The Boy Who Sees Without Eyes (2007) 47min

An episode of Extraordinary People - The Boy Who Sees Without Eyes" is as inspirational as it gets.  After discovering her son Ben had cancer in both eyes Ben's mother Aquinetta had a life changing decision to make for her son.  Either continue chemo and hope that the cancer does not spread down the optic nerve and straight through to his brain or take out the eyes now and save his life.  Apparently nobody told Ben.  He is able to do everything a normal 14 year old can do by use of his self taught "clicking" method.  Ben bounces sound off of the objects near by to determine what, where, how big, how close and it seems to be working because he plays basketball, rollerblades, rides a bike and even plays video games. A must see.

Where to watch:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=qLziFMF4DHA

Candy Man - The David KIein Story (2010) 75 min

Candy Man is the story about how David Klein built the Jelly Belly business from scratch, starting out renting a corner of an ice cream store to market his product, only to hand it over for mere "jelly beans" to the current owners - Herman Goelitz Candy Company.  The film goes over Kleins' home life as well as his questionable marketing antics.  What is displayed as a very hostile take over of his business sparks debate over Klein's ability or inability to fight for the fruit of his labor.

Where to watch: Candy Man - The David Klein Story

The OxyContin Express (2009) 48min

Vanguard -  Current TV documentary on the rise of the use of Oxycontin in Southern Florida and the "Pain Management" centers that distribute the scripts as easily as buying a Big Mac.

Anvil 2008 80 min

Vernon, Florida (1981) 55 min

Early Errol Morris documentary intersplices random chatter he captured on film of the genuinely eccentric residents of Vernon, Florida. A few examples? The preacher giving a sermon on the definition of the word "Therefore," and the obsessive turkey hunter who speaks reverentially of the "gobblers" he likes to track down and kill.

Biggie & Tupac (2002) 108 min

Documentary on the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls and the East Coast/West Coast, hip-hop/rap rivalry that culminated in late 1996 and early 1997.

Grizzly Man (2005) 103 min

You may not be able to think of the Grizzly Bear without thinking of Timothy Treadwell who for ten plus years spent his summers in Alaska's parks and preserves communing with the bears - studying them and daring to include himself as an equal.  The film is footage he shot himself over the years before his ultimate demise when he was eaten by a grizzly along with his girlfriend, Amie Huguenard in the summer of 2003. 

Amy Winehouse - What Really Happened (2007) 48min

Amy Winehouse is a singer and songwriter who is famous for her strong vocals as well as her blend of numerous musical styles such as soul, jazz and R&B.
Winehouse has gained huge publicity for her drug abuse along with psychological health problems. At a young age of 27, Amy Winehouse found dead on her apartment in London.

9/11: The Falling Man (2006) 80 min

The Falling Man is a documentary that examines one of the many images that were circulated by the press immediately after the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. The image in question can be seen above on the cover of the disc. It shows a man plummeting headfirst to the ground, having lea pt from the burning towers. After touching on the events of the day and how the nation reacted, the program focuses specifically on this image, the photographer who took it, its subsequent circulation, the public's reaction to it and why it was later deemed UN-newsworthy.

The Truth About Exercise (BBC, 2012) 58min

The Bridge (2006 ) 94min

For one year filmmakers staked out the Golden Gate bridge knowing that they would more than likely capture the last moments of at least 20 peoples lives.  Filming the suicides of these individuals and then interviewing friends and family members to try and find out Why?  This film is more than a punch in the stomach... it's an in your face window into mental illness, depression and the victims left behind after a tragic loss. 

Dreams of a Life (2011) 95 min

What happened to Joyce Vincent?  It seems utterly impossible that someone could die at home and go unnoticed from the rest of society for 3 long years.   This is exactly what happened to Joyce Carol Vincent in the UK. How come no one knew?  How did she die?  If it can happen to her, can it happen to you?

Burma VJ (2008) 84 min

Using smuggled footage, this documentary tells the story of the 2007 protests in Burma by thousands of monks.

Brothers Keeper 1992 104 min

Brothers Keeper is the story of four brothers from Munnsville, NY who may have gone unnoticed if one of them didn't die and the local sheriff didn't accuse another for his murder.  This documentary shows the community coming together and standing behind the Ward brothers when under normal circumstances they may have ignored these local boys if they allowed themselves to only see the farmers at face value.  The Wards have lived in a run down shack of a home that is so small the men are forced to sleep in the same bed.  When the oldest brother, Bill, dies in the middle of the night while his brother Delbert is laying next to him.  Local law enforcement and the coroner start to investigate what they believe are signs of foul play.

Last days of Left Eye (2007) 84 min

Lauren Lazin's documentary on Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, the troubled, enigmatic rapper from the group TLC, who died in an automobile accident in 2002 at the age of 30.   Lisa was in Honduras relaxing with members of a band she was promoting.  She was also filming the documentary that captured the last few seconds of her life.  The car crash footage seems to be unedited and is still disturbing despite the fact that you are spared any shots from directly after the accident.  This film gives a glimpse into the mind of this misunderstood artist.  If Lisa were still alive today I think she would have continued to do great things. 

Loose Change (2009) 99 min

The original 2005 film was edited and re-released as Loose Change: 2nd Edition (2006), and then subsequently edited a third time for the 2nd Edition Recut (2007), each time to tighten the focus on certain key areas and to correct some inaccurate claims and remove copyrighted material. Loose Change: Final Cut, deemed "the third and final release of this documentary series" was released on DVD and Web-streaming format on November 11, 2007^.

Exit Through The Gift Shop (2010) 87 min

The story of how an eccentric French shop keeper and amateur film maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner. The film contains footage of Banksy, Shephard Fairey, Invader and many of the world's most infamous graffiti artists at work.

Super Size Me (2004) 100 min

Morgan Sperlock decides to see exactly how unhealthy eating at McDonalds can be.  Over the course of 30 days Sperlock eats every meal at the fast food chain with certain rules to abide by.  He will Super Size any meal if the employee is kind enough to ask and the quick impact this diet has on his body is frightening.  It goes without saying that you can not make fast food your only means of sustenance.  I don't agree with all of the tactics used in this film and doubt anyone will be shocked with the outcome but the experiment speaks for itself.  Now I would like to see someone do the complete polar opposite.. eat every meal at a fast food chain and improve your health... you never know...

Which Way Home (2009) 90 min

6 Days to Air 2011 42 minutes

Go behind the scenes at South Park Studios with Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and see how an episode is created -- in just six days.

Being Elmo - A Puppeteers Journey 2011 76 minutes

Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, this documentary follows the career of puppeteer Kevin Clash, the soft-spoken man behind the furry red monster, Elmo.

The Thin Blue Line 1988 101 min

Through archival footage, interviews and reenactments, filmmaker Errol Morris makes a case for the innocence of a man erroneously convicted of murder.

Unmistaken Child (2008) 104 min

This film follows the journey of a Buddhist monk as he travels far and wide to identify the child who is the reincarnation of his deceased master.

Kurt & Courtney 1998 95 min

This film charts Nirvana's Kurt Cobain's rise to fame, his drug-addled romance with Courtney Love and the conspiracy theories surrounding his death.

Man On Wire 2008 94 min

This documentary explores Philippe Petit's preparations for historically walking across a high wire between New York's Twin Towers.

Tania Head: The 9/11 Faker (2011) 47min

Alicia Esteve Head is a Spanish woman who claimed to be a survivor of the World Trade Center September 11 attacks under the name Tania Head.

March of the Penguins (2005) 80 min

A look at the annual journey of Emperor penguins as they march -- single file -- to their traditional breeding ground.

The King of Kong : A Fistful of Quarters (2007) 79 min

Diehard video game fans compete to break World Records on classic arcade games.

I Am Comic (2010) 87 min

Filmmaker Jordan Brady shadows retired comic Ritch Shydner as he bravely returns to the stand-up stage after more than a decade out of the spotlight.

Dope Sick Love (2005) 93 min

An in your face look into the lives of New York city junkies and how they survive to get the next fix.

Fagbug (2009) 83 min

On the 11th Annual National Day of Silence, Erin Davies was victim to a hate crime in Albany, New York. Because of sporting a rainbow sticker on her VW Beetle, Erin's car was vandalized, left with the words "fag" and "u r gay" placed on the driver's side window and hood of her car. Despite initial shock and embarrassment, Erin decided to embrace what happened by leaving the graffiti on her car. She took her car, now known worldwide as the "fagbug," on a 58-day trip around the United States and Canada. Along the way, Erin discovered other, more serious hate crimes, had people attempt to remove the graffiti, and experimented with having a male drive her car. After driving the fagbug for one year, Erin decided to give her car a makeover.

Divorce Iranian Style (1998) 80 min

  Truthfully I was quite surprised that Divorce was even an option in Iran.  I have grown up with blinders on in respect to other cultures and now I have a huge curiosity about societies other than our own - well except maybe Canada.  Divorce Iranian Style shows the harsh reality of marriage for many women in Iran - some married as early as fourteen - although when asked what the legal age is one magistrate states that a female can marry as early as puberty does - sometimes 9 years old! 

Paragraph 175 (2000) 81 min

 Paragraph 175 shows how homosexual men were persecuted in Nazi Germany during the war.  Forced to wear a pink triangle as a form of identity, gay men were eventually thrown into prison camps where most perished.  This documentary starts at a time when there are nearly ten of the survivors left to interview.  For me this shows a history that I would not have known otherwise.  I always knew what the pink triangle represented but to be able to listen to men that were there and lived through it - that makes this documentary celluloid gold.  

Capturing the Friedmans (2003) 107 min

Documentary on the Friedmans, a seemingly typical, upper-middleclass Jewish family whose world is instantly transformed when the father and his youngest son are arrested and charged with shocking and horrible crimes.

Paris is Burning (1990) 71 min

This film seems to have become the definitive guide to being fabulous in NYC in the early 90's.  Filmed in the late 80's director Jennie Livingston may not have known exactly what she stumbled upon when she witnessed a few "voguers" going at it in a park in the city.  She inquired about their style and was invited to attend a local "ball" in Harlem where gays, lesbians, transgenders and bisexuals alike meet to compete in categories that provide a forum for all to live a fantasy.  Drag queens coming together to compete in categories that go way beyond just voguing or walking the cat walk.  The participants explain that if you can "walk" in a category, such as "Executive Realness", "School Student", "Butch Queen"....with the entire purpose being to appear as your straight counterpart and not give away the fact that you are gay...then you have succeeded.  Paris is Burning is the name of an annual ball hosted by one of the film's subjects, Paris Dupree. Also the number one voguer of the time, Willi Ninja, describes how he would like to take a bunch of voguers to Paris and watch the real Paris burn with envy as they vogue and display what real style and fashion sense is all about. 

Prisoners of Katrina (2006) 59 min

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, while thousands fled New Orleans, the city's prisoners were trapped. Fresh eye-witness accounts reveal what really happened to those left behind, and how crucial forensic evidence was simply washed away.

God Grew Tired of Us (2006) 89 min

Four boys from Sudan embark on a journey to America after years of wandering Sub-Saharan Africa in search of safety.

Tarnation (2003) 88 min

                 
     Filmmaker Jonathan Caouette's documentary on growing up with his schizophrenic mother -- a mixture of snapshots, Super-8, answering machine messages, video diaries, early short films, and more -- culled from 19 years of his life.  The description of the film vs. what it actually delivers may leave you unfulfilled.  Caouette's first film has been applauded by many and ripped apart by many more.  This can be interpreted as a 90 minute self serving egotistical journey into the mind of a spoiled brat who never really suffered but was pampered by grandparents that felt bad that mommy was never around . 

Dear Zachary - A Letter to his Son about his Father (2008) 95 min

I think every once in awhile someone should tell you nothing about a movie and recommend you see it immediately.   Director Kurt Kuenne's tribute to his deceased friend Andrew Bagby is pretty much all you need to know except that you should prepare yourself for an emotional roller coaster ride that may stay with you for a few days.

Dark Days (2000) 94 min

I sat home looking through lists of documentaries hoping to find something intriguing and stumbled upon Dark Days.  This being the first film from director Marc Singer gave a glimpse into the underground world of a homeless community living in the tunnels of New Yorks' subway system.  The film was honored at Sundance in 2000 with the Freedom of Expression Award, Cinematography Award, and Audience Award.  Singer shows homelessness in it's rawest form, following the main characters as they share their own personal stories of how they wound up in what some would consider the last place on earth to call home.