CHOOSE your favorite political documentary of the Bush-era renaissance

[JackRiddler]

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Bad for the regime in power, great for documentary films. Not entirely by coincidence; Shakespeare would have also loved this age.

Pick your favorite from the list. Tell us why. Throw in a link for further reading.

To pick "Other": Just post your alternative!

[AlCzervik]

1. i have 2, Why we fight and Fahrenheit 9/11.

[Hissyspit]

2. Fahrenheit 9/11? Iraq, My Country? Outfoxed? Uncovered: The Whole Truth Of The Iraq War?

[AlCzervik]

3. outfoxed was awesome, i forgot about that one!!!

"Do democrats forget things?"

[JackRiddler]

5. Here is your chance!

Please tell us about "Iraq, My Country." I have not heard of this before.

"F 9/11" is obvious. That's why I threw in "Bowling for Columbine" as the purer work by Moore. (It's hard to top the sequence in that film in which a review of past CIA actions to overthrow democracies around the world is set to "What a Wonderful World" and climaxes, logically, with September 11th.)

But as you say: "Outfoxed" (exposing the FOX News Network)
&
"Uncovered" (about the Big Lie used to justify the Iraq war)

were both great! I should have thought of those, but at least "Control Room" (about Al Jazeera and the launching of the Iraq invasion in 2003) combines both topics - media and war lies - in brilliant fashion.

Apropos "Uncovered": Have you seen Scott Ritter's film, "In Shifting Sands"?

This thread is not the Oscars - it's fishing for people willing to promote their favorites. The more you tell us, the more you direct people to great documentaries!

[Hissyspit]

7. "The U.S. Vs. John Lennon" - the extras on the DVD are even more topical to today than what was

included in the theatrical release. There are so many Iraq docs now, I've lost track of them. "Iraq, My Country" was the one where the Iraqi went back after the invasion. Different from "My Country, My Country." Then there was this year's "Iraq In Fragments."

[JackRiddler]

8. A great choice... (Lennon)

Just saw it the other night!

[Blashyrkh]

4. Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism

[El Supremo]

6. These two aren't listed:

Not bad




Put me to sleep

[Marie26]

9. Want to throw in a rec

for "The Power of Nightmares".

[Nevernose]

10. This is the 1st time I'd heard of "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"

At least the documentary. I know the Gil Scott-Heron song (awesome if you've never heard it, btw), but I guess I've been under a rock as far as this documentary is concerned.

I'm not as in love with Chavez as i used to be, but I still like him a lot, and would love to know more about the 2002 coup. It was DU in fact, that first informed that the CIA was involved, so it might as well be DU that gets me to check out this film.

[JackRiddler]

12. See it.

By the standard of a feature film thriller, it's the most exciting movie on this list. (It's also a great documentary!)

[JackRiddler]

18. Well I'm glad...

this thread has served to turn at least one person on to one great film.

[JackRiddler]

11. "Orwell Rolls In His Grave"

Haven't seen it, being recommended right now here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x339789

[JackRiddler]

13. How could I not include "THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED" ... damn me!

Of all of these, if it were on network TV regularly, it would actually topple the institution that it critiques. The MPAA is the modern version of the Inquisition. I learned just how tightly the media and the film industry are controlled by the same set of corporations, who have set up the film censorship so as to favor their own big-studio products and screw anyone who doesn't follow formula (or who even talks about sex, instead of depicting endless violence). Much more to this film!

[marmar]

14. I don't think any movie has had a bigger impact on my worldview than "The Corporation"

It was an eye-opener and a life-changer.

[JackRiddler]

15. An honorable mention for UNPRECEDENTED

The definitive film on election 2001, by Joan Sekler et al. Sums up the many means used to suppress the vote and fake the vote in Florida.

[JackRiddler]

16. New thread on "WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR"

Much praise for this documentary, I have yet to see it but here is a thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x339458

[JackRiddler]

17. And of course how could I forget... AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH

Well the academy rewarded it. Artistically it's not comparable to Spike Lee's epic on Katrina, or "Revolution Will Not Be Televised" or "The Corporation." Should these films be debated on their art? Their skill in making a case? The originality or message that others do not know, their educational value? The importance of the subject?