Michael Moore broke onto the national scene with this screen screed against the automobile factory closings across his home town of Flint, Mich., in the late 1980s. Right from the start, Moore’s knack for using comedy to illuminate injustice is nearly outweighed by his considerable flaws: a whiny narcissism, cheap-shot tactics and maddening tunnel vision.

How does actual outer space, as seen in this 3-D Imax documentary about the construction of the International Space Station, hold up against the slick, special effects-driven outer space we’re used to seeing at the movies? Fairly well, thanks mostly to the crisp realism that only true images – rather than computer-generated ones – can

This thrilling sports documentary outlines the history of snowboarding through 2005, which comes across as something Icarus might have tried if he had lived in a colder clime. It may seem a stretch to reference Greek mythology when talking about a sport that was once looked upon with scorn by the skiing establishment, but the

Far from a vanity project, this revealing documentary follows Jerry Seinfeld as he tries to create an entirely new stand-up act. The star generously allows screen time for bits by aspiring comedian Orny Adams and candid conversations with the likes of Garry Shandling, Chris Rock and others – heck, even Jay Leno has something interesting

When does a home movie deserve to be shown to people other than close friends and relatives? Documentary filmmaker Ross McElwee inexplicably earned a national release for this narcissistic consideration of McElwee’s mildly interesting family history. It likely would put most of his distant aunts and uncles to sleep, let alone mainstream America. A native

The perfect venue for Chappelle’s ironic blend of inflammatory yet inclusive comedy. In staging “the concert I’ve always wanted to see” in Brooklyn, Chappelle brings together mostly black hip-hop artists (Kanye West, Mos Def, Erykah Badu), a college marching band and two ancient hippies who live on the block, among others. It’s not exactly a

Parental sacrifice takes many forms – I had trouble adjusting to Disney songs rather than, say, U2, as the soundtrack to a road trip – but few human endeavors can match what emperor penguins do for their chicks. This acutely observant documentary records the astonishing acts of commitment and endurance that these birds engage in

Botching amazing access, director Michael Tucker spent months with American soldiers in Iraq only to come away with a limited depiction of the war. Nearly every interviewee is a foul-mouthed kid who doesn’t know why he is in Iraq and expresses his frustration in an impromptu rap. Even if this raunchy, locker-room mood is the