Urbanized

Urbanized, directed by Gary Hustwit, is the final film in his "Design Trilogy," following Helvetica (2007) and Objectified (2009); it's a documentary about how cities are planned and designed, built around interviews with more than 30 urban planners, architects, and activists, including Rem Koolhaas and Sir Norman Foster. The film was financed through Kickstarter, raising $118,500 against an $85,000 goal. It had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2011. The film holds a 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Who it's for: anyone curious about an urban design documentary, the closing chapter of a trilogy that began with typography and product design, featuring interviews with over 30 architects and urban planners. Who it's not for: viewers looking for a narrowly focused documentary about a single city, since the film brings together many different cities from around the world.