Alex Gibney is an American filmmaker and screenwriter, the founder of Jigsaw Productions. He focuses on making documentaries that chronicle the lives of bad men. We’re talking about persons who did everything ranging from torture to corporate crimes to unleashing an epidemic in a nation. So, today, we’re honoring him by looking at the Top 10 Alex Gibney documentaries.
Alex Gibney Documentaries are brilliant, spanning a career from 1980 to the present day. The filmmaker has over forty films to his credit. Furthermore, he has worked covering a series of the worst aspects of human nature. Further still, you probably have seen his work without knowing because his films are everywhere. So, let’s take a look at some of his work.
Top 10 Alex Gibney Documentaries
Academy-Award winner Alex Gibney covers a vast array of social topics in his work. And he mostly focuses on wrongdoings that affect the public. Ranging from human conflicts like the war on Iraq and Afghanistan to social issues in the United States like corporate crime. But he also extends his work to other areas like sports, as we will see in this countdown. Now, let’s take a look at his brilliant work.
10. Client 9: The Rise And Fall Of Eliot Spitzer
Client 9 tells us the story of how the New York governor entered into a sex scandal that sent his political career to the trash bin. He was once “the Sheriff of New York” as an Attorney General of the state, chasing corruption in the financial services industry. And he then made it to the governor’s seat, but it turns out he was a patron of a high-level prostitution ring. And that fact led to his resignation less than two years after becoming the governor of the State of New York.
Client 9: The Rise And Fall Of Eliot Spitzer Trailer:
9. Going Clear: Scientology And The Prison Of Belief
Going Clear is a massive jab at the ridiculous and utterly bonkers world of Scientology. The film puts Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard’s legacy under the microscope, only to find smoke and mirrors. We see how celebrities go into Scientology for clout, and we see the harrowing tales of those who are ex-members of that cult who are exposing its corrupt practices, abuse, and exploitation.
Going Clear: Scientology And The Prison of Belief Trailer:
8. Steve Jobs: The Man In The Machine
In this film, Alex Gibney profiles the life and legacy of the founder of Apple, Steve Jobs. Furthermore, Apple products are everywhere nowadays, from the iPhone, the Apple Watch, the MacBook, and the iPad. The Cupertino company managed to create a consumer electronics culture that shaped how humans interacted with technology and paved the way for the modern use of those instruments like no other. Love it or hate it, Steve Jobs made an imprint in collective pop culture. And with this film, Gibney gives us a look at how he did it.
Steve Jobs: The Man In The Machine Trailer:
7. Taxi To The Dark Side
The Academy decided to award Alex Gibney an Oscar for Taxi To The Other Side. And after you watch this movie, you’ll understand why. Moreover, his Award-winning film is so low in this countdown because he has so much other work there. Secondly, this film tells the story of an Afghan taxi driver tortured to death by American soldiers at a military facility in Afghanistan.
Furthermore, with this documentary, Gibney examines the use of torture by the CIA and the USA’s policy on that instrument. It’s a harrowing documentary with some very tough-to-hear and watch components.
Taxi To The Dark Side Trailer:
https://youtu.be/s5j3Ry8qXOI
6. We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
Gibney brings us a look at how Julian Assange created WikiLeaks, the story behind the first massive data leak that made the website famous, and what consequences did that bring him the website. And how did governments respond to that leak in a very direct, well-written, and solidly backed up documentary that covers aspects of government accountability, ethics, regulation, and the role of modern technology in empowering citizens.
We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks Trailer:
5. The Inventor: Out For Blood In Silicon Valley
With a poignant style, Alex Gibney gives us an inside look at Theranos, a start-up company created by a college dropout named Elizabeth Holmes, who managed to dupe just about everyone in the financial sector.
Furthermore, this millennial created a niche in the healthcare sector with great skill, promising a revolutionary technology that she couldn’t deliver. And defrauded billions of dollars worth of investors’ money in the process. This is her story.
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4. Gonzo: The Life And Work Of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
Gonzo, narrated by Johnny Depp, takes into the life and mind of one of America’s most influential authors. Hunter S. Thompson, the creator of “gonzo journalism.” With great detail, Gibney puts the author under the magnifying glass, examining his literary work on politics and music.
Featuring interviews with Thompson’s friends and family, this great documentary will give you an insider’s look at the author of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and the Rum Diary, both pictures that feature Johnny Depp, who had a profound friendship with Thompson and was influenced by his work in a great deal.
Gonzo: The Life And Work Of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson:
3. The Armstrong Lie
The Armstrong Lie takes an inside look at how Lance Armstrong managed to cheat the system for more than a decade. Moreover, it gives us a glimpse at the mind of a man who took it upon himself to build an image and how it came crumbling down. Because if you followed Lance Armstrong’s career in the cycling world, it was nearly impossible for anyone to catch up to him.
In The Armstrong Lie, Gibney exposes Armstrong, and he interviews those who didn’t buy his shenanigans from day one, got bullied by him and the image he created, and the fallout resulting from his demise. Lastly, this, without any doubt, is one of Gibney’s most brilliant works.
The Armstrong Lie Trailer:
2. The Crime Of The Century
The Crime of The Century is a two-part deep dive into the world of Big Pharma and corporate corruption. This is a topic that Gibney knows how to tackle really well. With jaw-opening interviews, you will see how Big Pharma, more specifically Purdue Pharma managed to coopt and corrupt the regulators to have its painkiller OxyContin approved. And with it, it unleashed into the Appalachians, and then unto the rest of the United States a drug epidemic that still rages on with devastating human consequences.
You will rage at the impotence of impunity from these drug execs who managed to escape unscathed, and you will feel empathy for those who managed to survive the harrowing grip of the opioid crisis.
The Crime Of The Century Trailer:
1. Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room
This 2005 documentary tops our list because it tells a story that’s simply too incredible. If it were a comedy, it’d be great. Still, and regrettably, Enron existed, and its effects were terrible. For those who don’t know, Enron was an energy sector company in America in the early 2000s that managed to rake in humongous profits.
But as it turns out, it was the product of gigantic accounting fraud that had the banks, the regulators, and just about everybody else in the financial sector in cahoots. Lastly, with great interviews and a poignant style, Gibney delivers this great documentary you don’t want to miss.
Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room Trailer:
What do you think of these top Alex Gibney documentaries? Have you watched any of them? If you’re into documentaries and haven’t watched any of the works by Alex Gibney, you will surely add some of these to your watchlist. Moreover, documentaries are always a great conversation piece with your friends and family. If you like social issues like those Gibney covers, you will surely find some interesting talking points here. On our side, that’s all the time we have for this topic here at Otakukart. Thanks for your attention. See you soon, and happy streaming!
Also Read: Top 10 Best Johnny Depp Movies: His Greatest Roles
