Worst2First: My Top Ten Mockumentary Films
Worst2First:
My Top Ten Mockumentary Films
**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**
#10
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
As long as there's been musical groups, there's been moments where the band splits up, oftentimes because someone in the band decides they're too famous for their fellow members and branch out on their own. Sometimes it's very successful (such as Justin Timberlake after his N'Sync years), but sometimes they realize too late that leaving the band probably wasn't the best idea (like Freddy Mercury leaving Queen). This mockumentary focuses on a successful boy band that's torn apart when their lead singer (played by Andy Samberg) breaks off to do his own thing, and struggles against failing album sales. The film is filled with tongue-in-cheek humor as well as a deeply heartfelt message about the importance of friendship, delivered by the comedy trio known as The Lonely Island, consisting of Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer.
#9
For Your Consideration
Making fun of the Hollywood awards machine, director Christopher Guest (a name that'll be seen numerous times in this list) joins his longtime collaborator Eugene Levy to write "For Your Consideration," a movie centering on three actors (played by Guest mainstays Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, and Harry Shearer) who haven't even completed their film - Home for Purim, taking place in the 1940s South - that've heard rumors that they could be up for big awards after the film is completed. Of course things don't go as planned, but comedy ensues from start to finish with a highly capable ensemble cast and a sound director who's been through the woods of the mockumentary subgenre time and again.
#8
Man Bites Dog
While most mockumentaries are done with a satirical, light humorous way, the Belgian film "Man Bites Dog" takes a much darker comedic tone that stretches the boundaries of the mockumentary, earning the dreaded NC-17 rating when it came to the States. This black-and-white film follows Ben, a serial killer who is followed by a documentary crew to film his crimes in extremely violent fashion. For people who claim movies cause real-life violence, they often site this film as a prime example, as it plainly showcases brutal murders while it seemingly glorifies it. It also serves as a sharp commentary about the lust we have for violence and throughout the years it's become a major cult classic.#7
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Whereas "Man Bites Dog" is a dark, gritty look at a documentary crew who follows a serial killer, "Behind the Mask" centers more on the mockumentary style than its predecessor. A documentary team follows Leslie Vernon (played by Nathan Baesel) as he embarks on his lifelong dream - to be a serial killer. Calling upon the tropes of the slasher films of the 80s (and featuring great cameos by Zelda Rubenstein and Robert Englund), "Behind the Mask" is a great black comedy that sheds light on our love for slasher films, and what happens if we take our desire a bit too far.
#6
What We Do in the Shadows
Jemaine Clements (who's best known for being half of the famous duo Flight of the Concords) and Taita Waititi (now best known for directing films like "Thor: Ragnarok" and "Jojo Rabbit") co-direct "What We Do in the Shadows," a film that centers on four vampires who live together and try to maintain the peace between each other as they search for flesh blood without being discovered. Think "The Real World" for the horror genre, "What We Do in the Shadows" is a hilarious mockumentary that centers on these offbeat vampires as they try to survive against their bloodlust and their adversaries, the werewolves - as well as trying to survive each other. Laugh out loud funny in a darkly satirical way, the film is a modern day cult classic that's spawned a successful FX series currently in its third season.
#5
A Mighty Wind
Mocking the idea of folk music, "A Mighty Wind" focuses on three former popular folk acts from the 1960s who come together for a special concert after their producer passes away, and it's all recorded for posterity and hilarity. Christopher Guest once again provides mockumentary gold, directing this Oscar-nominated film (it received a nomination for Best Original Song, "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow") with his cavalcade of dedicated actors including Eugene Levy (who once again co-wrote the script), Catherine O'Hara, Harry Shearer, Fred Willard, and more.#4
Best in Show
My personal favorite from the Christopher Guest-directed mockumenary films (I still haven't seen "Waiting for Guffman"), "Best in Show" makes fun of the dog show circuit and how crazy the dog's owners are in order to get the prestigious blue ribbon. The movie focuses on five people (including Eugene Levy - who once again, you guessed it, co-wrote the script, Catherine O'Hara, Jennifer Coolidge, and Christopher Guest himself) who entered their dogs in the Mayflower Dog Show and who will each stop at literally nothing to get the top prize. It's no wonder Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara received such rave reviews for their show "Schitt's Creek," as they've been acting together for decades and this showcases their best work in the Guest-directed mockumentary filmography.
#3
I'm Still Here
Joaquin Phoenix is a unique actor in the fact that he doesn't really adhere to the generic Hollywood style, and seems put off by all the fakeness that occurs around him. So when he seemingly decided to give up acting, it didn't come as a real shock but was still surprising because of his real plan - to be a full time hip-hop singer. He even appeared on multiple talk shows and had many people worried about his sanity - until it was discovered that it was all an act for his upcoming mockumentary "I'm Still Here" directed by his friend Casey Affleck. It was a genius work of advertising as no one knew this film was happening, and Phoenix performed with true gusto and shows his finely tuned acting craft in full display, especially how he managed to fool so many people.
#2
Borat:
Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
The film that made Sacha Baron Cohen a household name, "Borat" is a mockumentary film centering on Kazakh journalist Borat who travels to America to make a documentary about his interactions with real Americans who actually believed that he was indeed a journalist from Kazakhstan due to him being relatively unknown at the time. The film earned Cohen an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and fathered a sequel, "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm," which earned another Best Adapted Screenplay nomination as well as Best Supporting Actress. "Boat" was unique in the fact that it was largely unscripted, with a blend of mockumentary as well as hidden camera that's incredibly crude and rude, but laugh-out-loud funny and a biting satire on the American way of life.
#1
This is Spinal Tap
Known as the father of mockumentaries, Rob Reiner's directorial debut film centers on English heavy metal band Spinal Tap (played by Christopher Guest - who would go on to direct some of the best mockumentaries of the 90s and 2000s, Michael McKean, and Harry Sherer) as they travel to the United States for their tour. Becoming a cult classic today, the film was originally a box office bomb because many people didn't want to go see a documentary about a band they've never heard of. It might've been the original mockumentary, but it also perfected the art of blending the ordinary with the absurd to provide a unique, hilarious film experience.
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