If you know me at all, you know that I love film, but lately I just can't seem to get enough of documentaries. Listed are some notable great (and generally understated) documentaries I've seen lately, which doubles as a limited "favorite documentaries of all time" list, in no particular order.
1. Spellbound (2002) - an unprecedentedly riveting movie about a diverse bunch of kids participating in the national spelling bee championship in the '90s (when spelling bees were a really big deal). I wouldn't recommend this if you have a heart condition because the success and failure of these eight wunderkinds will skyrocket your anxiety.
2. Deliver Us from Evil (2006) - a look into the life of pedophile priest Oliver O'Grady, his victims, and the culture of pedophilia within the clergy, centering around disturbingly nonchalant interviews with O'Grady about his past crimes. Basically, it's a documentary about the devil in human form.
3. The Cove (2009) - a call to action to cease dolphin slaughter in a mysterious cove in Japan. Intense, beautiful, enlightening, and horrific all at once and probably my favorite documentary ever.
4. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011) - a stunning documentary about a humble yet renowned restaurant in a basement in Japan, and the master who therein redefined the art of sushi. If you don't already love raw fish, chances are that you will after watching this movie.
5. Catfish (2010) - a super relevant account of an online relationship gone astray in the early days of social networking. Worlds better than the MTV show by the same name.
6. Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present (2012) - an emotional and inspirational film about performance artist Marina Abramovic and the culmination of her retrospective and most recent piece, The Artist is Present. I don't cry a lot during movies but I'll totally admit to blubbering at the sight of Marina and Ulay's reunion.
