Top 5 Watched in 2018: Documentaries

By Dave B.

​It’s that time of year when bloggers, reviewers, and fans make their “Best” and “Worst” lists. My lists are going to be a bit different for a few reasons. Firstly, because they aren’t individually exclusive to television, movies, nor entertainment that came out in 2018. Also, instead of necessarily being the movies/programs that I rated the highest, these are the ones that best hit the nexus between quality and enjoyment for me (as there can be some difference between respecting a work of art and actually liking it). Lastly, this list is inclusive of what I watched for the first time this year, irrespective of format or medium. Click the titles to see where you can stream them. So, without further ado, here’s my 2018 Top 5 Documentaries list:

5. Heroin(e)

​Rating 7/10

​I liked Heroin(e). I really did. But, if you’re looking for something to watch that will provide you with hope for America’s opioid crisis, this isn’t it. It’s a frank look at the reality of the situation, which is bleaker than I have the vocabulary to describe. The beauty of this documentary lies in its telling, in their own words, of women on the front lines of this struggle relating their few and far between victories. 

4. The Mars Generation

Rating: 8/10

​Overall, I enjoyed The Mars Generation and I highly recommend it. The film’s enthusiasm for Martian exploration doesn’t blind the filmmakers to the challenges (such as a very limited budget for such exploration) that are a reality for the modern NASA. But The Mars Generation also makes it clear that some of these challenges can be overcome by popular will. 

3. The Bleeding Edge

Rating: 8/10

​People need to be more informed about what medical devices go into their bodies and The Bleeding Edge does a good job of explaining the dangers of our current regulatory regime for these devices. In and of itself, it shouldn’t be taken as gospel and it shouldn’t lead viewers to believe that all medical devices are bad. But it helps to illuminate some of the potential dangers that many of us may face from these devices throughout the course of our lives and therefore is a must see.

2. For the Love of Spock

Rating: 8.5/10

This movie is a celebration of a character, a man, a fandom, and of life as a whole. I highly recommend it, not only to fans of Star Trek, but to anyone who feels like seeing something that is uplifting, but that also isn’t sappy or overly sentimental.

1. The Rachel Divide

Rating: 9/10

Rachel Divide Trailer from Jonathan Sutak on Vimeo.

This won’t be a popular opinion, but I loved The Rachel Divide. I didn’t think that I would, especially because I wasn’t particularly interested in the underlying story before seeing it. It’s a testament to how good the movie was that it made me care about a story that I normally wouldn’t. I believe this documentary will stimulate many interesting thoughts in viewers and I highly recommend it.