Paste Magazine makes an interesting observation to introduce its list of the Top 25 documentary films of the decade:
Living in an information-rich society, we’ve all become skimmers. Reading a book from cover to cover, is a luxury that fewer people indulge in, yet the headlines, sound bites, viral videos, and tweets that season our daily ambiance don’t have the depth to help us understand an increasingly complex world. Bridging that paradox is the documentary film: short enough that it doesn’t require a major commitment but long enough to make a complex argument without interruption.
Whether you think they’re full of holes or iron-clad, films like An Inconvenient Truth, Sicko, Bowling for Columbine, Expelled, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, The Corporation, and The Fog of War—all made in the past decade—present arguments that develop only with time and concentration.
25. Food, Inc. (2009)
Instead of filling his film with scary, hard-hitting footage, Kenner made a well-reasoned documentary that politely pushes you towards its viewpoint. This lack of radicalism has made the film one of the most effective propellers for expanding the farm-to-table movement.
24. Dig! (2004)
23. Gleaners and I (2000)
21. No End In Sight (2007)
After several years of fine and varied documentaries on Iraq, Ferguson came along to sum up the American side of the debacle—the fear, hubris and missed opportunities—with great efficiency. It’s an especially good, if infuriating primer for those who’ve grown exhausted of following daily reports from the Persian Gulf.
20. No Direction Home (2005)
…Scorsese creates an immersive filmic collage that does as much to create further intrigue around its shadowy subject as peel back the curtain and offer a glimpse of the mysterious man pulling the strings. Steve LaBate
19. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
In a cautionary tale of corporate greed, negligence and diffusion of responsibility, the leaders of Enron defrauded employees and investors out of millions, encouraging others to stay aboard a sinking ship while they were quietly bailing themselves out… The unexpected wit and verve with which this documentary tells its infuriating tale is what sets it apart. Emily Riemer
18. Anvil: The Story of Anvil (2008)
The story of a hugely influential but largely forgotten Canadian heavy-metal band now in their fifties, might seem like the Spinal Tap sequel, complete with aging rockers suffering through demeaning gigs, the memory of the big show in Japan, the visit to Stonehenge, even an amp that actually goes to 11.
17. The White Diamond (2004)
16. God Grew Tired of Us (2007)
This stirring documentary follows the trials faced by the Lost Boys of Sudan, both before and after their integration into American society. While their plight is dark, the film is ultimately an uplifting example of the adversity the human soul can face while still maintaining hope.
15. Super Size Me (2004)
14. An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
13. Jesus Camp (2006)
This hard-to-watch film follows three children who attend a charismatic Christian summer camp called Kids On Fire in North Dakota. The kids speak in tongues, believe global warming is a political conspiracy, and bless a cardboard cutout of George W. Bush. There’s no need for a narrator or editorial opinion—the footage says it all. It’s no surprise that the camp closed after the film’s release.
12. Capturing the Friedmans (2003)
11. Born into Brothels (2004)
10. Waltz with Bashir (2008)
9. Murderball (2005)
8. Spellbound (2002)
7. When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006)
Hurricane Katrina’s impact on New Orleans spawned thousands of stories, and Spike Lee fits as many as he can into this film’s swift and lively four hours—tales of humor, passion, fear and anger, from the city with a broken heart.
6. King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
5. Bowling For Columbine (2002)
4. The Fog of War (2003)
For those who lived through the ’60s, the name Robert McNamara provokes an entire range of emotions and experiences… the film raises enough issues, provokes enough questions and challenges enough assumptions to make it essential viewing.
3. Grizzly Man (2005)
2. Iraq in Fragments (2007)
Applying the full spectrum of cinematic technique to a nonfiction film, Longley made one of the most striking movies this year, an immersive view of life in Iraq; a record of opinions and faces from across the country, all captured at close range.
1. Man On Wire (2008)
Petit’s stunt was both an engineering challenge and a test of, well, a test of something that most of us don’t possess in this much quantity. Filmmaker James Marsh uses standard documentary techniques, combining new interviews with a satisfying pile of footage and photographs, but his film has the suspense of a caper movie.
45 Responses for "Paste Magazine: Top 25 Docs of the Decade"
The Fog of War would be on top for me.
And I would find a spot for Farenheit 9/11.
Most haven’t seen it, and it’s not “WOW! OUTSTANDING!,” but I thoroughly enjoyed Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple. Chilling, interesting doc.
“King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters” was great.
Encounters at the End of the World was the best documentary of the decade, clearly they didn’t see it.
And Man on Wire was ridiculously overrated, to the point that I don’t even try to understand why it’s so highly regarded.
Man on Wire was just amazing! Totally deserved!
Love the inclusion of The King of Kong but I’m sad to see no mention of Julien Temple. The Filth & The Fury is a stroke of genius, and devastates me every time I watch it (Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten is great, too.) Wasn’t bowled over by Man on Wire despite all the Nyman/Greenaway music.
“When the Levees Broke” is a masterpiece. Absolutely my favorite of 2006, though I’m having trouble labeling it an actual film.
It’s a shame they couldn’t find room for Mad Hot Ballroom, My Kid Could Paint That, Southern Comfort Touching the Void, Dave Chappelle’s Block Party,
Dogtown and Z-Boys, The September Issue or Wordplay. Great choice for number one though.
The September Issue turned out to be more emotionally satisfying than The Devil Wears Prada, didn’t it, DBibby?
I’d call it a tie between “Capturing the Friedmans” (one of the most affecting films I’ve ever seen) and “When The Levees Broke” (even though it’s TV).
btw, Ryan, why were my comments on the “Single Man” trailer topic deleted? was it because I jokingly implied I drunk-posted? =P
I hope I didn’t offend anyone, that certainly wasn’t my intent!
Grizzly Man – Grizzly Shit.
I didn’t notice your comment about A Single Man, André, so I didn’t delete it. Maybe it got trapped in the spam filter? But I don’t see it.
Nice list, Documentaries are my fav.
I’m sad to see no love for Surfwise and Lake on Fire. Top 3 easily.
Also missing; Zoo, Be Here To Love Me, Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, Unknown White Male, Lost in La Mancha, Fahrenheit 9/11, Stevie, Encounters At The End Of The Workd, and Cinemania (its about Really Obsessed Movie Fans!!!)
Happy to also see a mention for The Gleaners and I. I thought I was its only fan.
oh, well, that’s better!
I thought I’d pissed someone off! hahahhahha
haha, try the comment again, André, and we’ll see what was wrong with it
No Farenheit 9/11?? That makes the list worthless.
I’m really glad to see Bowling for Columbine, King of Kong, and Grizzly Man all in the top six. They’re my favorites.
Deliver Us From Evil deserved a spot! My favorite doc of the decade and a truly breathtaking experience.
I’m surprised that Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired isn’t on the list.
Love that MAN ON WIRE is #1, but where are TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE and STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURE, not to mention the ones already mentioned like ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD, MY KID COULD PAINT THAT, SURFWISE, DAVE CHAPPELLE’S BLOCK PARTY, DOGTOWN AND Z-BOYS, DELIVER US FROM EVIL, and ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED?
Good list, but I would put Every Little Step at the top. And I also love Unknown White Male
I’m surprised that one of my favorite docs is not on the list, the gorgeous Winged Migration. That film made me look at and appreciate the natural world around me in a totally new light; I wouldn’t be exaggerating to call it somewhat life-altering, or at least perspective-altering.
Man on Wire is the best thing I’ve seen in years.
“Man on Wire” is easily the best doc but I think a great film that many probably missed and more probably found it trite, but “Helvetica” was stunning. It was simply done but presented the amazing implications of text and the battle in the world of visual design. The power of the image is put on full display and, for me, that is the most important and prevalent of aspect of distorting life and creating beliefs and, of course, film.
#1: Spellbound
Overall a very good list, but I would have liked to have seen mentions for Lake of Fire, Touching the Void, Shut Up and Sing, The Endurance, Bus 174, Dear Zachary, Deliver Us From Evil, The Devil and Daniel Johnston, Young@Heart and Encounters at the End of the World.
No “Fahrenheit 9/11″ or “Trouble the Water?!” That’s bollocks! Dig! and No End In Sight shouldn’t be there, Jesus Camp and Enron are ranked too low, and Man on Wire is the most overrated film (doc OR narrative) of the decade!
This is my top 25 docs of the decade. I didn’t see some of the ones on their list so keep that in mind.
1. Capturing The Friedmans
2. Man On Wire
3. Grizzly Man
4. Bowling For Columbine
5. King Of Kong: A Fistful Of Quarters
6. The Fog Of War
7. The Power Of Nightmares
8. No Direction Home
9. Super Size Me
10. No End In Sight
11. Anvil! The Story Of Anvil
12. An Inconvenient Truth
13. Sicko
14. Jesus Camp
15. The Order Of Myths
16. Dear Zachary
17. The Devil And Daniel Johnston
18. Trouble The Water
19. Crazy Love
20. Fahrenheit 9/11
21. Deliver Us From Evil
22. The Century Of The Self
23. Religulous
24. Capitalism: A Love Story
25. Iraq In Fragments
Man on Wire is officially one of the most overrated films of the decade. And where in the hell is The Cove?
Aside from those points, this ain’t a bad list. No End in Sight and Jesus Camp should be much higher, since they’re arguably the most powerful docs I’ve ever seen, and Taxi to the Dark Side at least deserves a slot.
But it’s all redeemed by Grizzly Man’s high status, far and away the best doc I’ve ever seen.
Loved Man on Wire and King of Kong. Unfortunately, I thought Grizzly Man was a little overrated.
Yeah, Man on Wire!
Anybody seen Outfoxed? Though not one of the top for the decade, everybody should see it!!!
I am completely and utterly bewildered by the omissions of Winged Migration, Children Underground, and Bigger Stronger Faster.
An addendum to my last post: another doc that should have been on the list – “Darwin’s Nightmare”
I forgot about Winged Migration. Definitely needs to be on there.
Actually shocked that Deliver Us From Evil is missing.
And it may be light fare, but the doc I enjoyed the most was The Kid Stays In The Picture. Would loved a mention for that.
People seem to forget that Steve James has made films other than Hoop Dreams…
Stevie is EASILY the best doc of the decade.
A few I love that weren’t as widely seen are Billy the Kid, Lake of Fire (a harrowing documentary about abortion that should be seen), and the Robinsons of Mansinsaari – a documentary with little dialogue but a huge impact regarding solitude and frayed relationships.
Capturing the Friedmans should be up higher on the list… so disturbing and emotional… it really is amazing.
I also loved Encounters at the End of the World. It’s too bad it didn’t make it.
A friend of mine said Why We Fight is the best documentary he’s ever seen. I wonder why it’s not on the list?
I’m really disappointed The Cove isn’t mentioned. It was breathtaking.
Glad to see ‘Spellbound’ up there.
I love “The King of Kong”, especially at the #6 spot.
I can’t lie, I’m shocked Grizzly Man isn’t number one. That is easily one of my favorite films of the decade none the less the best doc. Also no encounters at the end of the world. Where is the love for Herzog? This list has some great documentaries but it seems rushed.
Gleaners and I should be much much higher.
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