Two Documentaries Designed to Bring You Closer to God...

Man on Wire, dir: James Marsh (Discovery Films) - I saw this Oscar winner in the theater, and I can safely say it really is one of my most exhilarating viewing experiences in 2008. Even though we know the outcome going in -- Philippe Petit traversed that mighty gulf between the two WTCs back in the late 70s and lived to tell the story -- every second of this movie feels as if it was happening right now in real time. Recollected commentaries, amazing archival footage and modern day recreations are all edited together seamlessly to describe a great caper in which the culprit wanted nothing more than to kiss the sky. True magic indeed.

Encounters at the End of the World, dir: Werner Herzog (THINKFilm) - Herr Herzog has done it again with this haunted little rumination on Antarctica and its various inhabitants -- above and below the ice -- so seemingly out of step with the rest of the world. What kind of person ends up at the bottom of the world? What kind of penguin traipses off to its certain death? And just what the hell is a neutrino? See this and perhaps find out. Beautiful music, stunning photography and Herzog's own touched narration help make Encounters a keeper for the ages and a must see for anyone who's ever fallen prey to spiritual/physical wanderlust.