# Recommend some HBO documentaries, please
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [May 6, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351 "2015-05-06T00:12:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/1 "2015-05-06T00:12:07Z")
I recently signed up for HBO Now streaming (mostly for Game of Thrones)…there are many documentaries available through the service (a couple hundred or more?) - can anyone recommend some favorites, especially any with lighter/non-crime subject matter?
---
### Author:  [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/2 "2015-05-06T00:20:26Z")
To name one that I really found eye opening that most probably didn’t see: Hot Coffee. It’s about Tort Reform, the title a reference to the infamous McDonald’s case that everyone brings up as an example of Frivolous law suits. There was more than met the eye there and the whole concept of ‘Frivolous Lawsuits’ needs examination. I really liked it.
---
### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/3 "2015-05-06T02:13:21Z")
Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays. It’s comedy, but it’s autobiographical.
Mr. Dynamite, about James Brown
---
### Author:  [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/4 "2015-05-06T02:33:52Z")
Going Clear was interesting. It’s about scientology.
---
### Author:  [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/5 "2015-05-06T04:41:20Z")
I second **Going Clear: scientology and the prison of belief** a fascinating look at the history of and tales of the behind the scenes of scientology.
I’d also suggest the two-part **Sinatra: All or Nothing**. While it may not be as “harsh” on Frank as you’d hope, his family had approval, it does have some interesting tales, especially that of the Rat Pack days, and a lot of clips and music to make it enjoyable.
---
### Author:  [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/6 "2015-05-06T04:48:15Z")
> [@Quimby](#):
>
> To name one that I really found eye opening that most probably didn’t see: Hot Coffee. It’s about Tort Reform, the title a reference to the infamous McDonald’s case that everyone brings up as an example of Frivolous law suits. There was more than met the eye there and the whole concept of ‘Frivolous Lawsuits’ needs examination. I really liked it.
Yeah, a little old lady getting 3rd degree burns on their genitals and [needing skin grafts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebeck_v._McDonald%27s_Restaurants) is _hilarious!_
---
### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/7 "2015-05-06T05:04:08Z")
> [@gaffa](#):
>
> Yeah, a little old lady getting 3rd degree burns on their genitals and [needing skin grafts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebeck_v._McDonald%27s_Restaurants) is _hilarious!_
Quimby didn’t write anything that would indicate he found the situation humorous.
---
### Author:  [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/8 "2015-05-06T05:14:13Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> Quimby didn’t write anything that would indicate he found the situation humorous.
I was referencing how every hack comic uses this case as a punch line. It wasn’t until [this panel of the comic _This Modern World_](http://hoydenabouttown.com/2012/07/05/quick-facts-about-that-mcdonalds-coffee-lawsuit/) pointed out the actual facts of the situation that many folks heard the truth.
---
### Author:  [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/9 "2015-05-06T05:41:00Z")
If you saw the HBO series _Band of Brothers_, you might like _We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company._ It features interviews with some of the real people portrayed in the series.
---
### Author:  [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/10 "2015-05-06T06:20:09Z")
> [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#):
>
> I second **Going Clear: scientology and the prison of belief** a fascinating look at the history of and tales of the behind the scenes of scientology.
>
> I’d also suggest the two-part **Sinatra: All or Nothing**. While it may not be as “harsh” on Frank as you’d hope, his family had approval, it does have some interesting tales, especially that of the Rat Pack days, and a lot of clips and music to make it enjoyable.
Liked the Sinatra doc too although I thought part 2 was rushed and left out some of his better musical work and his 60’s films. Tony Rome/The Lady in Cement really straddled the changing of the culture.
Also, how could we hope it would be harsher on him?
---
### Author:  [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/11 "2015-05-06T14:55:53Z")
**Going Clear**?
**Banksy Does New York** is listed as an HBO doc, which I was unaware that it was. I really enjoyed it.
---
### Author:  [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/12 "2015-05-06T15:22:07Z")
The Jinx is a good recent one.
---
### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/13 "2015-05-06T16:31:01Z")
Yes yes yes to Going Clear! It might be next year’s Oscar winner so you can brag about having seen it months earlier! Plus it’s a fascinating documentary.
---
### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/14 "2015-05-06T16:49:56Z")
It’s 13 years old now and I don’t know if it was an HBO documentary, but _The Smashing Machine_ is an awesome look at two mixed martial arts fighters and the sport they compete in.
---
### Author:  [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/15 "2015-05-06T17:58:14Z")
I would second Hot Coffee.
And Add:
The Loving Story - About a couple and their fight to legalize interracial marriage.
Vito - About Vito Russo, a pioneer in the gay rights movement.
And not a documentary, but I thoroughly enjoyed the biopic: Temple Grandin.
---
### Author:  [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/16 "2015-05-06T18:47:22Z")
“What’s Wrong with Aunt Diane?” is pretty good. A family in denial.
---
### Author:  [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/17 "2015-05-06T19:16:06Z")
> [@monstro](#):
>
> “What’s Wrong with Aunt Diane?” is pretty good. A family in denial.
Yep! It pissed me off how hard they tried to make this woman a saint.
---
### Author:  [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/18 "2015-05-06T20:13:52Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#):
>
> **Banksy Does New York** is listed as an HBO doc, which I was unaware that it was. I really enjoyed it.
I’ll second that one. If you enjoy it, you should also watch _Exit Through The Gift Shop_ (it’s not an HBO doc, though) if you haven’t already seen it.
---
### Author:  [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2015, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/19 "2015-05-12T22:00:16Z")
> [@Clawdio](#):
>
> And not a documentary, but I thoroughly enjoyed the biopic: Temple Grandin.
+1. One of the best biopics I’ve ever seen.
J.
---
### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2015, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351/20 "2015-05-12T22:12:02Z")
I can’t recommend it because I haven’t seen it, but I am very interested in seeing Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop that has just debuted on HBO.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hbo-documentaries-please/719351.md?page=2)