I'm not thrilled with this list, but then again, the Oscar doc shortlist never elicits cheers from me (except for last year's inclusion of In a Dream and They Killed Sister Dorothy). I'm most surprised by no Anvil! The Story of Anvil (not on the shortlist? really?), Tyson (smells like a snub), We Live in Public, and The September Issue, to name the ones that jump out at me.

The honestly-not-shocked-they-aren't-on-there pair for me are Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story and Chris Smith's Collapse, a movie so full of unprocessed truth that it's perceived as too nutritious to be appetizing. I know Collapse wasn't eligible, but I still had a hope in the back of my mind it'd magically just be there, rules be damned. I really wish The Horse Boy and Soul Power had been on the list, but I always knew they'd never make it. I've included the whole list below with some ultra-brief thoughts on a few.

The Beaches of Agnes: Agnes Varda, duh
Burma VJ: Hooray for a a deserving film
The Cove: An odds favorite based on huge inside industry support
Every Little Step: Great flick about a great revival of a classic show
Facing Ali: Missed this one at Austin Film Festival
Food, Inc.: I wonder whether The Cove will edge this one out for final five as "the treehugger movie"
Garbage Dreams: stellar SXSW movie that I didn't review and should be brought up on charges for not covering then. A writeup will be posted in the morning.
Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Mugabe and the White African
Sergio
Soundtrack for a Revolution
Under Our Skin
Valentino The Last Emperor: I'm sure this movie is just great, but no way should it make final five
Which Way Home: Sin Nombre: The Verite Cut