If you're like the average viewer, you flip the channel when the Best Documentary category pops up during the Oscar telecast. This is primarily because most people don't go out of their way to see documentaries in theaters because they are just too hard to find. Even if you know which theaters show documentaries, how do you know what's worth seeing? The Film Society of Lincoln Center wants to help you enjoy the Best Documentary category a little more by giving you the chance to catch up on the finalists in their "For Your Consideration: Documentary Oscar Hopefuls" series. Starting this Friday, December 20, you can see all 15 shortlisted documentaries. If 15 movies is too much, how about just focusing on these five recommendations?
The safety of sea creatures is not a new topic for Oscar-level documentaries, as many of you may remember "The Cove" winning a few years ago. While that dealt primarily with dolphins in the wild, "Blackfish" unmasks the horrific treatment of whales in captivity. When a Killer Whale named Tilikum claimed it's third human life in the form of it's trainer in 2010, the world's eyes turned towards SeaWorld as it became the subject of an OSHA lawsuit. "Blackfish" interviews former SeaWorld trainers who back up claims of cruelty towards the the species' in captivity, as well as revealing the lies the company tells to keep the public blissfully misinformed. This movie is sure to light a fire in your stomach and make you think twice about bringing your kids to SeaWorld. You can see "Blackfish" at FSLC on Tuesday, December 24 at 5 PM, or Wednesday, December 25 at 4 PM. Click here to read our review of "Blackfish".
The unforgivable genocide of 500,000 Indonesian citizens is approached from an interesting angle in "The Act Of Killing": from the point of view of the killers. Director Joshua Oppenheimer personally interviewed death squad leaders that are currently still active to try and get some insight into their mental ability to slaughter innocents en masse. It's shocking to see how film has shaped these murderers minds, and it's even more surprising to see how it might change them. "The Act Of Killing" is a bold film that one of our writers calls "the definition of essential viewing". You can see "The Act Of Killing" at FSLC on Saturday, December 21 at 6:20 PM, or Thursday, December 26 at 1:30 PM. Click here to read our review of "The Act Of KIlling".
The resignation of Egyptian President Hasni Mubarak was well documented in social media and news, and it is explored even further here in "The Square". Documenting a three-year span that begins in 2011 in Cairo's Tahrir Square, director Jehane Noujaim shows how Mubarak's fall and the rise of a terrible military regime have turned Egypt upside down. By following several Egyptian citizens, Noujaim exposes the immense toll that this Arab Spring has had on the lives of ordinary individuals. "The Square" is an important modern historical record that declares the medium of film to be a champion of revolution. You can see "The Square at FSLC on Sunday, December 22 at 4 PM, or Monday, December 23 at 8:15 PM. Click here to read our review of "The Square".
Have you ever heard two people tell the same story, but include different or changed details that they swear are the truth? When our knowledge of past events are relegated strictly to memory, how accurately are we remembering times past? That's what filmmaker Sarah Polley attempts to uncover in his fascinating documentary "Stories We Tell". Using her own family as a subject, Polley probes the minds of her father and siblings to learn about her mother, who died when she was very young. As the stories diverge and shocking revelations occur, we begin to understand the complexity of memory and the power of storytelling. You can see "Stories We Tell" at FSLC on Friday, December 20 at 4:40 PM, or Wednesday, December 25 at 6 PM. Click here to read our review of "Stories We Tell".
If all those choices seem a bit too heavy for your taste, "Tim's Vermeer" will be a breath of fresh air. Magicians Penn & Teller make their filmmaking debut as they follow their friend Tim on his journey to discover the secrets behind the paintings of Johannes Vermeer. Vermeer's lifelike paintings have baffled experts to this very day, but Tim - who has no art training whatsoever - thinks he has found a way to paint his own Vermeer and have it be indistinguishable from the original. Follow him as he uses a simple rig solve one of the greatest art mysteries of all time. "Tim's Vermeer" is the perfect blend of humor, education, and entertainment. You can see "Tim's Vermeer" at FSLC on Monday, December 23 at 6:30 PM. Click here to read our review of "Tim's Vermeer".
Tweet us @Stagebuddy and let us know which of these movies interests you, or whether or not you enjoyed them.
