Documentary - Movies

Becoming Led Zeppelin

Documentary

Becoming Led Zeppelin explores the origins and meteoric rise of the iconic group against all odds. Powered by awe-inspiring, psychedelic, never-before-seen footage, performances and music, Bernard MacMahon’s experiential cinematic odyssey explores Led Zeppelin’s creative, musical, and personal origin story. Told in Led Zeppelin’s own words, it is the first officially sanctioned film on the group.

What's My Name: Muhammad Ali - Part II

Documentary

Determined to avenge his defeat to Joe Frazier, Ali builds a rustic training camp in Deer Park, PA, and goes on to defeat a parade of contenders before losing to Ken Norton in 1973. The loss jeopardizes a Frazier rematch, but a recommitted Ali beats Norton in a second bout, setting up an encore with Frazier, who was dethroned by George Foreman earlier that year. This time, Ali beats his nemesis, with his reward being the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" with Foreman in Zaire. Against all odds, Ali KOs an exhausted Foreman to regain the heavyweight title, and becomes an idol around the world. Another epic victory over Frazier, 1975's "Thrilla in Manilla," follows, but the toll of so many brutal fights starts to show. After several up-and-down bouts (and retirements), Ali vows to return to the ring, and in December 1981 he loses badly to Trevor Berbick. Finally, Ali retires for good and The Greatest travels the world as a goodwill ambassador.

Lightning In a Bottle

Documentary

On February 7, 2003, renowned artists across music genres and generations commandeered the stage at New York City's Radio City Music Hall to pay tribute to their common heritage and passion: the blues. Shared with thousands of fans in attendance, legendary performers from the roots of rock, jazz,and rap joined forces for a once-in-a-lifetime salute to the blues benefit concert whose proceeds went to musical education. Executive produced by Martin Scorcese, produced by Alex Gibney and directed by Antoine Fuqua, Lightning in a Bottle captures the night's magic and weaves a history of blues through the juxtaposition of performers, backstage interviews, rehearsals, and archival clips of some of the greatest names in American music, from blues royalty like Buddy Guy and B. B. King to their musical heirs ranging from John Fogerty and Bonnie Raitt to Mos Def and Indie.Arie.

What's My Name: Muhammad Ali - Part I

Documentary

As Muhammad Ali approaches his epic first fight with Joe Frazier in 1971, we look back on his childhood as Cassius Clay in Louisville, KY; his amateur career, which culminated in a Golden Gloves triumph and a 1960 Olympic Gold Medal in the light-heavyweight division; and his ascension to heavyweight champion, when he "shocked the world" in 1964 as an arrogant 22-year-old by beating Sonny Liston. After converting to Islam and forging close ties with Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, Cassius changed his name to Muhammad Ali, beat Liston again, and defended his championship seven more times before being stripped of his title in 1967 for refusing to be drafted into the Army to fight in Vietnam. Exonerated after three long years, Ali returned to the ring in 1970, where he pummeled Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena before agreeing to a "Fight of the Century" in New York's Madison Square Garden against the unbeaten Joe Frazier.

Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound

Documentary

Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound reveals the hidden power of sound in cinema and our lives through film clips, interviews, and verité footage. It captures the history, impact, and creative process of this art form with insightful, heart-warming and fun stories told by legendary directors such as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, David Lynch, Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford, Ang Lee, Sofia Coppola, and Ryan Coogler, and the sound artists with whom they collaborate. Few have “ears to hear” the emotional storytelling impact sound plays in so-called visual media. Francis Ford Coppola and Lucas both declare, “Sound is half the movie!” Spielberg says, “Our ears lead our eyes to where the story lives.” Audiences will discover unsung artists and key sound creatives - Walter Murch (Apocalypse Now), Ben Burtt (Star Wars), Gary Rydstrom (Saving Private Ryan), Lora Hirschberg (Inception), Cece Hall (Top Gun), Anna Behlmer (Braveheart) – who create magic for all the movies we love.

The Last Waltz (1978)

Documentary

On Thanksgiving Day, 1976, The Band gave its farewell concert at Winterland in San Francisco. On hand to help say goodbye to this influential rock group were some of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 1960s and '70s. This film is not only a vibrant documentary of that historic evening, but also a commentary on the rock world at the time. Most of the picture is concert footage of The Band and their guest performers -- highlighted by interviews with members of the group, who eloquently articulate their personal involvement in the history of rock and roll.

Greece: Secrets of the Past

Documentary

Greece: Secrets of the Past transports audiences to the dawn of democracy and the birthplace of Western Civilization on a quest to uncover the buried secrets of one of the world’s most enlightened societies—ancient Greece. The film probes some of the greatest lingering mysteries of this remarkable civilization. At once a modern detective story and a sweeping journey to the distant past, the film offers a new and exciting perspective on an age of universal importance to us all.

Every Act of Life

Documentary

With six groundbreaking decades in the theatre (“Master Class,” “Ragtime,” “Love! Valour! Compassion!”), four-time Tony-winning playwright Terrence McNally is a living legend, on stage and off. He launched the careers of some of Broadway’s biggest stars, has been a pioneer in the fight for LGBTQ rights, triumphed over addiction, found love and inspiration at every age, and continually shows the power of art to transform society.

Freeway: Crack in the System

Documentary

The definitive story of the birth of the crack plague, told by the man at the epicenter of the CIA/Contra/cocaine connection: “Freeway” Ricky Ross. In South Central LA, he is an urban legend – a black godfather figure whom most people have never seen, but know by reputation. Once a promising tennis player, he lost his chance at a college scholarship after it became apparent he couldn’t read. At a vocational school, an instructor set him up with a Nicaraguan drug connection. Ross built a drug empire, and by1983 was sending five million vials of crack a month to streets across the country, taking in over a million dollars in cash a day. But he didn’t know that his supplier and friend, Blandon, was using some of the profits to help fund the Contras in Nicaragua and was part of a network connected to the CIA. He would later betray Ross in a DEA drug sting, sending him to federal prison with a life sentence. His story defies all odds and proves that truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

Half-Life of Memory: America's Forgotten Atomic Bomb Factory

Documentary

In the suburbs of Denver, the U.S. secretly manufactured thousands of atomic weapons, leaving behind a toxic legacy that will persist for generations.

Happy Campers

Documentary

Every summer, working-class families enjoy waterfront living in a scrappy trailer park off the coast of Virginia. When the relentless march of capitalism threatens their shabby Shangri-La, the denizens of Inlet View face the inevitable, and reveal the secrets to a rich life.

Waking Sleeping Beauty

Documentary

Far from a fairytale, Waking Sleeping Beauty is an unprecedented eye-opening look at the conflict, drama and tension that ushered in the second chapter of Disney's animation legacy - a decade of unparalleled creativity that included The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King. Told by the people who were actually there - Michael Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Roy E. Disney, John Lasseter and many more, Waking Sleeping Beauty is a behind-the-magic look at the people and circumstances that changed the face of animation forever.

Back In Time

Documentary

The documentary film Back in Time is, at its heart, a look at the very real impact the Back to the Future movies have had on our culture. What was once a little idea that spawned a tightly-focused documentary has grown into something truly amazing over two years of filming. Back in Time is a cinematic monument to the vastness of the trilogy’s fandom. In addition to the footage and interviews revolving around the time machine itself, the crew found that simply by delving into the impact of the trilogy an epic journey began to unfold before them. The crew captured countless hours of footage during filming. From Steven Spielberg to Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, to the Sheas and Hollers, and from James Tolkan and Lea Thompson to Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox, Back in Time features interview after interview that simply must be seen.

Once Within a Time

Documentary

Celebrated director Godfrey Reggio (Koyaanisqatsi) returns after ten years with a new experimental film unlike any other from his already daring career: a bardic fairy tale about the end of the world and the beginning of a new one, tinged with apocalyptic comedy, rapturous cinematography, unforgettable vistas, and the innocence and hopes of a new generation. Featuring an electrifying score composed by Reggio’s longtime collaborator Philip Glass with additional vocals from Sussan Deyhim and co-directed by veteran editor and filmmaker Jon Kane, "Once Within A Time" is an indie revelation.

The Program

Documentary

The Program goes behind the Congressional hearings to leave skeptics astounded by new assertions from a growing chorus of high-level insiders who insist there is definitive proof we are not alone.

After Porn Ends

Documentary

After Porn Ends, is a documentary that not only examines the lives and careers of some of the biggest names in the history of the adult entertainment industry; but what happens to them after they leave the business and try and live the “normal” lives that millions of other Americans enjoy. They hailed from the rural South, steel towns, and the San Fernando Valley. As teenagers, and young adults, none of them thought that porn was in their future. They were artists, baseball players, child prodigies, and even Ivy Leaguers. Now, after their lives in porn; they’re TV stars, bounty hunters, writers, and social activists. What happened in between? And now that they’ve moved on, can they really live a normal life after porn?

Alan Pakula: Going for Truth

Documentary

"Alan Pakula: Going for Truth" encompasses the personal and professional life of Alan J. Pakula, a lauded filmmaker and extremely private man, who was unflinching in his commitment to bringing some of the most memorable movies of the last half of the 20th century to the big screen. Always placing story first and going for truth, this elusive artist finally gets his spotlight. Select cast and crew members from his wide ranging filmography including To Kill A Mockingbird, Klute, All the President's Men, Sophie's Choice, Presumed Innocent, and The Pelican Brief bring Pakula to life once more after he was lost so tragically; while family and friends share their memories of knowing him as an artist, a husband, and a stepfather.

Johnny Depp: King of Cult

Documentary

Johnny Depp. One of the worlds best known actors. Famous for his versatility and dedication to the characters he plays. Initially known as a teen idol for his tortured pretty-boy looks, Johnny Depp survived the perils of adolescent heartthrob status to earn a reputation as a respected adult actor. Best known for his eccentric and unconventional film choices, Johnny Depp is perhaps one of the most versatile actors of his day and age in Hollywood, and has carved a legacy for himself as a serious well-rounded performer. His tendency to frequently play freakishly eccentric outcasts whose oddities are misunderstood by society has made him one of the worlds best character actors, with iconic roles such as Captain Jack Sparrow and Willy Wonka. From his stranger roles like the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland to more conventional performances like John Dillinger in Public Enemies, Johnny Depp has managed to capture the hearts of millions, making him a household name. Johnny Depp is Hollywood’s chameleon.

Trespassing Bergman

Documentary

Ingmar Bergmans life and his key films as seen and told by the greatest actors and directors of our time. Candid, funny and explicit interviews with the likes of Lars Von Trier, Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, Isabella Rossellini and Michael Haneke - some shoot at Bergmans last home on the island of Fårö - interwoven with never before seen footage from behind-the-scenes at many of the Swedish masters films.

Depp vs Heard: All on the Line

Documentary

Johnny Depp has made a long, successful career for himself in Hollywood, ultimately becoming one of the most recognisable names in the industry. Amber Heard has starred in various movies in different and unconventional roles. She is known to have made her way through Hollywood through grit and determination after coming from a humble background. While both have gathered successes and failures respectively during their careers it is the infamous trial that will go down in history. A trial that has divided fans and sent social and broadcast media into a frenzy. Two of the largest actors of modern-day go head to head in the court of law and public opinion. A gruelling 5 weeks. 50 million dollars on the line and a defamation case that will leave only one of them victorious. Everything is on the line in this battle of the century. This is… Depp vs Heard: All On The Line

Documentary Movies