Lately, when I get bored with my Netflix queue and the random movies that I don’t even remember choosing, I have gotten in the habit of finding documentaries to break up the rotation. Here are some that I have seen recently with a political leaning to them. You may have already seen many of them, but I bet not all! Click the title to see the full description and if you are a Netflix member, throw it on your queue while you wait for Borat to come out.
The U.S. vs. John Lennon
No one would argue that John Lennon was one of the most influential musicians of all time, but I never realized how much influence his activism had over the people, forcing governments to react.
This Film is Not Yet Rated
The bureaucracy and secrecy of the MPAA.
An Inconvenient Truth
If you haven’t seen this, where have you been?
Who Killed the Electric Car?
This one is just sad.
Howard Zinn: You can’t be Neutral on a Moving Train
Should have been titled “you can’t be Neutral on a Moving BUS!” Zinn is an Anti-war activist and author of A People’s History of the United States
Why We Fight
The U.S. obsession with war.
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
A bit dated now, but still an amazing account of greed gone bad.
Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices
Don’t get me started…Don’t EVEN get me started!
Unconstitutional
How sweet is the Patriot Act? This movie will tell you. Some great cameos by our own Peter DeFazio!
Updated recommendations from James:
Dixie Chicks-Shut up and Sing
The Agronomist
March 4, 2007 at 6:59 pm
I’d add The Agronomist about Jean Dominque in Haiti and recently saw “shut up and sing” about the Dixie Chicks. Never liked them before, respect them now.
James
May 29, 2007 at 11:04 am
This one’s not a documentary, but should be in your queue anyway: Fast Food Nation. Directed by Richard Linklater, who brought us Dazed and Confused, Before Sunrise and Before Sunset (and don’t forget Slacker). This is the first movie I can remember that accurately portrays working class America.