TheDocHierarchy

I rank documentaries. No, I don't have a formal set of criteria and yes, you'll probably disagree.

[the--hollow--men]

Forest Man (McMaster, 2013) - Trailer

The story of a man who single-handedly planted a forest larger than Central Park in Northeast India. Powerful and inspiring.

[arhymetofilm]

[thedochierarchy-blog]

Outrage (Dick, 2009) - Trailer

An indictment of closeted politicians who lobby for anti-gay legislation in the U.S.

[tastefullyoffensive]

Types of Commas [thenamenononehas]

[onceuponawildflower]

I can safely say this is the most awe-inspiring and enjoyable documentary I’ve ever watched.

[vegan-pancake]

Over 500 Social Change Documentaries on 1 Page

[thedochierarchy-blog]

Watch over 500 of the best social change documentaries free to watch online, all via one massive wall of films on a single page.

[thedochierarchy-blog]

The Battered Bastards of Baseball (Way/Way, 2014) - Trailer

One of baseball's last great, unheralded true stories. 

[thedochierarchy-blog]

Underwater Dreams (Mazzio, 2014)

Two energetic high school science teachers, on a whim, decide to enter their high school, a Title I school where most of the students live in poverty, into a sophisticated underwater robotics competition sponsored by the NASA and the Office of Naval Research, among others. Four sons of undocumented Mexican immigrants are the only students to sign up. 

Narrated by Michael Pena, this is the story of what transpires. 

[eternalsunshine]

[thedochierarchy-blog]

Whateverest (Borgli, 2013) - Watch

A short documentary about the unlikely inspiration behind a dance tune called “Inspector Norse”. “Inspector Norse” is the internet alias of Marius Solem Johansen, a failed musician living in a small town, producing dance videos and drug recipes for YouTube.

[theproseapp]

[thedochierarchy-blog]

Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story (Bernstein, 2012)

In 1960 Tomi Ungerer was returning from his native France to New York City, his adopted home, when he realized that three men were walking uncomfortably close to him as he was leaving a terminal at the old Idlewild airport in Queens. One ordered him to drop his suitcases. Then the others latched onto him, hustled him into a car and drove him to a nearby building where they questioned him obliquely about his travel and his political affiliations.

It’s the kind of trench-coat caper that doesn’t generally feature a beloved children’s book author as the abductee. 'Far Out Isn't Far Enough' depicts one man's wild, lifelong adventure of testing societal boundaries through his use of subversive art.

[recklesscycling-blog]

I have no one to say ‘remember when’ to anymore.

Joan Rivers

The iconic comedienne lamenting the passing of time in the biopic doc "Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work". 

[natazaelia]

[thedochierarchy-blog]

Kumaré (Gandhi, 2011) - Trailer

A documentary about a man who impersonates a wise Indian Guru and builds a following in Arizona. At the height of his popularity, the Guru Kumaré must reveal his true identity to his disciples and unveil his greatest teaching of all.

[arhymetofilm]

[thedochierarchy-blog]

Detropia (Ewing/Grady, 2012) - Trailer

The woes of Detroit are emblematic of the collapse of the U.S. manufacturing base. Is the Midwestern icon actually a canary in the American coal mine? Detropia is a cinematic tapestry of a city and its people who refuse to leave the building, even as the flames are rising

[thedochierarchy-blog]

Life Itself (James, 2014) - Trailer

A documentary film that recounts the inspiring and entertaining life of world-renowned film critic and social commentator Roger Ebert.

[thedochierarchy-blog]

The Most Dangerous Man in America (Ehrlich/Goldsmith, 2009) - Trailer

In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg shook America to its foundations when he smuggled a top-secret Pentagon study to the New York Times that showed how five Presidents consistently lied to the American people about the Vietnam War that was killing millions and tearing America apart.

President Nixon's National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger called Ellsberg "the most dangerous man in America," who "had to be stopped at all costs." But Ellsberg wasn't stopped.

[tomiesamara]

Surveys show that in the online dating world, women are afraid of meeting a serial killer. Men are afraid of meeting someone fat.

When Strangers Click (Kenner, 2011) - Trailer

Finding love has never been easy. But it’s also never been easier. Online dating sites thrive on the promise that dates and mates are just a “click” away. But are they?

[thedochierarchy-blog]

The House I Live In (Jarecki, 2012) - Trailer

[tastefullyoffensive]

Literal Movie Posters by Danish Ahmed [via]