It’s pretty upsetting when you see more documentaries than most Americans, and yet you haven’t seen any of the 15 docs deemed best of the year by the Academy. This is my case this year, and I guess I was slacking. Or maybe the real problem is that Oscar has shortlisted too many films that haven’t been released commercially. In his IN DEPTH look at the shortlisted docs, Kurt Cobain About a Son filmmaker AJ Schnack points out that only 6 of the films have pursued a true theatrical release and 2/3 have not been available for review by critics nor have they reported their box office. For commentary on Schnack’s earlier analysis of both this year and last year’s eligible docs, check out Karina’s post from last week.

So, there’s my excuse. Anyway, I still have many months to see the docs that are most likely to receive the five nominations. My guesses of what I need to see before Oscar night: Sicko, No End in Sight, Lake of Fire, Body of War and War/Dance (or Taxi to the Dark Side, if the Academy allows so many Iraq War docs). Of course, if I want to be a true doc fan, I should make sure to see all 15, as well as a lot of other films left outside the shortlist.

As for glaring exclusions, most people seem to be upset about the snubbing of The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Other favorites not shortlisted include In the Shadow of the Moon, The Devil Came on Horseback, My Kid Could Paint That … I could go on and on. I guess it’s a good thing that there are in fact so many great documentaries being made in the world that we have to close the door on some. Yet I wonder why there couldn’t be a music doc once in awhile — Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten has been well-received. And what about my favorite documentary of the year, The Life of Reilly. Honestly, it isn’t a good enough FILM to be nominated, but if An Inconvenient Truth can win the award, certainly this monologue movie could be shortlisted.

For the full shortlist of docs, see the Academy press release.