Documentaries have a reputation for being boring. Some are certainly like that, but many can be just as impactful and memorable, if not more so, than some fictional narrative films. Thankfully, with streaming services like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, as well as true crime podcasts, audiences have warmed up to documentaries. If you are looking for a great documentary to watch but do not have time to go through all of the options and risk picking a dull one, try one of these out.
“Tower” (2016) available on Netflix
“Tower” is my favorite documentary. It covers the horrific events at the University of Texas on Aug. 1, 1966. A lone gunman camped out at the top of the university clock tower and killed 17 people, injuring many others. Because there is little footage from this event, “Tower” takes advantage of rotoscope animation, in which drawings are made over footage of real people to re-enact the events of that day as the people who were there experienced it. It is a deeply human story offering what I see as the best examination of bravery in film. Obviously, it makes for a pretty heavy viewing experience.
“Tickled” (2016) available on Hulu
Journalist David Farrier comes across something called “professional tickling” while browsing the internet. He finds it absurd and a bit funny at first, but the more he finds out about it, the stranger and more sinister it gets. I will not give away any more than that, but the places this rabbit hole leads will leave everyone watching stunned. “Tickled” is essentially a filmed act of investigative journalism, which will take viewers on a roller coaster of emotions unlike any other.
“Three Identical Strangers” (2018) available on Hulu
Identical triplets separated at birth, adopted by different families and completely unaware of each other’s existence find each other by pure coincidence in 1980. Their unbelievable story makes national news and enthralls millions. Once the media spotlight dies down, however, some unsettling facts about the adoption agency come to light. What follows is an intriguing examination of nurture versus nature and the ethical responsibilities of scientific research. My biggest complaint with “Three Identical Strangers” is its pacing and length. The second act of the film drags on for much too long. It is only an hour and a half long, but it feels like at least two hours.
“Stop Making Sense” (1984) Available on Amazon Prime
Concert films may not be the most popular or highly respected form of documentary, but this one is so good I had to include it. Seamlessly edited together footage of multiple performances by the universally-acclaimed rock and art-pop band, the Talking Heads, “Stop Making Sense” is a complete blast to watch. The deep connection between a group of musical performers and the joy they have in playing their music is clearly on display here. The clear star of the show, though, is frontman David Byrne. He seems to have a limitless amount of energy. Of course, it helps quite a bit if you enjoy the music, but I think most people will and do. It still is not for everyone, but I recommend at least checking out the first 30 minutes to see if it is something you enjoy.
“The Act of Killing” (2012) available on Amazon Prime
Between 1965 and 1966, the Indonesian Army committed mass genocide on 500,000 to 3 million alleged communists. “The Act of Killing” takes an incredibly unique approach to covering this. The filmmakers found several of the people involved in these killings, and, since these men are viewed as heroes in Indonesia, the filmmakers told them that they wanted to make a film memorializing their “heroic actions.” What follows is one of the most bone-chilling and haunting films I have ever seen. The men proudly and freely talk about the atrocities they committed and happily re-enact them in scenes for the movie they think is being made. “The Act of Killing” is nearly three hours long, but I did not find anything which would have been better left out. Even in the quieter sections, I was thankful for the time to contemplate what I just saw instead of being assaulted with more unspeakable evils. The movie is in a foreign language, so subtitles are required, but I think it is worth it. This is probably best watched alone. Maybe have a couple of friends with you so you can discuss it after, but do not expect to have any fun with this one.
Drew Eckhart is a sophomore history and pre-law major from Edmond, OK. He has loved movies for as long as he can remember but thinks his passion really began when he watched “The Dark Knight” for the first time in theaters. His favorite type of movie blends comedy and drama seamlessly, and he loves great action films. In Drew’s free time, he enjoys reading and playing video games, as well as watching TV and movies. His favorite TV show is “BoJack Horseman” and his favorite movie is “Whiplash.”
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