Docs I watched recently:
Samsara: I've been to watch this forever. It sorta lived up to my expectations. It's non-narrative and non-verbal. It tries to explore themes such as wonders of the world and human society. Everything is exaggerated for effect and it works when it's not too contrived and unsubtle. 3.5/5
The Search for General Tso: I enjoyed this more than I expected. Initially I thought it was only going to cover the history of the General Tso Chicken dish, but it thankfully covered the historical context of Chinese American cuisine. 4/5
What Happened, Miss Simone?: This one broke my heart. I'm a recent big fan of Nina Simone but up until this doc I never looked into her backstory or the context of any politically fueled songs. It covers her rise (up until her civil rights association) and fall (continued paranoia bolstered by her mental illness, dishing/receiving physical and emotional abuse, etc.) 5/5 if you're a fan.
Somm: About 4 sommelier candidates on their quest to take the test. An interesting look into wine culture, specifically this area I never thought existed... and how douchebags are sometimes rewarded. Just kidding. Maybe. 3.5/5
How to Die in Oregon: I heard about this so much, and I finally watched it. It revolves around the Death With Dignity Act, used by terminally ill patients, and follows the lives of few people invested in it. It goes without saying that it will test your views on assisted suicide (and whether you want to continue using that term)... and also that it will make you cry. 4/5
The Circle: I'm not sure how many straight people will be interested in important piece of LGBT history, but I thought this one was a very strong production. It's not strictly a documentary, but more of a Docudrama. Real people retelling the story of the 1940s titular gay publication from Zurich, broken by a solid cast reenacting the events that culminated in how the mag was used as a scapegoat for a series of murders during that era. It's possibly my first view of European LGBT ordeals from the 20th century. 5/5 if you're gay
Bad Johnson: Just kidding. Fun fact tho: the writer, Jeff Tetreault, is a big, hot, douchy, straight go-go dancer with a very NSFW tumblr. 0/5 movie. 5/5 tumblr