Top Rock Docs of 2010 Chosen by 11

In true Spinal Tap form, our pals at MusicFilmWeb asked 11 contributors to weigh in on 2010′s best documentaries. The clip above is the top choice from MFW honcho Andy Markowitz The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector. (That ranks as the 2010 doc I have wanted to see and had wanted to produce – but didn’t do either.) Here were my picks:

When You’re Strange (Tom DiCillo, USA) is the closest today’s music fans will ever get to experiencing the province of the Lizard King. DiCillo’s deft crafting of found Doors footage immerses viewers in the tumultuous era of Jim Morrison’s reign. Told strictly via found moments and Johnny Depp’s unadorned narration, the film has a “you are there” quality unmatched by many contemporary docs.

Honorable mention:

Most rock docs portray pleasing rags to riches stories, which strike a universal chord. What makes a rock star doc different is that these larger than life characters couldn’t conceivably be anything but transgressive entertainers. An intimate portrait of Motorhead’s motormouth, Lemmy (Greg Olliver and Wes Orshoski, USA) presents a singular Renaissance man, a blues expert/sword collector/military historian who also fronts one of rock’s most kick ass bands.

Catch everyone’s votes at MusicFilmWeb.