I love documentaries. One thing I don’t like, though, is reenactments–no thanks on documentaries that have those. I made a list below of documentaries that I’ve enjoyed recently. Two that I can’t find are both related to sports, which is surprising because I’m not really a sports fan at all. The two I can’t find evidence (links) to are a series of Celtics vs. Lakers historical stories, and then one about Babe Ruth. However, I’ve put together a list of about 10 documentaries that I’ve watched and learned from recently.
The Billionaire, the Butler and the Boyfriend
“Step into the opulent world of “Old Money Lovers,” where we unravel the captivating saga of wealth, intrigue, and legacy. Join us on a mesmerizing journey through the life of Liliane Bettencourt, the elusive heiress of the esteemed L’Oréal dynasty, renowned for its luxurious standing in the cosmetics realm, boasting a staggering valuation of over 30 billion dollars. More than a tale of inheriting riches, her narrative resonates with the intricacies of familial bonds, the weight of colossal wealth, and the scandalous twists that reverberated through the political echelons of France.” —Old Money Lovers
David Foster: Off The Record
“To say that everything David Foster touches turns to gold — and frequently platinum — would be an understatement. The songwriter and producer is a 16-time Grammy Award winner (including three for Producer of the Year) with an unprecedented 46 nominations, a recipient of 7 Canadian Juno Awards, an Emmy Award and a three time Oscar nominee, all over the course of four extraordinarily successful decades. Add to that, a slew of monster hits with some of the world’s greatest singers of all time.” —David Foster Foundation
To Dye For
“After their son’s life was turned upside down by synthetic dyes, filmmakers Brandon and Whitney Cawood embarked on a mission to uncover the hidden dangers of these additives. As first-time filmmakers, they traveled across the U.S. and Europe, interviewing experts and families—and the findings were shocking. To Dye For: The Documentary reveals these discoveries and exposes the risks hidden in everyday foods—taking a closer look at their neurological impacts and even their ties to cancer. Help spread the word by watching and sharing the trailer—it’s time to ask: What are we really consuming?”
—To Dye For: The Documentary
Food Inc.
“In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that’s been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation’s food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, insecticide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won’t go bad, but we also have new strains of e coli–the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults. Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield Farms’ Gary Hirschberg and Polyface Farms’ Joe Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising — and often shocking truths — about what we eat, how it’s produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.” —Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing
The Great Las Vegas Heist: How Heather Tallchief Vanished with $3.1 Million
“Meet Heather Tallchief, a 21-year-old who worked as an armored van driver for Loomis Armored Car Company. On October 1, 1993, she stole $3.1 million in cash from her job in Las Vegas and disappeared. Heather and her partner, Roberto Solis, carefully planned the heist, moving through several cities and countries while evading capture. This story dives into the details of how they executed the plan, fooled authorities, and stayed hidden for 12 years. Learn about one of the biggest armored car robberies in history and the unexpected ending when Heather surrendered in 2005.” —Sleek Story
Martha
“This definitive documentary on Martha Stewart pulls back the curtain on one of America’s greatest self-made icons, from her start as a teenage model to her stint as a Wall Street stockbroker to her reign as the grand dame of entertaining and good taste. Martha draws on hundreds of hours of intimate interviews with Stewart and those from her inner circle, along with Stewart’s private archives of diaries, letters, and never-seen-before footage. The film illuminates Stewart’s upbringing in a working-class family, compels us to reconsider the scandal that sent her to prison, and heralds her post-prison reinvention as the original influencer who’s still captivating new generations of fans.” —Netflix
Facing Nolan
“Check out the trailer for Facing Nolan, the documentary about the MLB’s Nolan Ryan and featuring interviews with Nolan Ryan, President George W. Bush, Craig Biggio, Steve Buechele, George Brett, Rod Carew, Roger Clemens, Tom Grieve, Tom House, Randy Johnson, Pete Rose, Ivan Rodriguez, Bobby Valentine, Dave Winfield, Bobby Witt, and many others. Told from the point of view of the hitters who faced him and the teammates who revered him, Facing Nolan is the definitive documentary of a Texas legend. In the world of Major League Baseball no one has created a mythology like Nolan Ryan.”
—IGN Movie Trailers
The Pharmacist
“A small town pharmacist stakes a mission to save his community long before the opioid epidemic gains nationwide attention.” —Netflix
This is a Robbery: The World’s Biggest Art Heist
“500 million dollars worth of missing art. A 10 million dollar reward for whoever finds it. It’s your turn to enter the mystery. 30 years ago, two thieves brazenly stole millions of dollars worth of art from Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Where the art is now remains a mystery. Today, investigators reviewing the cold case attempt to recover the missing works, unmask the perpetrators and solve the biggest art heist in history.” —Netflix