I agree with you on Gates of Heaven. One of the most overrated docs I’ve ever seen. Some of his other films are interesting but I think Frederick Wiseman or even Herzog deserve to be called the best documentarian than Morris.
Hmm…I remember being quite intrigued by THIN BLUE LINE, but that was probably 13 years ago. Loved the repetition of the dreamlike reenactments in combination with the score. Made it through about 5 minutes of GATES OF HEAVEN before deciding, “maybe another time.” Though I love the clip in WERNER HERZOG EATS HIS SHOE and love what Herzog has to say about the characters and situation providing a true “State of the Union” for the United States and its greed for money above all else.
Recently liked FOG OF WAR and found STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE very thought provoking though not as well crafted. But have been really floored by MR. DEATH and FAST, CHEAP, AND OUT OF CONTROL, so maybe give those a look. I also swear by his essay series from the New York Times a few years ago. Check this out.
I think you have to look at Morris work, too in context. The Thin Blue Line is an important film. The net result of the film is pretty impressive. It was the spark that led to a man being released from prison, from death row no less. The technique of the film, for its time, was hardly run-of-the-mill. Morris is more of a storyteller than a documentarian like Wiseman or the Maysles. Herzog is more of a storyteller as well as he relies more on re-enactments or outright fabrication. He may not necessarily be everyone’s idea of a documentarian, but I wouldn’t be so dismissive of his role in bringing the genre to a wider audience.
il Maltese
I didn’t get Errol Morris. Why he’s considered so well? I saw the blue thin line and gates of haven. The first is a good tv movie, nothing more. I find the second so generic and boring. The topic was pets cemeteries, family business, our relation with pets or what? It seems to me a little bit of all.