Top 10 Must-See Documentaries

Have no plans this Eid? Maybe you're stuck hanging with the family and you're looking for a way to stop them talking to you for a while? Perhaps you just can't sleep? A good documentary will help keep you busy. Here are some of my favourites, in no particular order: 

The Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear

This is a very informative documentary about the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood as well as the Neo-Conservatives in America. With tons of stock footage and an awesome soundtrack, this three-part series will give you a whole new perspective on the Muslim Brotherhood, while explaining why America needs their existence. It should be mentioned that any Adam Curtis documentary is required watching, and if you like it, I recommend checking out Century of Self.

Crazy Rulers of the World

This three-part series is an examination of the insane thinking that is behind the U.S military machine. The Men Who Stare At Goats is the first part of the series, and was so popular they turned into a movie for George Clooney to ruin. In any case, it is worth a watch and will show you the source of the torture techniques used in Iraq.

I couldn't find the trailer but I did find the whole documentary on YouTube. Here is the first part called the Men Who Stare At Goats:

The Two Escobars

This was just one of 30 documentaries released by ESPN. The series is called 30 for 30, which stands for the 30 amazing sports stories that changed the world, by 30 amazing directors. This one is my favourite and explains how the rise of football in Colombia was directly related with the drug cartel.

Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter Jr

This one of the many amazing documentaries made by Errol Morris. In this documentary, Morris follows Fred, a self proclaimed 'death' expert who is asked to examine Auschwitz gas chambers and used in a trial to prove that the holocaust never happened. I was hard-pressed to decide between this and other Morris classics like Fog of War, an interview with Robert McNamara about his involvement in the U.S government. I also loved Tabloid, which is probably the craziest tabloid story in history with more twists and turns than Dina el ra2asa.

The Corporation

This is an absolutely brilliant documentary that examines the history behind corporations and how they have become so dominant. We have become slaves to the corporation and this documentary explains how and why. It's very informative while being entertaining at the same time.

Exit Through the Gift Shop

If you like graffiti, or have yourself written Irhal somewhere, you will love this one. It is a film about a crazy French amateur film maker attempting to locate and befriend Banksy. The search is entertaining enough but when the artist is located, he turns the camera back on it's owner. The switch is brilliant.

Louis Theroux: The Ultra Zionists

This documentary follows Louis Theroux, a tall, skinny, British man-child in glasses, while he travels through Israel/Palestine accompanied by an assortment of native characters. This is just one of his many adventures with extremists, and if you like this there are so many more. Check out his weekend with white supremacists.

The King of Kongs: A Fistfull of Quarters

This documentary proves that not all documentaries have to have heavy subject matter to be really good. This is an amazing documentary about a die-hard video gamer with several records, spending his life discrediting any challengers that take him on. I promise this will be the best laugh you had all year.

When We Were Kings

This is a oldie, but a goodie. It is the story of the infamous rumble in the jungle. What sets this a part is most of the footage is taken from home movies of Muhammad Ali's return to Africa to regain his belt back from George Foreman. It is as close as you will ever get to a still living icon that epitomises the story of the ultimate long shot made hero.

Heart of Darkness: A Filmaker's Apocalypse

An excellent entertaining documentary for anyone who is a fan of Francis Ford Coppola and the process of film making. If you ever wondered how movies were made before computer effects, this is a prime example. In film production, wave upon wave of problems can sink your ship. This film is made of home movies of the film being made, and captures Coppola's descent into madness.