USA TODAY International Edition
Political junkies have wide range of film options
Theater on both sides of the political aisle has reached new heights with President Donald Trump, and this is playing out in American political documentaries. ❚ From the summer box-office hit “RBG,” about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, to Michael Moore’s just-released “Fahrenheit 11/9,” political docs are hot topics in a politically charged country. ❚ “With Donald Trump, there is a heightened political awareness,” says “Active Measures” filmmaker Jack Bryan. “There is both opportunity and need for some kind of general understanding of what’s happening in this country. It’s clearly different than what most of us have experienced in our lifetimes.” ❚ Here’s a guide to the major shakers and their key revelations.
‘Fahrenheit 11/9’
❚ The take on Trump: In typical tongue-in-cheek fashion, director Michael Moore attempts to understand Trump’s rise to power. While Moore’s 2004 predecessor, “Fahrenheit 9/11,” railed against President George W. Bush and the Iraq War, his latest finds him fighting for gun control and citizens exposed to lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan. ❚ Biggest drama: Moore pairs Trump’s voice with video of an Adolf Hitler rally, before listing the parallels between each leader’s rise to power. ❚ How to see it: In theaters now.
‘American Chaos’
❚ The take on Trump: Director Jim Stern traveled the nation for six months before the 2016 presidential election, interviewing supporters to understand then-candidate Trump’s appeal for working-class Americans. ❚ Biggest drama: “American Chaos” shows a cultural divide that continues to tear the country. One man tells Stern that Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton should be imprisoned or receive the death penalty for treason. ❚ How to see it: Showing in 26 cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.
‘Death of a Nation’
❚ The take on Trump: Director Dinesh D’Souza’s documentary is atypical in this field with its demonstrative supportive of Trump, comparing him to President Abraham Lincoln and placing blame for the country’s divisions on the Democratic Party. ❚ Biggest drama: The film’s solid box-office performance (it has earned nearly $6 million in theaters) demonstrates the nation’s social divide firsthand: Critics gave it zero percent positive reviews on aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences gave it a glowing 89 percent approval rating. ❚ How to see it: Still showing in 20 cities, including Alexandria, Minnesota, and Menomonie, Wisconsin. Available Oct. 16 on digital HD, Oct. 30 on Blu-ray/ DVD.
‘Active Measures’
❚ The take on Trump: The title is a translated Russian term used to describe acts of political warfare intended to influence world events. The film asserts Russian President Vladimir Putin meddled in Eastern European affairs before influencing the 2016 U.S. presidential election in support of Trump. ❚ Biggest drama: Ukrainian politicians who opposed Russian interests wound up in jail (former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, imprisoned on what the European Union says were trumped-up charges) and even poisoned (ex-President Viktor Yushchenko), serving as a chilling reminder of tactics that Russia is allegedly willing and able to execute. ❚ How to see it: Streaming on iTunes, Hulu
‘RBG’
❚ The take on Trump: Pioneering lawyer Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s rise to the Supreme Court long predates Trump. But the 85-year-old justice is staying fit (workouts with her personal trainer are featured and impressive) and active – with the clear incentive of staying on the court past the Trump presidency. ❚ Biggest drama: Ginsberg’s warmth and ability to work with people who disagree with her legal point of view (late conservative justice Antonin Scalia was a close friend) serve as a beacon of hope for political discourse. ❚ How to see it: Available on Blu-ray/ DVD/digital HD.
‘American Dharma’
❚ The take on Trump: Filmmaker Errol Morris presents the documentary based on 16 hours of interviews with the controversial former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, a key architect of Trump’s 2016 presidential victory. ❚ Biggest drama: Morris has interviewed Robert S. McNamara (“The Fog of War”) and Donald Rumsfeld (“The Unknown Known”) for previous critically lauded political documentaries. But “American Dharma” has faced what Morris called “a hostile press” – critics who say the film is too flattering to Bannon – since its debut at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month. ❚ How to see it: It’s playing at the New York Film Festival on Saturday and Sunday.
‘Watergate’
❚ The take on Trump: While not explicitly mentioned, the parallels between the Nixon era and today are clear: a country divided, a president under special counsel investigation and at war with the media. The film shows how America coped with the most profound systemic crisis in the country’s history. ❚ Biggest drama: The most explosive aspect is the sheer detail. Oscar-winning director Charles Ferguson (“Inside Job”) presents a comprehensive look (4 hours, 20 minutes) at the scandal that compelled President Richard Nixon to resign in 1974. ❚ How to see it: In theaters Oct. 12. Airs Nov. 2-4 on the History Channel.
‘Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes’
❚ The take on Trump: Director Alexis Bloom shows how former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, who resigned in 2016 amid sexual harassment allegations, was key to promoting Trump as a presidential candidate early on. The close relationship between the news network and the president continues today. ❚ The big drama: Even former Fox News host Glenn Beck expresses surprise at how Ailes, who worked as an adviser to presidents Ronald Reagan and Nixon, wielded his king-making powers with the network. He recalls Ailes saying, “I still have a president to pick.” ❚ How to see it: In theaters Dec. 7. After the theatrical run, it’ll show on A&E.