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John Caffrey
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjack
Post Number: 81
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 10:05 am: | 
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What are your favorite political documentaries?
I have Netflix and recently watched "Waco: Rules of Engagement." It was anti-Reno and showed Schumer in a bad light. Last night I saw the pro-Clinton "The Hunting of the President." I also like the Noam Chomsky documentary and of course, who can forget Michael Moore?
Please list and describe your favorite political documentary recommendations-both liberal and conservative. I would also like to know what you feel it has to offer. |
Brokeback Straw
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 6909
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 10:13 am: |
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9 Innings from Ground Zero was wonderful. Love Bush or hate him, the segment where the President and Derek Jeter are discussing their conversation before the President threw out the first pitch is classic.
http://www.hbo.com/sports/nineinnings/?ntrack_para1=leftnav_category2_show0
I hate the Yankees but the 2001 baseball playoffs certainly helped NYC move on after the attacks. |
John Caffrey
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjack
Post Number: 82
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 12:37 pm: |
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Thanks Straw, I should have it by Tuesday. |
Brokeback Straw
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 6912
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 2:22 pm: |
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Have a box of tissues near by and at the same time be prepared to smile... |
Nohero
Supporter
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 5127
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 3:05 pm: |
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"Crisis" is a documentary about Kennedy and the desegregation of the University of Alabama.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0263238/
The filmmaker had access to John and Robert Kennedy and the White House Staff, to Governor George Wallace, and to Deputy Attorney General Katzenback who was on the scene in Alabama. You're literally watching history as it happens, and the participants as they take part events not knowing how the stand-off will end.
It's better than any dramatized "Presidential crisis" movie you've ever seen. |
sbenois
Supporter
Username: Sbenois
Post Number: 14676
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 3:10 pm: |
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One I'd like to see is Street Fight which is about the Sharpe James - Corey Booker campaign a couple of years ago. It's up for an Academy Award tomorrow night...
http://www.oscar.com/nominees/bestdocumentaryfeaturenominee5.html |
Threeringale
Citizen
Username: Threeringale
Post Number: 69
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 4:49 pm: |
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Why We Fight is a very worthwhile film. Much better than the bilious shtick of Michael Moore.
Somewhat left of center, in my opinion, but still shows clearly how both Democrats and Republicans have been captured by the Military-Industrial-Congressional complex. So why has voter turnout been going down.........?
Cheers
PS I saw it in Montclair, but supposedly you can now watch the whole thing online for free:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8494.htm |
Elgato
Citizen
Username: Elgato
Post Number: 34
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 7:52 pm: |
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The Future of Food (2004). Very informative. The additional interviews are well worth watching too.
The Netflix blurb says:
"Before compiling your next grocery list, you might want to watch this eye-opening documentary, which sheds light on a shadowy relationship between agriculture, big business and government." |
Scully
Citizen
Username: Scully
Post Number: 193
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 9:03 pm: |
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Did you see 'Enron'? |
CageyD
Citizen
Username: Cageyd
Post Number: 632
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 11:51 pm: |
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Sbenois, if you haven't seen Street Fight I'm not quite sure what to say....it is one of the most depressing documentaries I've ever seen. You'd like to believe that the type of corruption that is documented in this movie only happens in backwards third world countries. Instead it is happening on the other side of our town border. And we are powerless to stop it....
The movie was SO disturbing,I may give money to Booker's campaign this year. |
John Caffrey
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjack
Post Number: 86
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 11:31 am: |
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I have "Why We Fight" "Enron" and "Streetfight" on order. I will add "Crisis" and "The Future of Food."
Re: Streetfight, Ledger article today indicates that James may not run for re-election this year. |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 8809
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 12:49 pm: |
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Fog of War
http://www.sonyclassics.com/fogofwar/ |
sbenois
Supporter
Username: Sbenois
Post Number: 14677
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 1:05 pm: |
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CageyD,
I've read about it and it sure sounds like James will do whatever he must to win an election - including crawling below the sewers.
I'm going to ask the Maplewood Theatre people to show it. |
joel dranove
Citizen
Username: Jdranove
Post Number: 141
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 1:28 pm: |
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Fog of War
jd |
joel dranove
Citizen
Username: Jdranove
Post Number: 142
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 1:29 pm: |
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Triumph of the Will, still the frightening tops.
jd |
The SLK Effect
Citizen
Username: Scrotisloknows
Post Number: 974
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 5:43 pm: |
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"Farenhype 911"...should be watched with Moore' s F911 to get arguments from both sides....
-SLK |
Elgato
Citizen
Username: Elgato
Post Number: 35
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 11:52 am: |
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I hope you're going to let us have your opinions on our recommendations. At least let us know how many Netflix ***s you gave each one. |
joel dranove
Citizen
Username: Jdranove
Post Number: 147
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 11:56 am: |
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The Battle for Algiers, too.
jd |
John Caffrey
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjack
Post Number: 92
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 8:35 pm: |
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I saw "Fog of War" at the Angelica. While it generated some sympathy for McNamara, I basically wanted to choke him. 5 stars.
Battle for Algiers is on order.
Waco: 5 stars. Hunting of the President 4 stars.
My star rating for political docs. is based on how much I have changed my opinion or have new questions after watching it.
Yes, if this post doesn't disappear too far down the archives, I will offer my star ratings after I see the films.
Sbenois: Great idea, possibly a viewing and discussion either in the library or in the Maplewood Th.
A condition of the discussion could be that anyone who insults someone at the discussion gets banned from posting for two weeks. By the way, i was pleased by the posts that followed the train station leafleting. |
aquaman
Supporter
Username: Aquaman
Post Number: 766
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 9:36 pm: |
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"Streetfight", the best documentary this year, thanks CageyD.
Everyone should see it and put a few dollars aside for Corey Booker's campaign this year.
Sharpe James doesn't even hide it anymore, he's beyond corrupt.
Check out the front page of the Star Ledger - 50 Mil and counting.
Where's Corzine on crooked Sharpe?
Keeping it real - where's Kathy Leventhal? Ken Pettis?
They're up for re-election, what's their opinion on the huge sucking sound that is Essex county's tax base? |
kendalbill
Citizen
Username: Kendalbill
Post Number: 139
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 5:53 am: |
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My votes:
Battle of Algiers- not exactly a documentary, but if you cant see analogies to Iraq you aren't looking
Hearts and Minds- Vietnam era but really effective in its time
Fog of War- for many reasons but I found it incredibly emotional. Its the bridge between Chomsky and reality for me- to understand how Americans can find themselves in terrible situations
Street Fight is interesting. I saw it on PBS last year and I was surprised at how appealing Sharpe was. I totally didn't expect that. Obviously corrupt. Obviously Cory Booker is the better candidate and better man. I'd support Booker without thinking twice. But Sharpe James was the star of that movie. It gave me a real insight in to how bad choices can continue to be made repeatedly.
Great tip, nohero. I will definitely check out "Crisis". |
John Caffrey
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjack
Post Number: 98
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 7:26 pm: |
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Hearts and Minds. Similarities include Iraquis welcoming us with dancing in the street. The dancing in Viet Nam hasn't started yet. I'm still waiting.
3 stars. Not much in there that changed my opinion. just sadness over the whole waste of lives. |
John Caffrey
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjack
Post Number: 100
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 5:32 pm: |
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9 Innings from Ground Zero. 5 stars. This does not fit my previous rating criteria since there is no political point of view being espoused.
However, wonderful documentary |
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