Mockumentary
Though the term was coined in reference to the groundbreaking 'This is Spinal Tap', Rob Reiner cannot claim ownership of the fake documentary genre. Woody Allen's debut as director 'Take the Money and Run' is an early example, but undoubtedly the number of these satirical slices of life has risen of late, reflecting the popularity (and banality) of reality television. Christopher Guest took the format and ran with it ('Best in Show', 'A MIghty Wind', 'Waiting for Guffman'), and classics include serial killer profile 'Man Bites Dog', Lars von Trier oddity 'The Idiots' and of course the cringingly accurate 'The Office'. Check out Alice's collection below.
The Office (US): Season 1 (2005)
Director: Ken Kwapis, Bryan Gordon
Starring: Rainn Wilson, Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, BJ Novak
Based on the hit BBC series, this is America's version of 'the office mockumentary' with funnyman Steve Carell as ignorantly insensitive boss, Michael... Read more
Waiting For Guffman (1996)
7.6/10
Director: Christopher Guest
Starring: Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Fred Willard, Bob Balaban, Catherine O'Hara, Par...
This deadpan mockumentary spoofs amateur theatre productions, Middle American values and celebrates tackiness; all centered around the mounting of a m... Read more
People Like Us: Series 1 (1999)
8.3/10
Director: John Morton, Willy Smax
Starring: Chris Langham
An inspired, award-winning spoof documentary series, pre-dating 'The Office' that follows hapless (and virtually unseen) filmmaker Roy Mallard (the br... Read more
The Office (US): Season 2 (2006)
Starring: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, BJ Novak
Breaking free from its formidable BBC parent and finding its own comedy feet, the second season of 'the American Office' has a full compliment of 22 e... Read more
[ Rec ] (2007)
7.5/10
Director: Jaume Balaguero, Paco Plaza
Starring: Ferran Terraza, Manuela Velasco, David Vert
A barnstorming, cinema verite horror experience that pulls few punches, fears no genre taboo, and reaches for the throat. While filming segments for a... Read more
Arrested Development: Season 1 (2003)
8.9/10
Director: Greg Mottola, Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Liza Minnelli, Ron Howard, Alia Shawkat, Will Ar...
In this critically acclaimed hit sitcom, you'll meet the suddenly penniless, and equally clueless, Bluth family. Accustomed to their wildly affluent l... Read more
Arrested Development: Season 3 (2005)
8.9/10
Director: Various
Starring: Will Arnett, Scott Baio, Jason Bateman, Justine Bateman, Michael Cera, David Cro...
This set includes the complete third and final season of the genius, Emmy-winning comedy that was cancelled by people who 'just didn't understand'. Th... Read more
The Magician (2005)
6.6/10
Director: Scott Ryan
Starring: Scott Ryan, Ben Walker, Massimiliano Andrighetto, Kane Mason
From the producers of 'Chopper' comes this blackly comic mockumentary about a hitman, Ray (Scott Ryan who also wrote and directed) who hires a film cr... Read more
The Zombie Diaries (2006)
4.1/10
Director: Michael Bartlett, Kevin Gates
Starring: Jonnie Hurn, Russell Jones, Craig Stovin, James Fisher, Anna Blades, Imogen Chur...
A budget indie flick following three groups of people caught up in a zombifying viral outbreak in the UK, each with their trusty handicams rolling the... Read more
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
6.4/10
Director: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sanchez
Starring: Heather Donahue, Michael C Williams, Joshua Leonard
On October 21, 1994, Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams hiked into Maryland's Black Hills Forest to shoot a documentary film on the... Read more