Want to watch something interesting, informative and maybe even inspiring? Many of our recent documentary releases fit that bill–here’s what’s new to our rental shelves this month:

The Age of Stupid (2009) – A future archivist looks at old footage from the year 2008 to understand why humankind failed to address climate change. – [imdb]

An American Journey: In Robert Frank’s Footsteps (2008) – Filmmaker Philippe Seclier traces legendary photographer Robert Frank’s road trips across the continent, searching out the same small-town tableaus and vistas on vacant highways that inspired the photographers intimate and moving images of isolation, loneliness, and division by race and class. – [imdb]

Crumb (1994) – Terry Zwigoff’s landmark 1995 film is an intimate documentary portrait of underground artist Robert Crumb, whose unique drawing style and sexually and racially provocative subject matter have made him a household name in popular American art. – [imdb] – Criterion Collection!

The Dungeon Masters (2008) - Follows three Dungeons and Dragons gamers living in unglamorous corners of lower-middle-class America. – [imdb]

Elvis on Tour (1972) – Concert footage and offstage documentary of singer Elvis Presley. – [imdb]

The Jeff Koons Show (2004-TV) – A documentary on the life and work of artist Jeff Koons, told through the perspective of Koons himself, curators, gallerists, and fellow artists (Chuck Close, Julian Schnabel, etc.). – [imdb]

Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound (2009) – In the first comprehensive documentary to chronicle the private life and public career of Joan Baez, How Sweet The Sound examines her history as a recording artist and performer as well as her remarkable journey as the conscience of a generation. – [allmovie]

Legends of the Canyon (2009) – The story of the advent of rock music spawned in the garden of the Hollywood Hills, Laurel Canyon, including Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, The Mamas and the Papas, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt and many other great artists of the era. – [allmovie]

Louie Bluie (1985) – A documentary about the obscure country blues musician and idiosyncratic visual artist Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong, member of the last known black string band in America. From director Terry Zwigoff. – [imdb] – Criterion Collection!

Off and Running (2009) - An intimate and earnest examination of race, gender identity, and the definition of “family,” this sociological documentary chronicle filters said themes through the eyes of Avery Klein-Cloud, an intelligent and generally well-adjusted teenager from Brooklyn with decidedly unusual circumstances. – [imdb]

Tapped (2009) – Examines the role of the bottled water industry and its effects on our health, climate change, pollution, and our reliance on oil. – [imdb]

The Thorn in the Heart (2009) – Michel Gondry chronicles the life of Gondry family matriarch, his aunt Suzette Gondry, and her relationship with her son, Jean-Yves. (France) – [imdb]

Wade in the Water, Children (2007) -  The children of New Orleans’ crime-ridden Central City neighborhood offer viewers an illuminating portrait of urban youth in crisis with this documentary that shows a side of the city that adults are loathe to discuss, and film crews are terrified to penetrate. – [imdb]

Water Wars (2009) – This timely documentary uncovers critical water issues facing humanity. – [imdb]

Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg (2009) - A documentary that explores the wonderful cultural significance of a creative, energetic Jewish woman, Gertrude Berg, and how her vision and drive broke cultural boundaries in the 1930s and beyond. [imdb]