Documentary RoundupYou’ll find some real diamonds in the rough in this month’s batch of nonfiction DVD’s – recommendations are marked with the red star:

Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2008) – A look at the past and present of Canadian metal band Anvil, who fell into obscurity despite influencing some of the genre’s most successful bands including Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax.  – [imdb] – click here to read our review

Blood, Sweat & Gears: Racing Clean to the Tour de France (2009) – The inspirational story of America’s only ProTour cycling team, a team devoted not only to cleaning up the sport of cycling, but to competing in – and possibly winning – the Tour de France. – [imdb]

Capturing Reality: The Art of Documentary (2008) – Documentary’s most important names–including Albert Mayles, Errol Morris, and Werner Herzog–discuss their craft in this cinematic celebration of the nonfiction film.

Every Little Step (2008) - A revealing, unprecedented look at the auditions for the Broadway revival of the perennial classic A Chorus Line. – [imdb] – click here to read our review

If I Die Tonight (2009) - An exploration of police brutality in America, with personal accounts from police officials, activists and victims, among others. – [imdb]

Inventing L.A.: The Chandlers and Their Times (2009) - This insightful PBS documentary looks back at the founding of the Los Angeles Times, and chronicles the various generations of the Chandler family who have served as publisher. – [imdb]

The Listening Project (2006) -  Four filmmakers travel to 14 countries across the globe to ask everyday citizens their opinions about American influence on a worldwide scale. – [imdb]

The National Parks: America’s Best Idea (2009) - This facinating series from Ken Burns traces the birth of the national park idea in the mid-1800s and follows its evolution for nearly 150 years. – [imdb]

New World Order (2009) - A behind-the-scenes look at the underground anti-globalist movement, whose followers attempt to expose the massive global conspiracy that they believe threatens the future of humanity. – [imdb]

Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008) - Join Quentin Tarantino, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dennis Hopper and many others as they take you on an irreverent journey through underground Australian cinema of the 70’s and 80’s. – [imdb]

Pageant (2008) - Pageant takes you behind the scenes as 52 ordinary gentlemen go to extraordinary lengths to be crowned Miss Gay America- [imdb]

Something To Do With the Wall (2008) - Filmmakers Ross McElwee and Marilyn Levine first shot footage for their documentary on the Berlin Wall in 1986, and completed it in 1989 just as the Wall came down, making for an interesting look at before and after. – [imdb]

That Was the GDR: A History of the Other Germany (2009) - Life on the other side of the Berlin Wall is exposed through interviews, archival footage, and propaganda. – [imdb]

They Killed Sister Dorothy (2008) - This gripping documentary follows the real-life drama at the trial of the killers who shot Sister Dorothy Stang, a 73-year-old Catholic nun from Dayton, Ohio, six times at point blank range at the mouth of the Amazon river. – [imdb]

Warren Miller’s Children of Winter (2008) - Warren Miller showcases spectacular action sports footage from some of winter sports’ foremost athletes in his 59th feature film. – [imdb]

You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (2008) - Clint Eastwood narrates Richard Schickel’s perceptive 5-episode, 85th-anniversary salute to the legendary movie studio.- [imdb]

(Thanks to IMDB, RottenTomatoes, and Metacritic for help with parts of these synopses)