The shortlist for the Best Documentary Oscar has been revealed, there are 15 movies remaining and vying for the final five spots. The biggest snub is Michael Moore‘s “Fahrenheit 11/9” which clearly irked people on both the right and left end of the political spectrum. Moore's film left no person unscathed as it not only condemned Donald Trump's "erratic" behavior, but scolded the D.C. establishment composed of Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama. Other films that are missing on this shortlist: Morgan Nevile‘s Orson Welles documentary for Netflix, “They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead,” Rashida Jones' “Quincy,” Robert Greene's “Bisbee ’17,” and “Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes” by Alexis Bloom. However, all in all, it seems as though the usual suspects have been kept for the final dance.
The obvious front-runners are "Free Solo," "Minding the Gap," "RBG," "Three Identical Strangers," and "Won’t You Be My Neighbor?"
The dark horses that could squeeze in a nomination are "On Her Shoulders," "Crime + Punishment," "Shirkers," "Hale County This Morning, This Evening," and "Dark Money."
I've honestly never heard of "Charm City," "Communion," "The Distant Barking of Dogs," "Of Fathers and Sons," and "The Silence of Others." All of these docs must just be very happy to have made it this far in the race.