I always feel like I should see more Oscar-nominated documentaries than I do. While the documentary medium is often fascinating, it's not one that automatically springs to mind when the kids are asleep and I've got a few free hours to kill. Sure, I could check out that critically acclaimed documentary that I added to my Netflix queue a few weeks back. Or I could watch Reno 911! instead. I think we all know how that decision usually turns out.

Nevertheless, one of these years I really will get around to seeing as many of the Oscar-nominated documentaries as I can, really I will. And now I've got 15 more entries to add to that someday list, because Awards Daily has posted a list of the documentary films currently on the shortlist for the upcoming Academy Awards. Here's the list, along with brief descriptions for each of them so you can get the gist.

Battle for Brooklyn: Follows seven years in the life of activist Daniel Goldstein as he tries to save his house and community from being demolished.

Bill Cunningham New York: A profile of 80-year-old New York Times Style photographer Bill Cunningham.

Buck: Tells the story of "horse whisperer" Buck Brannaman, and his recovery from a history of child abuse.

Hell and Back Again: Examines the cost of the war in Afghanistan through the eyes of an embedded photojournalist and a soldier who is badly wounded and shipped home.

If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front: A look at the radical environmental group that the FBI has tagged as a serious domestic terrorism threat.

Jane's Journey: Looks at the life and work of primatologist and UN Messenger of Peace Dr. Jane Goodall.

The Loving Story: The story of the Lovings, an interracial couple whose marriage led to an historic Supreme Court ruling during the battle for Civil Rights.

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory: The latest in filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky's series examining the case of the West Memphis 3, a trio of teenage boys who were arrested and wrongfully convicted for killing several young boys, then spent 20 years in prison before DNA evidence exonerated them.

Pina: Director Wem Wenders' documentary tribute to choreographer Pina Bausch.

Project Nim: The story of a 1970s experiment attempting to prove that a chimpanzee could learn to communicate with language if raised like a human child.

Semper Fi: Always Faithful: Focuses on one Marine's crusade to bring to light water contamination at Camp Lejeune Marine base.

Sing Your Song: Examines singer Harry Belafonte's contributions to the Civil Rights and social justice movements.

Undefeated: An underdog story of the Manassas Tigers football team, and Coach Bill Courtney.

Under Fire: Journalists in Combat: Examines the mental and psychological toll on reporters covering wars.

We Were Here: A look back at the impact of AIDS in San Francisco.