Technically Surfwise was the best documentary of 2008 but its not as well known as Man On Wire

Here are some trailers from documentaries that are creating a buzz this year:

Anvil! The Story of Anvil - At fourteen years old, best friends Lips and Robb Reiner made a pact to rock together forever. Their band Anvil, hailed as the demi-gods of Canadian metal, influenced a musical generation including Met­allica, Slayer and Anthrax.



The Cove - In a sleepy lagoon off the coast of Japan lies a shocking secret that a few desperate men will stop at nothing to keep hidden from the world.



Every Little Step - Real-life dancers struggle through auditions for the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line.



Herb and Dorothy - He was a postal clerk. She was a librarian. With their modest means, the couple managed to build one of the most important contemporary art collections in history



More Than A Game - Look at Lebron James, from childhood to the NBA.



Untitled Michael Moore - About the financial collapse of America.



There are also other docs that made a splash at Sundance, SXSW, and Cannes

Anvil! The Story of Anvil was great, but in the music doc category, I give the edge to Iron Maiden: Flight 666 - - it's almost the same story, but the band members aren't pathetic losers, they find the way to get the job done, and do it! (Unfortunately, the trailer is lame - - it really doesn't do the film justice... )

Valentino: The Last Emperor is the highest grossing qualifying doc of 2009 thus far (1.5m)

Watch out for Anvil. Maybe Moore's.

Eh?

http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=earth09.htm

I don't think a repackaged miniseries should count.

Despite what you and I and everyone else might think, Earth will appear on charts and it counts.

OTOH seems like arbitrary inclusions/exclusions are currently very in on WOKJ.

Actually, for this thread, it doesn't count. Earth is disqualified from the Best Documentary race per AMPAS rules since it aired on television before going to theatres.

For this thread - sure. For your statement, it definitely counts. Besides that rule is stupid. It cost Young@Heart its more than deserving nomination.

Untitled no more, Michael Moore's film is Capitalism: A Love Story

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111800 ... id=13&cs=1

the beaches of agnes, yes please!

Food, Inc. made $250,000 this weekend for a $1.3 million total, so it's probably going to be the year's highest grossing doc until Moore's. It's a hot topic (food corporations, eating organically) and has pretty strong reviews, so I think it should be good for at least a nomination.

And it has an easy name!

Add Chris Rock's Good Hair to the mix

http://goodhairmovie.net/

How about No-Impact Man?

Wonder if it will do any business.

I hope so, it looks really interesting.

Heard about it about 18 months ago I think and have been waiting for it to come out. Hope it's good.

Food Inc ($3,404,919) has passed last year's winner Man on Wire ($2,962,242). Both are from Magnolia.

Top Docs (non Concert/Nature) 2009

Food Inc - $3,404,919
Valentino: The Last Emperor - $1,702,514
Every Little Step - $1,667,571
Tyson - $882,774
Anvil - $659,519
The Cove - $240,000

Is that lebron doc eligible?

More Than a Game. I think so.

Food, Inc. reminded me a lot of An Inconvenient Truth, though its two semi-celebrity centers (Eric Schlosser + Michael Pollen) aren't nearly as big as Al Gore. I do think that it's pretty much locked for a nomination at this point though, as it's looking to be the highest grossing non-wide release documentary since, well, An Inconvenient Truth.

Unfortunately, the real top Doc of the year (*Points to siggie*) probably won't qualify.

Food Inc. gets in, Capitalism gets in, The Cove gets in, that's a pretty high profile 3 right there.

Just saw THE COVE.

Absolutely loved it. How tragic. It really got me riled up. What amazing footage at the end.

That's what I like about really well made socially-conscience documentaries, its a rallying call.

I cant wait to see it. Would it make your top 5 for the year?

I always have a hard time mixing in the documentaries with the other films. Currently it's probably my #4 bu there's still a whole lotta movies o see.

I made a note on facebook on this year's movies which I keep updating for those who want to follow... http://www.facebook.com/note.php?saved&&suggest&note_id=99673752571