Best Documentary Movies of 2000

The Up in Smoke Tour is a West Coast hip hop tour in 2000 featuring artists Ice Cube, Eminem, Proof, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, D12, MC Ren, Westside Connection, Mel-Man, Tha Eastsidaz, Doggy's Angels, Devin The Dude, Warren G, TQ, Truth Hurts and Xzibit.

Director Jonas Mekas provides an intimate glimpse of his personal life by constructing a feature length narrative from over 30 years of private home movie footage.

A cinematic portrait of the homeless population who live permanently in the underground tunnels of New York City.

A BBC documentary sequel to the acclaimed miniseries Walking with Dinosaurs, The Ballad of Big Al chronicles the life of one Allosaurus fragilis named Big Al.

The Beastie Boys are among the most influential groups of the last two decades. As their music has opened hip-hop to a wider audience and changed the parameters of its sound, their ambitious music videos have carried the medium to new levels of artistic expression. This groundbreaking two-disc anthology showcases eighteen videos containing alternate visual angles and multiple audio tracks. Loaded with never-before-seen footage and unreleased music tracks, this special edition also contains a trove of rare still photos and exclusive audio commentary by the band and the video directors.

Legendary martial artist Bruce Lee is the subject of this thoughtful documentary by Lee aficionado John Little. Using interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and action sequences from Lee's last (unfinished) film, Game of Death, Little paints a textured, complex portrait of the world's most famous action hero

Documentary on the Shackleton Antartic expedition. A retelling of Sir Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated expedition to Antarctica in and the crew of his vessel 'The Endurance', which was trapped in the ice floes and frigid open ocean of the Antarctic in 1914. Shackleton decided, with many of his crew injured and weak from exposure and starvation, to take a team of his fittest men and attempt to find help. Setting out in appalling conditions with hopelessly inadequate equipment, they endured all weather and terrain and finally reached safety. Persuading a local team of his confidence that the abandoned team would still be alive, he set out again to find them. After almost 2 years trapped on the ice, all members of the crew were finally rescued.

This documentary showcases basketball player Michael Jordan's awe-inspiring moves, providing behind-the-scenes and on-the-court action, including footage of Jordan and the Chicago Bulls going head-to-head against the Utah Jazz in the 1997 NBA Finals. Phil Jackson and Bob Costas are interviewed (among others), and the awesome soundtrack includes songs by Earth, Wind and Fire, Fatboy Slim and Freddie King.

In the nine months prior to World War II, 10.000 innocent children left behind their families, their homes, their childhood, and took the journey... to Britain to escape the Nazi Holocaust.

A documentary look at the confluence of the Red scare, McCarthyism, and blacklists with the post-war activism by African Americans seeking more and better roles on radio, television, and stage. It begins in Harlem, measures the impact of Paul Robeson and the campaign to bring him down, looks at the role of HUAC, J. Edgar Hoover and of journalists such as Ed Sullivan, and ends with a tribute to Canada Lee. Throughout are interviews with men and women who were there, including Dick Campbell of the Rose McLendon Players and Fredrick O'Neal of the American Negro Theatre. In the 1940s and 1950s, anti-Communism was one more tool to maintain Jim Crow and to keep down African-Americans.

This Biography documentary follows actress Shirley MacLaine. This portrait examines many facets of her life, from her breakout performance in The Pajama Game (1957), to her tireless campaigning for Democratic presidential hopeful George McGovern through clips of her performances and interviews with friends and colleagues about her career and personal life and how she takes Hollywood by storm.

The film follows a simple structure, and shows the drug-related degradation of five youths (Jake, Tracey, Jessica, Alice, Oreo) during the course of three years. The film depicts drug-related crimes and diseases: prostitution, male prostitution, AIDS, and lethal overdoses.

Revisiting the 1994 Arkansas murder of three 8-year-old boys and the three teenagers convicted of the crime. A follow up to Paradise Lost, Revelations features new interviews with the convicted men, as well as with the original judge and police investigators.

Julien Temple's second documentary profiling punk rock pioneers the Sex Pistols is an enlightening, entertaining trip back to a time when the punk movement was just discovering itself. Featuring archival footage, never-before-seen performances, rehearsals, and recording sessions as well as interviews with group members who lived to tell the tale--including the one and only John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten).

A 2000 documentary film about the British punk rock band The Clash. In 2003 it won the Grammy Awards for the best long form music video. Directed by Don Letts, the film combines old footage from the band's personal collection filmed in 1982 when The Clash went to New York with new interviews conducted for the film by Mal Peachey of members Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon, and Joe Strummer and other people associated with the group.

Outrageous skate video introduced the world to Bam Margera, the insane, parent hassling daredevil that would gain fame for risking life and limb on MTV's Jackass series. Includes a very chaotic trip to Iceland, some rather disgusting fecal footage, a some furniture surfing on the highway, and a demonstration of how to destroy a rental car and get off scot free.

A biography on Steve Irwin that aired on animal PlaintVHS Release Date: April 11, 2000

An examination into the nature of 1960's-70's horror films, the involved artists, and how they reflected contemporary society.

Long before Elvis was heralded as the king of rock ‘n’ roll, he was a faithful fan of gospel music. Although it was instrumental in shaping his spiritual life as well as his career, no documentary has truly chronicled this facet of his life…until now. He Touched Me: The Gospel Music Of Elvis Presley features more than 30 of Elvis’ gospel recordings and never-before-seen footage. This 3-hour collection, filled with personal stories by those who knew him well, goes behind the scene of Elvis’ career. Discover how Elvis was dramatically influenced by two of southern gospel music’s premiere quartets, the Statesmen and the Blackwood Brothers. Learn the controversy surrounding this performance of "Peace In The Valley" on the Ed Sullivan Show and hear the surprising story behind the recording of his signature hymn, "How Great Thou Art." You’ll see Elvis in a new light as you witness how deeply he was touched by gospel music.

A two disc amalgam of the final performances of 2001's Madison Square Gardens performances by one of the greatest bands in the world of some of the greatest music in the world. The atmosphere positively floods out of the screen to envelop you and the hairs on your neck will be standing on end before the first note has been struck. After watching this you'll believe that The Boss is incapable of putting a foot wrong. By the end, he's only just short of defying gravity.

The Original Kings of Comedy achieves the seemingly impossible task of capturing the rollicking and sly comedy routines of stand-up and sitcom vets Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, and Bernie Mac and the magic of experiencing a live concert show. Director Spike Lee and his crew plant a multitude of cameras in a packed stadium and onstage (as well as backstage, as they follow the comedians) to catch the vivid immediacy of the show, which is as much about the audience as it is about the jokes.

A documentary look, mostly through the eyes of Tammy Faye Bakker Messner, at her rise and fall as a popular televangelist with husband Jim Bakker.

Walker takes us on a personal journey into a world of myth and imagination that he learned from his grandmother. He travels from the Moors of Devon and the Highlands of Scotland to the brooding Celtic landscapes of Ireland and the intimate hills of Cape Breton, in his search of this potent “otherworld” of the imagination.

MTV Unplugged concert by Irish band The Corrs, released in 1999. This session was recorded live on October 5, 1999 in front of an audience at Ardmore Studios, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. Set List: 1. Only When I Sleep 2. What Can I Do 3. Radio 4. Toss The Feathers 5. Everybody Hurts 6. Dreams 7. Runaway 8. Forgiven Not Forgotten 9. At Your Side 10. Little Wing 11. No Frontiers 12. Queen Of Hollywood 13. Old Town 14. (Lough) Erin Shore 15. So Young

A look at Canada's Roswell

Emmy-winning director William Gazecki (WACO: The Rules Of Engagement) delivers a searing indictment of the American legal system in this tragic story of teens, drugs and murder. Reckless Indifference explores how California’s controversial felony murder rule unjustly changed the lives of four teenagers forever. After participating in a backyard brawl which resulted in the death of a LAPD officer’s son, the ensuing trial led to life without parole sentences for the accused, even though the evidence against them was not clear-cut. Ten years have passed and they are still behind bars, though an appeal is pending. With revealing interviews from legal expert Alan Dershowitz, family members on both sides, and an exclusive recent interview with Brandon Hein from his jail cell, Reckless Indifference gives viewers an inside look into a trial that earned national attention but failed to bring justice to those involved.

Freddie Mercury (1946-91) was not just a man with one of the most pure and amazing voices the world has heard, but he was also the lead singer for Queen, the most enthusiastic rock band in history.

A nature documentary narrated by David Attenborough and published by BBC broadcasted as part of BBC Wildlife Specials in 2000. A motorised camera with state-of-the-art microphones disguised as a rock covered in leaves. It was invented specifically for this project of infiltrating a pride of lions to record their lives over a period of a couple of years.

Discover how six seemingly ordinary but supremely talented men became Monty Python, sketch comedy's inspired group of lunatics who turned such unlikely sources of inspiration as Spam, dead parrots and the Inquisition into enduring punch lines. This entertaining documentary includes interviews with members of the troupe, as well as home movies, photos and rare recordings from Monty Python's early years.

UFC Hits: Volume 1 highlights many of the Ultimate Fighting Championships greatest and most notorious fights from the UFC's early days. See where it all began with clips of the best fights featuring original MMA stars, some who are now in the UFC Hall of Fame, like Don Frye and Randy Couture, Royce Gracie and Kimo, John Hess and Andy Anderson, Tito Ortiz and Guy Mesger. This highlight reel has enough knockouts and submissions to keep any MMA fan entertained.

A documentary on the production of The French Connection (1971).

Techno fans will dig the power and energy in this compilation featuring nine of the innovative British trio's jam sessions captured in Japan, Holland, Belgium, England and Ireland during their 1998-'99 world tour. Crisp sound makes tracks such as "Push Upstairs" and "Pearls Girl" pulsate with perfection. Add vivid concert film melded with imaginative visuals, and this dynamic video can't be beat.

Street pimps, all of them African-American, discuss their lives and work: getting started, being flamboyant, pimping in various U.S. cities, bringing a woman into their group, taking a woman from another pimp, and the rules and regulations of pimping. The men are clear: it's about money.

Darrell Scott tells stories of his daughter, high school student, Rachel Joy Scott. Also included is footage from her funeral.

This program recounts the life of scientist, inventor, and visionary Nikola Tesla, often remembered as more of an eccentric cult figure than an electrical engineering genius. Many of his achievements are still attributed to contemporaries Thomas Edison and Guglielmo Marconi. Tesla's surprising inventions are revealed in his autobiographical and scientific writings, supplemented by rare photographs and re-creations.

A look at the infamous "Scottsboro Boys" case that occurred in Alabama in 1931, in which nine young black men were arrested, tried and quickly convicted in the rape of two white women, despite overwhelming evidence that showed their accusers had falsely accused them and the fact that one of the women later admitted that no rape had in fact occurred (although both had had sexual relations with their boyfriends on the day prior to the "rape"). The case was one of the first that shined a spotlight on what many called the "legal lynchings" that occurred in the South whenever blacks were accused of crimes, especially against whites and most especially against white women.

George Lucas discusses how Joseph Campbell and his concept of the Monomyth (aka the Hero's Journey) and other concepts from mythology and religion shaped the Star Wars saga.

Jeff Buckley - Live in Chicago includes songs from Grace, classic cover tunes (from sources ranging from Nina Simone to the MC5!), a previously unavailable Buckley composition ("What Will You Say"), a previously unreleased instrumental version of "Vancouver," and between-the-songs on-stage banter. In addition to the full-length Chicago concert, the DVD edition of Live In Chicago features two extremely rare in-the-studio acoustic songs: "So Real" and "Last Goodbye" as well as the Electronic Press Kit (EPK) for Grace (which has been previously unavailable commercially), interactive menus, instant chapter access to songs and a discography of Jeff's Columbia Records releases.

This episode of VH1 Storytellers is broadcast on November 22, 2000 to coincide with the release of the tribute album Stoned Immaculate: The Music Of The Doors. All of the performers joining The Doors on this program also appear on the album. This performance would mark the last time that Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore ever reunited to play live together as The Doors. Set List: Love Me Two Times (Pat Monahan) / Alabama Song (Ian Astbury) / Back Door Man (Ian Astbury) / Wild Child (Ian Astbury) / The End (Travis Meeks) / Break On Through (Scott Weiland) / Five To One (Scott Weiland) / L.A. Woman (Perry Farrell) / Riders On The Storm (Scott Stapp) / Roadhouse Blues (Scott Stapp) / Light My Fire (Scott Stapp)

A unique look at the making of Stand by Me including interviews from Stephen King, Rob Reiner, Keifer Sutherland, Richard Dreyfuss, and the three surviving cast members Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell.

A documentary from Universal about their Phantom of the Opera movies.

The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling is a documentary dealing with the true history of professional wrestling. The documentary talks about professional wrestling's beginnings right up until the Monday Night Wars era of professional wrestling.

The fading art form and ‘language’ of Russian criminal tattoos, formerly a forbidden topic in Russia. The now vanishing practice is seen as reflecting the transition of the broader Russian society. Filmed in some of Russia’s most notorious prisons, including the fabled White Swan, the interviews with prisoners, guards, and criminologists reveal the secret language of “The Zone” and “The Code of Thieves” (Vor v zakone).

A behind the scenes look at the James Bond film "Diamonds are Forever"

This is the rare UK Channel 4 documentary about Blade Runner, giving insights into it's history with interviews of Ridley Scott, the writers and nearly all the cast. Interviews with production staff, including Ridley, give details into the creative process and turmoil during preproduction. Stories from Paul M. Sammon and Fancher provide insight into Philip K. Dick and the origins of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Interweaved are cast interviews with the notable exceptions of Harrison Ford and Sean Young. Through these interviews we get a sense of how difficult and frustrating the film was to make as a result of an exacting director without allies and hot, wet, smoggy conditions; which added to the high pressure atmosphere everyone increasingly felt as the film went over budget. There is also a tour of some locations, most notably the Bradbury Building and the Warner Brothers backlot that was the LA 2019 streets, which look very different from Ridley's dark version.

An analysis of the effect of economic sanctions on Iraq.

1. The Controler 2. Brutal Planet 3. Gimme 4. Go to Hell 5. Blow Me a Kiss 6. I'm Eighteen 7. Pick Up the Bones 8. Feed My Frankenstein 9. Wicked Young Man 10. Dead Babies 11. Ballad of Dwight Fry 12. I Love the Dead 13. Devil's Food 14. The Black Widow 15. No More Mr. Nice Guy 16. It's Hot Tonight 17. Caught in a Dream 18. It's the Little Things 19. Poison 20. Take It Like a Woman 21. Only Women Bleed 22. You Drive Me Nervous 23. Under My Wheels 24. School's Out 25. Billion Dollar Babies 26. My Generation 27. Elected Shot in London during the 2000 world tour, Brutally Live showcases Alice Cooper doing what he's been doing better than anyone else over the past 25 years: turning a rock concert into a campy theatrical extravaganza. That he's old enough to be almost anyone in the audience's (grand?)father is quite beside the point. For Alice remains one of the few who knows that rock & roll should be fun, even if that means severed heads, gushing blood, and murdered babies.

An instant classic when released in September 1971, John Lennon's Imagine was the ex-Beatle's solo masterpiece, and its musical legacy is matched here by priceless footage of Lennon's creative process, independently edited from original 16-millimeter footage by producer-director Andrew Solt with the hands-off approval of Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono. Incorporating footage from John and Yoko's original film Imagine (clips of which were previously included in the 1988 documentary Imagine: John Lennon), Gimme Some Truth presents Lennon, Ono, coproducer Phil Spector, and a host of gifted musicians in a fluid context of conflict, community, and craftsmanship. Bearing witness to every stage of the recording process, this 63-minute documentary succeeds as a visual diary, a study of familiar music in its infancy, and a revealing portrait of the then-30-year-old Lennon--from witty clown to confrontational perfectionist--at the peak of his post-Fab Four inspiration.

This DVD includes the following perfomances: If You Had My Love (1999 VH-1 Fashion Awards), If You Had My Love (video) Madison Square Garden Performance with Marc Anthony, No me Ames (video), Let's get Loud (1999 Women's World Cup), Waiting for Tonight (megamix video), If You Had My Love (1999 Blockbuster Music Awards), Baila (video), Feelin' So Good (video), Plus exclusive interviews from family and friends.