Nine films dealing with war and five more dealing with social issues ranging from health care to gay rights, abortion to slavery highlight an exceptionally serious and shockingly straight-forward list of documentaries that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has chosen to highlight as the cream of the 2007 crop. But more than the films that were selected for this year's Oscar Shortlist is the stunning list of films - both in length and in quality - that did not hear the Academy's call.
While we will cover some of the issues raised by the Academy's Shortlist in this report, I will have a special commentary on the choices made by the Academy's screening committee - as well as those made by the International Documentary Association - posted shortly. (Update: The Commentary is now posted here.)
Here's an in-depth look at this year's films and some of the important facts behind this list of 15.
Theatrical? What Theatrical?
Despite all the endless debate over making sure the Oscar nominees were theatrical documentaries and not television docs in disguise, the Academy's screening committee selected just 6 films which have pursued a true national theatrical release, with an additional two more set to do so in the coming months. In part because of all of the mumblings made by the Academy, I had naively predicted that the Shortlist would include a minimum of 8 (and maximum of 12 films) that had already pursued such a release. In fact, while presumably all 15 films have played the required 14 cities in 10 states, nearly 2/3 of the films that made the Shortlist have yet to make themselves available for review by critics nor have they reported their box office receipts. Three of the films have already aired on television in the US.
Whattya Know? Seinfeld Was Right!
There was a bit of grumbling last year when Jerry Seinfeld described the Oscar field as "incredibly depressing". But apparently that wasn't a concern for the screening committee, which went full throttle for films about war and social issues. Even the more crowd pleasing films in the bunch are built around very serious subjects like autism and genocide.
THINKing Big
THINKFilm went into this year's Oscar race with a strong line-up, including four films that screened as part of the IDA's DocuWeek series. Of the other longtime documentary distributors, only Magnolia, First Run and Weinstein/Lionsgate could manage a single film on the list. For comparison, last year no distributor had more than one film on the Shortlist.
The four films also happen to be some of the only films on the list that took significant steps regarding style, craft and sometimes pushed the boundaries of the form. Surprisingly - particularly considering the competition - THINK's most conventional doc, IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON, was one of the biggest snubs.
But There's Plenty of Snubs to Go Around
The truly big story is the long list of acclaimed films that didn't make the list. It starts with IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON and THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK, and it extends embarrassingly for at least another dozen. In fact, 7 of the top 10 critically acclaimed theatrical docs of 2007 (according to our list published last week) were left off the Academy's Shortlist. 8 of the next 20 were also missing. While two years ago everyone was shocked that GRIZZLY MAN was excluded, this year the list of missing films is so lengthy that no one exclusion stands out as most egregious.
The IDA/Academy Mind Meld
The International Documentary Association matched its tally from 2006 by helping to qualify five of the Shortlisters through its DocuWeek program, including three films from THINK. In addition, five of the IDA's ten shortlisted films are also on the Academy's Shortlist, including three finalists: OPERATION HOMECOMING, SICKO and TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE.
Sundance Maintains Dominance
Also matching its tally from last year, five of this year's films debuted in Park City. Among the rest, Toronto came in second with three films (one from 2006 & two from 2007), Tribeca was third with two titles. Cannes, SXSW, Adelaide and Boston Jewish each had one.
The Boys Are Back
In 2006, 2/3 of the film's nominated were directed solely by women or all-female directorial teams. This year, just a single film - Tricia Regan's AUTISM: THE MUSICAL - fits that description. Further, only three other films have a woman working as a co-director.
The 2007 Shortlist
Here now, in alphabetical order, are the 15 films on this year's Oscar Shortlist:
AUTISM: THE MUSICAL
Directed by Tricia Regan
Vital Statistics:
IMDb page
Festival Premiere:
Tribeca
Other Major Festivals:
Mill Valley, Newport, Vancouver
Festival Laurels:
Audience Award - Newport
Distribution:
Acquired by HBO
Qualified:
Underground theatrical release
IDA Nominee?:
No.
Sample review:
"Eloquently attesting to the transformative power of theater, "Autism: The Musical," an upbeat docu about putting on a musical for, with and by autistic children, proves as riveting as it is revelatory." - Ronnie Scheib, Variety
Notes:
One of only a few uplifting films in this year's crop, it is also the one that seems most made-for-basic-cable-reality-television. Produced by the production company that brought you The Real World and Road Rules, the film mixes interviews of parents with footage of their autistic kids preparing to stage a musical on LA's affluent westside (home to many Academy members). Apparently resonates with parents concerned about the growing issue of autism. One of the few films this year to somewhat successfully utilize the trappings of the competition doc.
BODY OF WAR
Directed by Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro
Vital Statistics:
IMDb Page
Festival Premiere:
Toronto 2007
Other Major Festivals:
Hamptons, AFI
Festival Laurels:
Audience Award - Hamptons
Distribution:
Pending
Qualified:
Underground theatrical release
IDA Nominee?:
No.
Sample review:
"By documenting the difficult life of their paraplegic subject, helmers Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue succeed in personalizing some of the war's grim statistics, but the purview of their portrait feels too limited for the pic to play widely." - Alissa Simon, Variety
Notes:
Often referred to as "the Donahue movie", a distinction that ignores veteran doc helmer Ellen Spiro, BODY OF WAR is one of the only films by a high-profile maker to advance to the short list. One of four films dealing with the Iraq war, it has galvanized audience reaction through its short festival run. Still looking for distribution (although this may help, even in a climate that supposedly steers clear of Iraq films), it also has the benefit of a high profile musical contributor - Eddie Vedder - who could be this year's Melissa Etheridge (a rocker nominated for Best Original Song for documentary work).
FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO
Directed by Daniel Karslake
Vital Statistics:
IMDb page
Festival Premiere:
Sundance
Other Major Festivals:
Full Frame, Seattle, Outfest, Vancouver, Denver
Festival Laurels:
Human Rights Award - Full Frame
Audience Award - Seattle
Audience Award - Outfest
Distribution:
First Run
Box Office:
$229,716 as of 11/19/07
Qualified:
Theatrical release with underground qualifying run.
IDA Nominee?:
No.
Rotten Tomatoes page:
94% (32 out of 34)
100 percent cream
Metacritic score:
72
Sample review:
"A brisk, entertaining and even moving exploration of the sometimes frayed intersection where Christianity meets homosexuality... (I)t's never strident or chest-thumping, and its methodology is superbly thought out." - Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
Notes:
One of only 6 actual theatrical releases on the list, and one of the few that had both a successful festival and theatrical run. An emotionally important and timely film about the still-looming issue of gay rights and religion. It's a somewhat conventional mix of interviews and archival material (the film's one major bout of style - an animated sequence - is the one thing that many don't like), but it's powerful, gripping and critically acclaimed. And one year after the double nods for JESUS CAMP and DELIVER US FROM EVIL, it could be the religious-issue film that hits with Academy members.
LAKE OF FIRE
Directed by Tony Kaye
Vital Statistics:
IMDb page
Festival Premiere:
Toronto 2006
Other Major Festivals:
Full Frame, Santa Barbara, Sarasota, Seattle, Denver
Distribution:
THINKFilm
Box Office:
$25,317 as of 11/19/07
Qualified:
Theatrical release with underground qualifying run.
IDA Nominee?:
No.
Rotten Tomatoes page:
95% (37 out of 39)
100% cream
Metacritic score:
83
Sample review:
"This is a brave, unflinching, sometimes virtually unwatchable documentary that makes such an effective case for both pro-choice and pro-life that it is impossible to determine which side the filmmaker, Tony Kaye, stands on.." - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Notes:
Beloved by critics, somewhat less so by audiences (in part due to its 2 1/2 hour running time), LAKE OF FIRE was the sole THINKFilm title not to be chosen for DocuWeek this summer. With all the talk and praise the film has received, some have been shocked by the film's poor performance at the box office. Surprisingly not mentioned in discussion of the film is the fact that the vast majority of the action takes place during the abortion clinic bombings of the 1990s. Like FOR THE BIBLE, the film taps into a religious examination that seemed to resonate with the Academy last year. Just wondering, do they know Tony Kaye's reputation for controversy?
NANKING
Directed by Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman
Vital Statistics:
IMDb page
Festival Premiere:
Sundance
Other Major Festivals:
Tribeca, Vancouver, Denver
Festival Laurels:
Best Editing - Sundance
Distribution:
THINKFilm
Qualified:
DocuWeek premiere and multi-city rollout. DocuWeek Director Q&A can be found here.
IDA Nominee?:
Yes. Feature Documentary Shortlist and ABCNews VideoSource Award Nominee.
Sample review:
"Hard-hitting if somewhat over-produced docu reps a vital addition to the small body of reportage on a tragedy whose repercussions continue to be a source of pain and controversy." - Justin Chang, Variety
Notes:
One of the most successful documentaries of the year at the box office - the Chinese box office that is. The film opens in the US next month. Produced by AOL bigwig Ted Leonsis and co-directed by 5-time Oscar nominee and 2-time winner Guttentag, NANKING looks at the westerners who helped protect Chinese citizens from the Japanese army during the infamous 1937 massacre there. Some wondered if the extensive use of actors portraying historical figures might negatively affect the film's chances with the sometimes strict Academy.
NO END IN SIGHT
Directed by Charles Ferguson
Vital Statistics:
IMDb page
Festival Premiere:
Sundance
Festival Laurels:
Special Jury Prize - Sundance Film Festival
Distribution:
Magnolia
Box Office:
$1,433,319 as of 11/19/07
Qualified:
Theatrical release.
IDA Nominee?:
No.
Rotten Tomatoes page:
95% (75 out of 79)
96% cream
Metacritic score:
89
Sample review:
"As lucid as it is level-headed, the film has a clear thematic focus -- what went wrong in Iraq -- and it identifies the catastrophic turning points with steely precision and a wealth of context. The result, narrated in a grave monotone by Campbell Scott, is a catalog of horrors so absurd and relentless it verges on farce, or Greek tragedy." - Dennis Lim, Los Angeles Times
Notes:
The second highest grossing doc (in the US) on the list and the one with the best reviews, NO END IN SIGHT may be the front runner as well. A comprehensive journalistic summation of the Iraq decable, executive produced by Oscar nominee (and fellow shortlister) Alex Gibney, the film is also admired for director Ferguson's back story - an internet millionaire and MIT scholar who made the film looking for answers rather than a muckraking expose. The only potential drawback is the film's conventional style, although looking at the Academy's Shortlist, that may be just thing to give them the Iraq film they've looking for.
OPERATION HOMECOMING - WRITING THE WAR TIME EXPERIENCE
Directed by Richard Robbins
Vital Statistics:
IMDb page
Theatrical Premiere:
February 9, 2007
Major Festivals:
True/False, Full Frame, IDFA 2007
Festival Laurels:
Special Jury Prize - Florida Film Festival
Distribution:
The Documentary Group
Box Office:
Unreported
Qualified:
Theatrical release.
IDA Nominee?:
Yes - Best Documentary Feature Finalist and Pare Lorentz Award Nominee.
Rotten Tomatoes page:
87% (13 out of 15)
71% cream
Metacritic score:
71
Sample review:
"Robbins' visual overlay sometimes synchs perfectly with the narration and other times roughly approximates it, deliberately granting primacy to the word. Even the sometimes uneven quality of the imagery serves to highlight the shattering honesty of these barings of the soul." - Ronnie Scheib, Variety
Notes:
In terms of theatrical release, the oldest film on the list, and the only film to premiere in theatres before playing a single film festival. Aired on PBS in the spring. Like last year's shortlister THE WAR TAPES, allows audiences to hear directly from Iraq war soldiers. Produced by members of Peter Jennings' team from ABC News. Surprising choice to open the upcoming edition of IDFA (considering that fest's often strict premiere guidelines). One of three films to also be nominated for the IDA's top prize.
PLEASE VOTE FOR ME
Directed by Weijun Chen
Vital Statistics:
IMDb page
Festival Premiere:
Adelaide
Other Major Festivals:
AFI Silverdocs, Toronto, Hamptons
Festival Laurels:
Grand Jury Prize - AFI Silverdocs
Distribution:
Acquired by PBS for Independent Lens.
Qualified:
Underground theatrical release prior to foreign TV broadcast.
IDA Nominee?:
No.
Sample review:
"Thought-provoking and achingly hilarious... At a time when the exportation of democracy serves as a rationale for war, "Please Vote for Me" attains must-see status.." - Variety
Notes:
Both funny and thought-provoking and a surprise victor at AFI Silverdocs in June., the second Silverdocs grand jury prize winner in two years to advance. The last - JESUS CAMP - was also nominated. One of two "Why Democracy?" films (TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE is the other) on the Shortlist. Like OPERATION HOMECOMING, has already aired on television.
THE PRICE OF SUGAR
Directed by Bill Haney
Vital Statistics:
IMDb page
Festival Premiere:
SXSW
Other Major Festivals:
AFI Silverdocs
Festival Laurels:
Audience Award, Emerging Visions - SXSW
Distribution:
Uncommon
Qualified:
DocuWeek followed by theatrical release. DocuWeek Director Q&A can be found here.
IDA Nominee?:
No.
Rotten Tomatoes page:
76% (13 out of 17)
86% cream
Metacritic score:
73
Sample review:
"While the political implications of the film are provocative, "Sugar" also happens to be an impressive cinematic achievement. This picture has a visual sweep that many docu films lack; the plantations and nearby towns are vividly evoked." - Stephen Farber, Hollywood Reporter
Notes:
Represents what is quickly becoming a documentary staple, the "that food you eat is killing someone" strand, but does so with strong cinematography and narration from liberal saint Paul Newman. The only doc from SXSW's exceptionally strong line-up to make the Shortlist. Like NANKING and the non-shortlisted DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK, has received some criticism for its "white man to the rescue" storyline. Has also received support when the film came under attack by Washington lawyers representing the abusive Dominican sugar corporations.
A PROMISE TO THE DEAD: THE EXILE JOURNEY OF ARIEL DORFMAN
Directed by Peter Raymont
Vital Statistics:
IMDb page
Festival Premiere:
Toronto 2007
Distribution:
Pending
Qualified:
DocuWeek premiere and multi-city rollout. DocuWeek Director Q&A can be found here.
IDA Nominee?:
No.
Sample review:
"The decision by Canadian documaker Peter Raymont ("Shake Hands With the Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire") to show Dorfman returning to his beloved adopted home of Chile after years of political exile, and also have the writer function as an on-camera host, makes for a stilted if sincere political and emotional tour." - Robert Koehler, Variety
Notes:
A very straight-forward travelogue of the Chilean author Ariel Dorfman's return home after exile following the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende by Augusto Pinochet. Had a sneak preview earlier in the year at Full Frame, where Dorfman was one of the ten curators asked to select a film to present.

THE RAPE OF EUROPA
Directed by Bruce Berge, Bonni Cohen and Nicole Nernham
Vital Statistics:
IMDb page
Festival Premiere:
Boston Jewish Film Featival 2006
Other Major Festivals:
Denver, Palm Springs, Sarasota
Distribution:
Self-distributed
Box Office:
Unreported
Qualified:
Underground theatrical release.
IDA Nominee?:
No.
Sample review:
" Impressive in scope if unremarkable in style, The Rape of Europa provides a chronology of World War II as it was experienced by "David," "Mona Lisa," and other artistic treasures the Nazis plundered. Though dryly executed and narrated by a staid Joan Allen, the doc is an excellent survey of the techniques employed by the Third Reich to not just demoralize but de-historicize the countries they invaded." - Michelle Orange, Village Voice
Notes:
While many expected two-time Oscar winner Rabbi Marvin Hier's film on SIMON WIESENTHAL to take the World War II slot on the Shortlist, it went instead to RAPE OF EUROPA, a public broadcasting and grant-funded look at the theft of art treasures by the Nazis. Has played more than 20 Jewish film festivals this year alone. Inspired by a 1995 book by the same name by Lynn Nicholas.
SICKO
Directed by Michael Moore
Vital Statistics:
IMDb page
Festival Premiere:
Cannes
Distribution:
Weinstein Company/Lionsgate
Box Office:
$24,540,079 as of 11/19/07
Qualified:
Theatrical release.
IDA Nominee?:
Yes - Best Documentary Feature Finalist. Moore to receive Lifetime Achievement Award.
Rotten Tomatoes page:
93% (163 out of 176)
87% cream
Metacritic score:
74
Sample review:
" It's a different Michael Moore in "Sicko." He still wears the baseball cap, but he's onscreen less, not so cocky, not going for so many laughs. He simply tells one story after another about Americans who are sick, dying or dead because we have an undemocratic, profit-gouging health care system." - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Notes:
For any other director, it would be the front runner going away. But there's a big question as to whether the documentary branch wants to hand Michael Moore another Oscar, both out of professional jealousy, questions regarding his style & tactics, as well as the circus that resulted when he won for BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE. It seems hard to believe that he won't get a nomination, because - and don't let them fool you for a moment - docmakers know that if Moore is nominated, all eyes will be on the Doc Feature category, even if the award goes to Gibney or Ferguson.
TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE
Directed by Alex Gibney
Vital Statistics:
IMDb page
Festival Premiere:
Tribeca
Other Major Festivals:
Full Frame (preview), AFI Silverdocs, Newport, Vancouver, Hamptons, Denver, St Louis
Festival Laurels:
Best Documentary - Tribeca
Best Documentary - Newport
Best Documentary - Chicago
Nominated - Best Documentary, Gotham Awards
Distribution:
THINKFilm. Opens in the US in January.
Qualified:
DocuWeek followed by underground theatrical release. DocuWeek Director Q&A can be found here.
IDA Nominee?:
Yes - Best Documentary Feature Finalist.
Sample review:
"Gibney makes movies. It would be discordant on various levels to call "Taxi to the Dark Side" an entertainment, but it's certainly an artful construction of many different visual and sonic elements, which moves from a personal, intimate focus to a more global and historical view and then back again." - Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.
(Editor's Note - A previous edition of this report mistakenly had the above review of NO END IN SIGHT in this spot. That oversite has now been corrected.)
Notes:
Along with WAR/DANCE, the closest thing we have this year to a festival favorite. A likely nominee and a possible winner. Gibney, nominated a couple years ago for his well-liked ENRON film, could also be in the mix with NO END IN SIGHT, which he executive produced. The Academy might want to give him the Oscar to reward both efforts, each of which is a clear-eyed and detailed investigations of Bush administration abuses surrounding the war in Iraq. And unlike many of the nominees, Gibney's journalism is matched with exceptional filmmaking craft. Imagine that. One caveat, since the Academy started changing the rules favoring theatrical in 2002, there has not been a repeat nominee in this category (that goes for you, too, Michael Moore & Bill Guttentag).
WAR/DANCE
Directed by Sean Fine and Andrea Nix/Fine
Vital Statistics:
IMDb page
Festival Premiere:
Sundance
Other Major Festivals:
True/False, Full Frame, Sarasota, Hot Docs, AFI Silverdocs, Los Angeles, Woodstock
Festival Laurels:
Best Direction - Sundance
Audience Award - Full Frame
Distribution:
THINKFilm
Box Office:
$29,241 as of 11/19/07
Qualified:
DocuWeek followed by theatrical release. DocuWeek Director Q&A can be found here.
IDA Nominee?:
Yes. Was on the Feature Shortlist and is nominated for the Alan Ett Music Award.
Rotten Tomatoes page:
77% (17 out of 22)
82% cream
Metacritic score:
66
Sample review:
"They tell their horrific stories of mutilation and murder directly to the camera, while the reliance on picturesque backdrops, high-energy performances, and countdown-to-the-big-show narrative gambits begs you not to watch something easier on the conscience." - Jim Ridley , Village Voice
Notes:
A festival favorite and the only film on the list to play all four of North America's top documentary festivals (in calendar order - True/False, Full Frame, Hot Docs and Silverdocs). Has had a somewhat surprisingly mixed critical reaction (with the lowest Metacritic score on the Shortlist), as some reviewers are not going for the more constructed or controlled elements of the film where, despite its made-for-the-Academy themes, the film actually takes some chances. Was often pitted against the other African kids doc, WE ARE TOGETHER, which is surprisingly not on the Shortlist and is well liked by many. Strong craft level, particularly in the cinematography. The film's ultimately optimistic tone may help it burst through in a year filled with seriousness.
WHITE LIGHT/BLACK RAIN
Directed by Steven Okazaki
Vital Statistics:
IMDb page
Festival Premiere:
Sundance
Other Major Festivals:
Full Frame, Seattle
Distribution:
Made by HBO and broadcast by them in August. Already available on DVD.
Qualified:
Underground theatrical screenings.
IDA Nominee?:
Yes. ABCNews Video Source and Pare Lorentz nominee.
Sample review:
"The final third of the film is almost unwatchable as Mr. Okazaki turns to clips of survivors (including some of those in his present-day interviews) from the weeks after the bombings. Their burns and other injuries are simply ghastly." - Neil Genzlinger, Television Critic, NY Times
Notes:
Proof that the rules mandating a theatrical release only hurt the little guys, this HBO production bought and paid for its qualifying dates with no intention of an actual theatrical release. The director covered this same ground two years ago with the Oscar nominated short THE MUSHROOM CLUB. A shockingly straight-forward, interview-based documentary.
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