This weekend I will attempt something that those with a “social life” or “friends” might scoff at. I will be attending no less than ten films. The eight films that will be presented at the After Dark Horror Fest will come first and then I hope to make a little time to visit with Mr. James Bond and also catch Inarritu’s “Babel” which I haven’t made it out to yet. On the documentary tip, though I’m not a fan of their music I definitely think that politically speaking The Dixie Chicks have their hearts in the right place. Those not into horror or gadget filled spy flicks would do well to catch the Chicks in the doc about them “Shut Up and Sing” at Nashville’s own beloved Art House The Belcourt.

They say celebrity deaths happen in threes and unfortunately in this instance “they” seem to be right. Yesterday legendary actor Jack Palance passed away in his home presumably due to natural causes. Palance had a long a wildly varied career, form his career making turn as a scenery chewing bad to the bone outlaw in “Shane” to his role as a producer in Godard’s brilliant “Contempt”. Palance took home the Academy award for “Best Supporting Actor” in 1992 for his role as “Curly” in the film “City Slickers”. He leaves behind a legacy filled with memorable roles and we here at The Doc Channel hope you’ll take a second to remember and revisit Mr. Palance’s work. We certainly will.

This isn’t exactly doc related, but there have been two notable losses in the past few days I feel deserve mention here. First, as many of you know 60 Minutes correspondent Ed Bradley passed away the other day. In a world where news is as much a product as anything else, Bradley was a true journalist and certainly a hero and to simply say 60 Minutes won’t be the same without him is certainly a huge understatement. Secondly, there is the bizarre and tragic passing of an actress I have long admired, Ms. Adrienne Shelley. Shelley was the star of two of my all-time favorite films, “Trust” and “The Unbelievable Truth” (both directed by Mr. Hal Hartley a true genius among men). I bring this up now because though it’s been a few days since her passing–which was initially ruled a suicide–I just got word yesterday that her death was actually a murder and the killer (a 19 year old construction worker) has confessed. This new revelation doesn’t make the event any less a tragedy but suicide is as tragic as it gets and I never like to think about things getting so bad for my heroes. So it’s some comfort that such a talented woman didn’t take her own life…but not much. We hope that you’ll take a moment to revisit the lives and work of Mr. Bradley and Ms. Shelley respectively.

Make sure to pick up a copy of filmmaker Lian Lunson’s Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man, when it comes out next week (November 14th). Ms. Lunson has been an avid supporter of the Documentary Channel, putting us in touch with many a filmmaker and bringing numerous great docs to our attention. But even if we had never had any contact with Ms. Lunson here at the channel, we would still recommend I’m Your Man, a combination concert/documentary piece focusing on one of the greatest musicians of our generation: iconic songwriter Leonard Cohen. The film was an official selection at the Berlin, Sundance, and Toronto Film Festivals and features performances by Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave, Antony, and Jarvis Cocker among others. The film is a must see for Cohen fans. Check out the official movie site for reviews, clips, and more info. Or you can head straight to amazon.com to purchase a copy.

This election season has seen the release of quite a few political documentaries. No matter your party, there is a documentary that will probably agree with your point of view. Here are just a few that any doc fan should check out:

• Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers: ?¢‚Ǩ?ìThe story of what happens to everyday Americans when corporations go to war. Acclaimed director Robert Greenwald (Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, Outfoxed, and Uncovered) takes you inside the lives of soldiers, truck drivers, widows and children who have been changed forever as a result of profiteering in the reconstruction of Iraq. Iraq for Sale uncovers the connections between private corporations making a killing in Iraq and the decision makers who allow them to do so.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù

• The Road to Guantanamo: Equal parts drama and documentary, Road to Guantanamo tells the story of three British citizens that were held without charges in an American military prison in Cuba for three years. The DVD was released just a few weeks ago, so check for it at your local video store.

• Shut Up & Sing: This music/political doc examines free speech by following The Dixie Chicks (no, seriously) for three years, from their life at the top of the country charts to the backlash they experienced after their lead singer’s infamous anti-Bush comments on the eve of the Iraq war. In theaters now.

• A new mockumentary (boy those are really gaining in popularity aren’t they?) containing actual archival footage and dealing with the the fictional death of el presidente George W. Bush is hitting a theater near you. Newmarket Films’ Death of a President won the International Film Critics Award at this year’s Toronto Film Festival and has both parties up in arms. Hollywood Reporter advises, “”Don’t be deterred by the negative reactions this film has received from Democrats and Republicans alike; once you see it you will understand how powerful of a film it actually is.”