I'm not the first or the last person to find their evenings and weekends swallowed by the vast expanse of Netflix Instant. Aside from saving me money from not going out every night, it's also helped me catch up with some great documentaries that I would normally not get a chance to see.
Of course, it means I am a bad pop-culture consumer for not seeing some of these in theaters as I should have.
The Netflix rabbit hole is vast -- oooooh the whole Dinosaurs series! -- and able to stop all activity in your home, but at least your brain is being fed, even if it's a documentary on some hillbillies from West Virginia.
I hate slimy eggs.
Here are some great docs that I have been able to see on Netflix recently, and ones that you should check out too.
Excuse me while I make my way through every Classic Albums selection...
Ken Burn's Baseball
Since the Astros season has been so, interesting, a few weeks back I dug back into this 1994 Ken Burns epic series about America's pastime.
Being Elmo
Follow the life story of Kevin Clash, who turned the beloved Sesame Street character from a wise-ass puppet into a sweet and precocious Muppet. Don't be surprised if you find yourself misting up during the scenes about Jim Henson's death.
Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure
Two proto-slackers, a rundown apartment building, and cantankerous neighbors ended up creating a monster. You'll be yelling "Shut Up Little Man" to all your friends after watching this one.
Winnebago Man
Shunofabitch! This tale about a former newsman turned Winnebago shill and then Internet star is heartwarming and entertaining. Do yourself a kindness and check this one out.
The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia
We all know how endearingly crazy Jesco White is, but have you met the rest of the Whites? It's rehab-visiting, drug-abusing, tattoo-gittin' good ol' time.
Strictly Background
Not all the people you see in crowd scenes in films are CGI, they are actually real, live people. This doc about the lives of extras and scene filler will open your eyes to whole world you probably ignore.
Dirty Work
A gruff bull semen collector, a kindly sewage tank pumper, and an funeral home embalmer take you into their world of doing work that most people are disgusted by.
Exit Through The Gift Shop
I know, I know, it's old news and all the cool kids have already seen this, but I finally got to see this doc about street art and the infamous Banksy and loved it. Though my girlfriend isn't cool with me painting stencils on our living room wall now.
Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him)
Harry Nilsson is one of the most underrated singer-songwriters of the past 50 years, and you'll learn more about him in this star-studded documentary.