"Stonewall Uprising" has numerous qualities that I absolutely despise in any documentary. Resembling something ripped from A&E or The History Channel as opposed to directly from a film reel, this new entry into the pitiful sub-genre of LGBT-themed documentaries should be boring as shit, yet fortunately is anything but.

Using primarily reenactments and talking heads to chronicle the events leading up to and preceding the infamous Stonewall Riots, documentarians Kate Davis and David Heilbroner weave a touching and informative portrait of this dark (and much ignored) part of history that is pedestrian in its set-up yet rich in historical content. Unfortunately there exists little to no actual footage of the riots, yet the film successfully creates the political and emotional climate of the time through an array of fascinating interviews with people in the bar and around the country at the time. Some of the stories put a lump in my jaded, cynic throat.

Yet, as a member of the gay community, there's a part of me that wishes this film was more in-depth. With a runtime of less than 90 minutes, Davis and Heilbroner cover a lot of ground and present a ton of different sources, but some areas seemed a bit underrepresented. Most of the LGBT interviewees were of the cis (not transgender, for those who aren't in the know) variety. Given the fact that the transsexuals and drag queens played a large part in the riots, it's surprising that they weren't given more screen time. One reviewer also equates the movement to the slave movement, which is just offensive on so many levels.

Though I can't really knock this little documentary that tries so hard. It does mean well, yet compared to other LGBT-themed documentaries such as the "Stonewall" series it doesn't seem nearly as polished as its counterparts. Then again, those documentaries were made in the 80's, so the update is refreshing. If only a little more time was put into gathering more diverse sources and strengthening the film's runtime, then "Stonewall Uprising" could be a definitive LGBT historical document. Sadly, it's more of a minor blip than anything else.

Thomas Sullivan is a staff writer. E-mail him at film@nyunews.com.