The Mofo Top 100 (probably) Documentaries
To be honest, I find the semi-lack of interest from some users here very disconcerting. Documentaries are a significant piece in the history of film and to avoid them in general is insane if you're a film geek. I want to digest it all, every decade and genre, it doesn't matter. I love the totality of the cinema and I know a lot of you do too. The lengths that some filmmakers will go to in order to document their subjects is, well, noteworthy, and to dismiss it is cinephile suicide.
Let's recall some of our favourite documentaries, watch some new ones, and when the countdown is over perhaps we will discover some new films and experiences. It's not like watching a documentary is akin to taking a leap towards the abyss.
Now before we get started submitting lists, this freaky cat has some rules.
The Rules
-Submit your top 25 movies to me in a PM with the title "Username - Mofo Top 100 Documentaries"
(of course, don't put "Username" in the title, include yours. I think this will make it easier for me to search through if need be, so thanks in advance)
-Your top 25 must be ranked 1-25, and no ties.
-Deadline for entries is January 7th, 2016 9pm PST.
-No changes to the list once it has been submitted.
-New members can send in their Top 25 as soon as they've been on the forums for one month.
-Any series of documentaries will be taken into advisement case by case, and I will be the lone judge. I will of course listen to what the masses have to say. Typically, it's one imdb entry, one countdown entry. I have made a few decisions already. Both Histoire(s) du cinema and The Battle of Chile will be regarded as one movie each.
-No mini-series will be allowed. There was vote. If you are uncertain as to whether your documentary is a mini-series or not simply check on imdb. Ineligible entries will be listed as TV Mini-Series.
-Any film with the genre tag Documentry is eligible (keeping in mind the above).
-Films will be given points as follows: 1st gets 25 points, 2nd gets 24 points, 3rd 23 points, and so on until 25th gets 1 point.
-Do not post your lists until after the complete top 100 has been posted, your list will be disqualified.
- NEW 100% performance movies (stand-up, concert, etc) are not allowed. Significant off-stage documentation is necessary for the film to be permitted (example: Woodstock).
You'll also notice that the title of this thread seems a little uncertain on how many films are going to make the countdown. I'll determine this after all the entries are submitted. If we get enough lists and it's not too spread out, we'll do a top 100. I believe we can.
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UPDATE:
Here is a list of films that are allowed that don't adhere to the guidelines above (because imdb isn't perfect) or have been debated here in this thread:
Waltz with Bashir
Close-up
In Vanda's Room
Histoire(s) du cinema
The Up Series (to be counted as one)
For future reference, see this post if you want to have a film given the green light for the countdown that doesn't meet the above guidelines: http://www.movieforums.com/community...58#post1400258
So, from now on, if you want to see something allowed that doesn't conform to the imdb standards you should provide reasons (and preferably links or quotes from legitimate sources) as to why it should be allowed. Cool?
REGARDING PARTIAL LISTS
Also, in the spirit of Christmas I have decided partial lists will be accepted. It's a minimum of 10 and they will not be allowed until after the new year. Try and watch some more, and if you have some that you like but don't feel like they're "list worthy" add them anyway - you still like them and it doesn't matter if they're list worthy or not because this is supposed to be your "top 25 documentaries" and not "top documentaries that you think deserve to be placed on an all-time list."
__________________
"Don't be so gloomy. After all it's not that awful. Like the fella says, in Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock."
"Don't be so gloomy. After all it's not that awful. Like the fella says, in Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock."
Last edited by Harry Lime; 12-28-15 at 01:54 PM.