Above is "Johnny Berlin," a 55-minute portrait of a guy named John Hyrns, who works as a porter on a luxury train while planning to move to Phnom Penh to write a novel. Most of the documentary is just Hyrns talking, which works because he's a pretty funny, compelling talker. Watching him muse philosophically over The Who, his lackadasical approach to dating, how to donate your liver, the power of Windex, navy bean soup and more is almost hypnotic.

It got me thinking about some of my other favorite documentary "characters" -- the talkers, geniuses, visionaries, weirdos, outsiders and whatnot whose virtual company I have enjoyed. Here they are, in no particular order, after the jump:

Mark Borchardt, "American Movie"

When "American Movie" came out in 1999, the generally glowing reviews were tinged with unease: is the movie asking us to laugh AT frustrated filmmaker Borchardt? It's true that the movie Borchardt makes, "Coven," genuinely sucks. But Borchardt himself is so funny and honest and even inspiring it's not hard to believe he could one day make a twisted masterpiece.

Benny Perkins, "Hands on a Hard Body"

This 1997 low-budget account of a Texas car dealership's grueling contest (cancelled in 2005 after a contestant shot himself after quitting) gains much of its power from returning champion Perkins and his somber pronouncements. The black-hatted Perkins never takes the contest less than 100% seriously, calling it "a human drama thing" that separates the "big dogs" from "the pups" and using it as a springboard to discuss the nature of competition, among other things.

Billy Price, "Billy the Kid"

Billy Price is a hyper-articulate, hyper-awkward 15-year-old in rural Maine. In short, kind of a "nerd" (after the film he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome). But Price is a willing, self-aware participant in the documentary about him -- and the "character" he presents is fascinating to watch.

Speed Levitch, "The Cruise"

Every sentence out of New York City tour guide Speed Levitch's mouth seems like the next line in some epic, hilarious, melancholy and philosophical free-verse poem he's composing about the Big Apple.

Popcorn Sutton, "The Last One"

The last of the old-time moonshiners reveals his secrets. Sadly, Sutton committed suicide earlier this year.

Billy Mitchell, "The King of Kong"

If this list had a villain, the flamboyantly-mulleted Mitchell would be it. Arrogant, vain, petulant and surrounded by kiss-assy minions, it is Mitchell who enobles Steve Wiebe's sometimes pathetic-seeming quest to beat the Donkey Kong high-score record. You can't have Rocky without Apollo Creed.

Edith "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale, "Grey Gardens"

Bizarre, witty, glamorous, resilient and sad. Drew Barrymore has her work cut out for her.