Searching for Sugar Man, do not watch the trailer or read on it. It will spoil the documentary! If you like music, 60s, justice, Bob Dylan and feel good story its a must watch.
Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?
81–90 of 245 posts
Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?
#82I love, love, love music documentaries. The great ones have a great story to tell. I also believe that the ones about bands have some lessons for people starting businesses and dealing with cofounder friction, creative dynamics, licensing, etc. Many of them also deal with the impact of technology on recording, performing, and marketing. Recommended:
"Anvil! The Story of Anvil" (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157605/)
"What Happened, Miss Simone?" (https://www.netflix.com/title/70308063)
"Soundbreaking: Stories from the cutting edge of recorded music" (PBS documentary on history of sound recording) (http://www.pbs.org/soundbreaking/home/)
"Sound City" (about legendary recording studio in LA, narrated by Dave Grohl) (https://www.netflix.com/za/title/70265771)
"Last Days Here" (About the singer of early doom metal band Pentagram) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1723126/)
"As The Palaces Burn" (Lamb Of God's singer tried in Czech Republic for an incident at a concert) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB6k-Ev_H7c)
People love to hate on "Some Kind of Monster" because they don't like the album St. Anger but I really believe that it caught Metallica at a vulnerable and revealing time in their history. (https://www.netflix.com/title/80174429)
Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?
#83"Tickled" will absolutely blow your mind. It feels like you have a front-row seat to a real scandal in a way that no other documentary I've ever seen does. All the "Dirty Money" episodes are pretty good, but the best one by far IMHO is the one about the racecar driver / payday loan scam empire. Just amazing. "Plastic China" is really tough to watch (and may be even more deeply uncomfortable for people who pat themsel…
> It feels like you have a front-row seat to a real scandal
I haven't seen it yet myself, but lots of people whose opinions I respect have told me that Weiner (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5278596/) is good for this as well.
Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?
#84BBC's Planet Earth.
The entire Life series too. Every part is fantastic.
Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?
#85I am a documentary nut! Lots of amazing ones mentioned but one that I have to point out that has not been mentioned is "Winters on Fire". Really does a great job of documenting the lead up to Ukrainians finally having enough of Russia's puppet Prime Minster. Warning! Not for the faint of heart.
Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?
#86Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?
#87My favourite is probably This is Spinal Tap. It really captured the creative power of a rock band on tour.
Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?
#88I really loved 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi', showing how much care and effort he puts into making it: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1772925/
Jiro is such a heartwarming story. The dedication to ones craft displayed is truly inspiring!
Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?
#89The Act of Killing - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2375605/ "A documentary which challenges former Indonesian death-squad leaders to reenact their mass-killings in whichever cinematic genres they wish, including classic Hollywood crime scenarios and lavish musical numbers."
This is by far the most powerful documentary I've ever seen, along with the sequel "The Look of Silence".
Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?
#90Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies
It's on Youtube somewhere...