Me - A widely spread documentary in which a budding film-maker, Morgan Spurlock, with the constant watchful eye of doctors, consumes nothing but a Mc-diet; a diet consisting of nothing but what’s on the McDonald’s menu, for thirty days. if you haven’t seen it, you should, because not only is it comical, it contains a lot of accurate facts on obesity and fast food.

Food Inc. – A very recent release into the documentary world. This documentary is not for the squeamish, but should definitely be watched, even if you can’t stomach the subject matter. This film touches on a ton of topics relating to the mass-production of our food, and the injustices of the farming system, the meat system, and the economic and legal power of the major food powerhouses.

The System

Paradise Lost - Tells the story of the infamous West Memphis 3; 3 teenagers who were tried and charged with brutally murdering and sexually assaulting 3 other young boys. There were many unfounded accusations and little facts provided in the trial, but the three boys were still found guilty of the crime. It takes a stunning look at the justice system and small-town justice, while trying to prove the innocence of the boys to the public. There was also a sequel to the film ‘Paradise Lost 2: Revelations’ that followed it.

Sicko - A 2007 documentary film about the healthcare system of the United States. It compares the US’s system with that of Canada, China, and the UK. Michael Moore can be kind of a tool, but, as with Bill Maher’s Religulous, if you take his biased hosting with a grain of salt, there is quite a lot of information in his films.

The Corporation – A Canadian (yay us!) documentary film that focuses on the major corporations. It talks about how a corporation is legally considered ‘a person’. This film is one of the most informative and well-created documentaries I’ve ever had the pleasure to donate a couple of hours to. It is full of facts, and will terrify you with the capitalistic, chilling corporate world we’ve created for ourselves.

Life

Grey Gardens – In the 1970′s two film-makers set out to create a documentary about the two Edith Beales, a reclusive Mother and daughter duo, who confined themselves to their mansions in Grey Gardens, which quickly fell into disrepair. They were the Aunt and First Cousin of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. It has since been created into an HBO film with Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore. I recommend that you watch the documentary first, if anything.

Dear Zachary – The saddest film I have ever watched. Be prepared to be moved. This documentary was created by Kurt Kuenne, who’s best friend was murdered by his eccentric girlfriend, Shirly Jane Turner. Shortly after his murder, she announced that she was pregnant with the deceased friend’s child, whom she named Zachary. Kurt Kuenne began making the film for Zachary, interviewing all of the people who knew Zachary’s father, so that Zachary would know the dad he would never meet. All of the profits of the film are donated to a charity Kurt Kuenne created.

Etc.

Penn and Teller’s Bullshit! – Although not a documentary film, but a series, I feel I had to mention Penn and Teller’s Bullshit! because of the vast array of topics they cover. Each episode they try to claim ‘Bullshit!’ on a particular topic. I don’t personally agree with all of their episodes, but they are overall on target, and present touchy and controversial subjects with humor, and they present a lot of un-known facts.