True Story! The Best Documentaries Of 2016

I do like to take a moment at the end of the year to shine a spotlight back on the best documentaries of the year.

They usually go unheralded or unappreciated, but thanks to so many different services, so many of them can be enjoyed at home.

They often are so unbelievable, you couldn't script a more entertaining story if you try.

Here's a look back at some of my favorites:

We'll start with a special shout out to ESPN 30 for 30.

Four Falls of Buffalo
The '85 Bears
Believeland

Those were the only 3 that I watched this year, but much like others I've seen in years past, they are some of the most entertaining episodes you're likely to see.

I debated whether or not to put this on the best of television since it is an ESPN program, but decided in the end to go this route.

Each episode is a movie in itself, and rarely has anything to do (besides being about sports) with one another.

I've still got plenty of them that I haven't watched, but I haven't seen a bad one yet.

Most 30 for 30s are currently streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Dark Horse

When you take a poor Welsh town that gathers a group together and pools their money in the longshot attempt to raise a champion race horse well you can kind of tell where this movie is going to go.

After all, it's rare that documentaries get made about losers, right? :)

It's impossible not to root for them as they relive their road to glory and heartbreak.

The people are so genuine and warm, and the story is so magnificently laid out, it's the stuff that Disney films are made for.

But this one is all true.

Being Canadian

A documentary that sets out to discover what Canadians are, confirms that most of the stereotypes that the rest of the world has about Canadians is mostly true.

And really, that's not a bad thing at all when you consider how the rest of the world views them and they view themselves.

Here's a hint, around the world, once they reveal that they aren't American, they are usually treated very well.

:(

Which I suppose says as much about them as it does about us.

: )

This is currently streaming on Amazon for those with Prime.

National Lampoon: Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead


If you have a sense of humor whatsoever, you will probably find this look back at National Lampoon right up your alley.

Especially considering that much of the late 20th century/21st century humor/comedy was spawned from the very pages/ideas/minds of those that worked there.

Of course, if you hate Saturday Night Live and all that it has done to keep comedy coming to you weekly with rotating casts for over 40 years, then you also know where to place some of your blame and hatred.

:)

Electric Boogaloo

If you rented a movie in the 80s, you know their movies.

Now is your chance to know the whole story. It's an even wilder ride than you could have possibly imagined.

It's quite an impressive feat that they pulled off in making their vast catalog of movies.

It wasn't until they broke their own rules and attempted to make their movies look like they had a huge budget, that it all blew up in their faces.

Still streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

We Are Twisted F***ing Sister 

I suppose unless you hate Twisted Sister, there's no way you can watch this documentary and not feel for the band and root for them to succeed.

Beginning at their origins and leading up to adding Dee Snyder as their front man, this film chronicles the rise and fall, and more rises and fall than the best roller coaster you've ever been on.

And it stops just before they hit it big with MTV and the whole world gets to know them.

Very well done.

Still streaming on Netflix as of this writing.



Looking forward to what 2017 has to offer!!

An Overnight Sensation, 10 Years In The Making! "We Are Twisted F***ing Sister!"

We Are Twisted F***ing Sister (2014)

Not Rated

Starring Twisted Sister (Jay Jay French, Dee Snider, A.J. Pero, Eddie Ojeda, Mark Mendoza)

Written and Directed by Andrew Horn

The Story:

Twisted Sister started out as a bar band in New York. A glam rock band influenced by David Bowie but with a much harder edge, the band's cult following in New York in the early 70s began to really take shape when they added frontman Dee Snider on vocals. He insisted on wearing the clothes and makeup that Twisted Sister is known for, and eventually all of the members joined in. They quickly became the most famous band in the tri-state area, selling out venues that artists without record deals shouldn't even play in, let alone sell out. This is the story of how success turned to failure and more failure and even more failure as they kept reaching for the brass ring and kept getting knocked down in the process.

It's fascinating. It's heartwarming.

It's awesome.

Andrew Horn used crowdfunding and the participation of Twisted Sister to make this amazing documentary.

If you're like me, you know and remember Twisted Sister for their 2 singles in the mid 80s that catapulted them to stardom. Well, aside a brief mention at the end of the movie, that period isn't even mentioned.

If you were in New York or Europe from the mid 70's through 1982, then you might have already known all about this group, and how the world seemingly conspired against them to keep them from realizing mainstream success.

That's what this film is about.

Each member of the band is interviewed separately and that allows for some great insight from each on what they thought of their life in the band and the long road to fame.

Fans are also interviewed because without the fans, it's likely that Twisted Sister never does become famous.

Also interviewed are the managers and executives that tried to get their careers off the ground, to varying degrees of success.

It's such an amusing comeuppance to the record company executive that refused to sign the band, and their success was a giant F. U. right back at the suits who attempted to keep them down.

Those that believed were vindicated, and all the while, Twisted Sister just kept moving forward.

Rock on.

The documentary is streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

You don't have to be a fan of metal or even the band to enjoy this one. If you do, your enjoyment will be increased.

It's the heart of the story that carries this one above and beyond the ordinary.

Final Grade: A-