Categories: Movies

2012 Year in Review: Best Documentary Films

Documentaries in 2012 rocked! Not literally (although one of the best docs this year centered on a mysterious musician), but in compelling, wide-ranging themes. Topics such as the environment, military transgressions, social ills, and plain old greed were examined in thought-provoking, sometimes visually stunning ways.

With flexible and readily available cameras and post-production technology, documentarians have greater freedom to tackle the stories they want to illuminate. And with better distribution methods, whether in theaters, film festivals or on VOD, documentaries are in a period of renaissance. So let’s celebrate some of the Best Documentaries of 2012 (in alphabetical order):

“The Central Park Five” – Ken Burns, David McMahon and Sarah Burns’ exhaustively researched and riveting documentary follows one Latino and four black Harlem teens who were wrongfully charged and imprisoned for the 1989 brutal beating and rape of a young white, Wall Street woman. This true tale portrays how dangerous it is for the public to jump on the media bandwagon, and highlights racial prejudices in a city looking for villains at whatever cost.

“Chasing Ice” – This visually stunning and environmentally important documentary follows photographer James Balog over three years as he uses time lapse photography in 25 cameras positioned in Iceland, Greenland, Alaska and Montana to capture glacial retreat around the world. Director Jeff Orlowski does a great job in mixing beautiful photography with shocking global warming statistics.

“The House I Live In” – Eugene Jarecki’s acclaimed film won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and is on the shortlist of fifteen for Oscar’s Best Documentary. “The House I Live In” succinctly depicts the astounding toll taken on individuals, families, and even taxpayers from the War on Drugs, a war, which, by the way, we’re losing.

“How to Survive a Plague” – A moving and brilliantly constructed portrait of the AIDS crisis that spotlights the work of activist group, ACT UP. Culled from 31 independent videographers as well as NY Public Library’s AIDS Activists videotapes, journalist David France assembles a piece of history that must be remembered. It’s also a wonderful portrait of social activism with a clear message.

“Searching for Sugar Man” – “Searching for Sugar Man” is one of the best documentary surprises of the year. By now many may know the story of Detroit, 1970’s singer, Sixto Rodriguez, so the mysteries revealed by Swedish filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul may not be as shocking. But this International Documentary Award winner, and Golden Globe nominee, may just charm its way to Oscar. And the musical talents of Rodriguez are pretty fantastic.

“The Queen of Versailles” – An amazing sociologic and economic portrait of a “rags-to-riches-to-rags” story focusing on Florida timeshare billionaire David Siegel and his wife Jackie and their family. Starting at the top, the couple proudly shows off their mansion, private jet and yacht, but the film takes a twist as the economy falls and everything comes crashing down.

“The Invisible War” – Probably one of the most important and moving films in the group is Kirby Dick’s “The Invisible War.” Winning the Audience Award at Sundance and already on the shortlist of fifteen for an Oscar nomination, this documentary explores one of the military’s most shameful secrets: sexual assault within the ranks. (Of note, after screening the film, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta decreed that all sexual investigations be handed to a higher-ranking colonel as opposed to the commanders of the victim and aggressor, who might not want to see their regiment tarnished.)