I’m surprised CANE TOADS: A NATURAL HISTORY didn’t make your list! It was ubiquitous on 1990s video clerk shelf recommendations—I wonder if it’s fallen out of favor or if it’s just unavailable…
as i wrote in the post, i could have easily included 50 more films, including the stone cold classic CANE TOADS, which I curated last year in a program of my favorite docs! https://www.instagram.com/p/DFchKLVKs74/?hl=en
That's already a stacked list - Dick Johnson, Tabloid, and Gift Shop are all personal favorites (the last one I showed to a large class recently and they loved it). I would maybe add King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. I was wondering if American Movie would work and while it is funny it also slightly depresses me. One that at least makes me smile is Bill Cunningham, New York. What a gem of a subject.
The one documentary that will always make me laugh, and haunt me to my grave, is AUDIENCE OF ONE. Which probably plays better today than when it first came out. A mind-blower.
Agree re King of Kong. I'd also add Sherman's March (genius), Vernon, FL (beyond) and a short by Elliott Erwitt called Beauty Knows No Pain. Agree that American Movie is a bit mean for my tastes, but American Job that preceded it is one the driest funny doc hybrids ever made.
I need to watch American movie again. I don’t think it’s mean… But I did watch it for the fist time in an audience of wealthy people and I felt uncomfortable. So there’s that
I am in no way a fan of metal bands, but Anvil The Story of Anvil is hilarious, and poignant, about a Canadian band looking for fame. A REAL version of Spinal Tap. I had to google the band 3 or 4 times while watching because I couldn't believe this story could be real!
From wikipedia: "Anvil! The Story of Anvil is a 2008 Canadian rockumentary film about the Canadian heavy metal band Anvil. The film is directed by screenwriter Sacha Gervasi, in his directorial debut, and features interviews with other musicians who have been influenced by the band, including Slash, Tom Araya, Lemmy, Scott Ian, and Lars Ulrich."
Watched Listers because of this post! We were so impressed by how such a seemingly boring hobby could make such an entertaining film. Thanks for the list!
Personally I’m a massive proponent of Hands On A Hardbody, about a contest to keep a hand on a car to win it. Also, The Devil At Your Heels about the Canadian stunt driver.
I love movies about making movies, especially when the people making the movies are amateurs! This could become a whole genre. "Wolfpack" and "Raiders!: The story of the greatest fan film ever made." Could both be added too. And yet, somehow I've never seen "American Movie" It's always been on my list but I need to watch that immediately.
One of my other recent favorite funny documentaries was "The Jewel Theif"
The Leonard Woolf iris story is such a perfect framing for this whole thing. Exit Through the Gift Shop totally nailed that layered approch where entertainment value doesn't compromise deeper meaning. I've watched Listers twice now and what gets me is how the brothers' sincerity sneaks up on you without any of that forced earnestness documentary filmmakers sometimes lean on.
When I first saw TrolI 2, I recognized the name of the one of the actors- they are well known author that I’d met before at church. I had since moved out of state, but a few months later he came to the bookstore I worked at to sign stock of his titles, that were uplifting Christian fiction books. We made small talk about the church community back home and then I dropped “and I just noticed you were in Troll 2!” He looked me dead in the eye and said, “We do not need to talk about that”. 😬🤣 I thought he was joking but his demeanor said otherwise!
I’m surprised CANE TOADS: A NATURAL HISTORY didn’t make your list! It was ubiquitous on 1990s video clerk shelf recommendations—I wonder if it’s fallen out of favor or if it’s just unavailable…
as i wrote in the post, i could have easily included 50 more films, including the stone cold classic CANE TOADS, which I curated last year in a program of my favorite docs! https://www.instagram.com/p/DFchKLVKs74/?hl=en
This film was required by one of my math teachers in high school when we learned about exponential growth. A classic!
That's already a stacked list - Dick Johnson, Tabloid, and Gift Shop are all personal favorites (the last one I showed to a large class recently and they loved it). I would maybe add King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. I was wondering if American Movie would work and while it is funny it also slightly depresses me. One that at least makes me smile is Bill Cunningham, New York. What a gem of a subject.
I never saw Bill C — I should watch it
The one documentary that will always make me laugh, and haunt me to my grave, is AUDIENCE OF ONE. Which probably plays better today than when it first came out. A mind-blower.
i’ve never heard of it — will look it up!
Oh man, I assume you had seen it!
I think for any filmmaker, it is a MUST. You are in for a unique experience, you're gonna love it.
Cannot wait to watch this
Agree re King of Kong. I'd also add Sherman's March (genius), Vernon, FL (beyond) and a short by Elliott Erwitt called Beauty Knows No Pain. Agree that American Movie is a bit mean for my tastes, but American Job that preceded it is one the driest funny doc hybrids ever made.
I need to watch American movie again. I don’t think it’s mean… But I did watch it for the fist time in an audience of wealthy people and I felt uncomfortable. So there’s that
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I am in no way a fan of metal bands, but Anvil The Story of Anvil is hilarious, and poignant, about a Canadian band looking for fame. A REAL version of Spinal Tap. I had to google the band 3 or 4 times while watching because I couldn't believe this story could be real!
From wikipedia: "Anvil! The Story of Anvil is a 2008 Canadian rockumentary film about the Canadian heavy metal band Anvil. The film is directed by screenwriter Sacha Gervasi, in his directorial debut, and features interviews with other musicians who have been influenced by the band, including Slash, Tom Araya, Lemmy, Scott Ian, and Lars Ulrich."
Watched Listers because of this post! We were so impressed by how such a seemingly boring hobby could make such an entertaining film. Thanks for the list!
Personally I’m a massive proponent of Hands On A Hardbody, about a contest to keep a hand on a car to win it. Also, The Devil At Your Heels about the Canadian stunt driver.
HOHB is one of my all time favorites, I recently curated it in a program and got to introduce it to a new audience
Oh and just to add something, Winnebago Man. :)
Great picks!! I had no heard of "Dick Johnson Is Dead" and I can't wait to watch and laugh and cry! Thanks, Penny!
Yes, I LOVE this list! Can I throw in a couple of my own? Shut Up Little Man (2011), Chicken People (2016) are pretty high up there for me.
These are fantastic. Can’t wait to watch! Thank you for sharing.
I love movies about making movies, especially when the people making the movies are amateurs! This could become a whole genre. "Wolfpack" and "Raiders!: The story of the greatest fan film ever made." Could both be added too. And yet, somehow I've never seen "American Movie" It's always been on my list but I need to watch that immediately.
One of my other recent favorite funny documentaries was "The Jewel Theif"
Thanks for this great list!
Good picks! I never heard of jewel thief
Thanks for this! Have only see one...
The Leonard Woolf iris story is such a perfect framing for this whole thing. Exit Through the Gift Shop totally nailed that layered approch where entertainment value doesn't compromise deeper meaning. I've watched Listers twice now and what gets me is how the brothers' sincerity sneaks up on you without any of that forced earnestness documentary filmmakers sometimes lean on.
Yes the forced earnestness is very painful to endure in many docs haha — LISTERS earns its earnestness in a cool way
When I first saw TrolI 2, I recognized the name of the one of the actors- they are well known author that I’d met before at church. I had since moved out of state, but a few months later he came to the bookstore I worked at to sign stock of his titles, that were uplifting Christian fiction books. We made small talk about the church community back home and then I dropped “and I just noticed you were in Troll 2!” He looked me dead in the eye and said, “We do not need to talk about that”. 😬🤣 I thought he was joking but his demeanor said otherwise!
WOW