Monologues/interviews

Here's the legendary radio show of the same name, only in video. Same story telling genius. Same quirky subjects. Same excellence. This American Life is the best thing on radio these days: short, true stories about real people who undergo some kind of transformation. This video version is the same, but different. The journeys are unexpected. Not big deals, but amazing. You'll enjoy them.

-- KK

This American Life
Ira Glass
2008, 120 min.
DVD, $14

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Strictly a talking head -- this one of Robert McNamara, considered the chief strategist of the Vietnam War as he recounts his personal history of how the war began. There are many lessons to be had from his belated candor as an insider; the one I took away reflects the title of the documentary: not only was the public kept ignorant of all that was going on, but even the brass in charge did not fully agree on or understand what was happening: thus the fog of war. And 10 other lessons as well.

-- KK

Fog of War
Directed by Errol Morris
2003, 107 min.
$20, DVD

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This monologue performance by the late Spauding Gray can be considered a documentary because threaded through funny satire is a lecture on the geography of Cambodia and a journalistic report of the civil unrest, revolution, and incursion by the US that occupied that country. It's a comedic history documentary. It's also about him. You'll learn a lot, while laughing.

-- KK

Swimming to Cambodia
Directed by Jonathan Demme
1987, 85 min.
$30, DVD

Available from Amazon

Proving that even an interview format can succeed if done with passion, this famous set of conversations between Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers on the power of myths still delivers a very powerful punch.

-- KK

Joseph Campbell and The Power of Myth
With Joseph Campbell and George Lucas
1988, 360 min.
$50, DVD (2 discs)

Available from Amazon

Rentable from Netflix

Science-fiction author William Gibson is locked inside a limo and driven around several cities while he muses improvisationally on the twilight between present and future. Pure talking-head, with a seat-belt. But the bizarre imprisonment gives a good dose of Gibson, who is often at his best in conversation.

-- KK

William Gibson
No Maps for these Territories
Mark Neale
2000, 88 min
$23

Netflix

Amazon