Comments on: 2009 Academy Awards Best Documentary Short List Unveiled

By: Claire Sharp

Claire Sharp — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:36:36 +0000

Unfortunately it seems that a brilliant film, Valentino: The Last Emperor, by first time Director, Matt Tyrnauer did not make the short list. It is about a 45 year love and relationship and the inner workings of the Atelier and the women who work there. It is also filled with breathtaking works of Art in the form of couture. As a male friend who saw the film said, “the Director’s work on this film is as magnificent as the couture clothing in it. True, this movie is not filled with angst and/or exposure of a societal problem. Still very worthy of being seen and I believe being on the short list.

By: John

John — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:24:13 +0000

I’ve seen them all and Trouble the Water is the best one on the list.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:29:09 +0000

What about “Bigger, Stronger, Faster” … it is the best documentary I have seen in years and really unveils the hypocrisy of performance enhancing drugs in America, and in many ways the hypocrisy of America itself.

By: Nacho

Nacho — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 11:14:50 +0000

I didn’t watch any of the other documentarys, but “Bigger Stronger Faster” was an excellent and very very honest documentary. Maybe it should be nominated. It was about trying to say the real truth about not only steroids, but American society right now in time. Perhaps the Academy didn’t like what it mentioned about actors like Sylvester Stallone, George Bush or Arnold Schwarzenegger, the current Governor. The movie shows without a doubt these two characters lie as professional athletes.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:29:30 +0000

At the Death House Door could be an underdog favorite in this one. Done by the creators of Hoop Dreams, it tells the story Caroll Pickett, a death house minister in Texas who carried out the first ever lethal injection. The fascinating part of the story is Caroll recorded interviews with all of the 95 men he sent to execution. The other thread of the story is about a convicted criminal that is believed to be innocent, and Pickett had to eventually administer the death penalty to. It’s a powerful story that touches on a very politically sensitive topic in an unbiased way. If you haven’t seen it you should.

By: Jules

Jules — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:01:48 +0000

They Killed Sister Dorothy – About Sister Dorothy Stang a 73 year old missionary that went from Ohio to the northern part of Brazil, where the Amazon forest is located, and end up killed by some powerful people there.

It is a good movie, but the story is not over yet. The appeals are not over. One guy that in the movie is found guilty, is free now, while other that was freed is now in jail. He should have waited 2 or 3 more years to release it and give us a full story.

And you are damn right, where is “Dear Zachary” on that list? That movie have more twists and turns than any piece of fiction. I was floored at the end of that movie.

By: Christina

Christina — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:19:00 +0000

I saw THE BETRAYAL (NERAKOON) at Sundance – beautifully shot. Ellen Kuras did phenomenal work interweaving individual story with American history mostly unknown to the general public. The same goes for Margaret Brown’s ORDER OF MYTHS (also seen at Sundance and IFC Center Stranger than Fiction doc series). Another personal involvement that draws the audience into a place where no one knew existed and still exists since the first Mardi Gras in Mobile Alabama in 18th century America. Compelling on more than the obvious issue. I’m surprised this film was not recognized. MAN ON WIRE is excellent and kept me on the edge of my seat despite knowing the inevitable outcome. Well done all around including reenactments while not usually my favorite portions of a doc, they work in this film.

By: Goon

Goon — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:33:19 +0000

Man on Wire is still my favorite movie of the year, and the clear favorite to win of the ones i’ve seen on this list. then again, Morris’ movie is about Iraq. hmmm. you know how those voters are.

Bigger Stronger Faster* should have been nominated.