Docu derby (list of political movies due out before 11/04 election)

[papau]

Is this because the mainstream news media have basically fallen down on the job? :-) At this point, it's not clear whether any of these films will appeal to, let alone win over, people beyond our base - but I like that they are coming out!

http://www.calendarlive.com/cl-et-smith15jun15,0,452448.story

Docu derby
Renewed interest in political documentaries has filmmakers hurrying to get their works seen before election day.
By Lynn Smith Times Staff Writer Jun 15 2004 <snip>Nearly a dozen other films are in that race too. In the shadow of Michael Moore and his high-profile "Fahrenheit 9/11," a band of less flamboyant documentarians is rushing ahead with similarly charged political films. Taking advantage of inexpensive digital video technology and Internet marketing strategies, these filmmakers likely will reach wider audiences, faster, than political documentarians ever have.

With few exceptions, the projects criticize the Bush administration. Some say the filmmakers are stepping into the breach left by journalists who have failed to ask hard questions out of fear of appearing unpatriotic. "A lot of people are saying things now that if uttered in the wake of 9/11 there would have been a lynch mob," says New York distributor Eamon Bowles, who will roll out "Control Room" to 200 theaters over the summer.<snip>



"Control Room" - portrayal of reporters from the Arab TV news network Al Jazeera as they cover the war in Iraq. 200 screens nationwide

"Uncovered: The War on Iraq" a case detailing how the government misrepresented its reasons for going to war, contrasting Bush administration statements about the war with those of 25 former high-ranking government employees. Aug. 13 on about 70 screens. Short version on DVD now.

"Persons of Interest" the stories of Arabs and Muslims detained after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 - festival and art-house circuit this summer and air on the Sundance Channel in September

"Bush's Brain" an assessment of presidential advisor Karl RoveL-Limited screenings in electoral swing states. DVD release via Internet late June

"War Feels Like War," follows the ordeals of journalists who ventured into Iraq without being embedded with the military.To air on PBS July 6

"Fahrenheit 9/11" — U.S. foreign policy since Sept. 11, 2001. 650 or more screens -Variety reports that the same group which pushed Leslie Moonves and Co. to ship "The Reagans" to Showtime, now with the help of Howard Kaloogian, is pressuring theatres to drop "domestic enemy" Moore's film http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=upsell_article&articleID=VR1117906427

"Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train" — Portrait of the left-wing activist, playing in art-house theater

"The Oil Factor Behind the War on Terror" — Bush administration officials link oil interests to the military conflicts. Theatrical release planned in October

"The Hunting of the President" — Based on the book about the campaign to discredit the Clintons by Gene Lyons and Joe Conason. Opens in New York Friday and Los Angeles July 23

"The Corporation" — Based on Joel Bakan's book "The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power." Playing art houses now. Comes to Los Angeles July 9.


And we have a great Book coming http://wvgazette.com/section/News/Other%20News/2004061419 - Senator Byrd lambastes Bush in book “Losing America: Confronting a Reckless and Arrogant Presidency.” -July 26 - in which Byrd argues President George W. Bush “is in a class by himself — ineptitude supreme.”

[MallRat]

1. Don't be so sure that there's no "crossover" appeal.

Through sheer saturation, RW talk radio manages to find a small audience among independents and moderates.

If films, books, and broadcast programming critical of Bush continues to accumulate, eventually it just might break through into the mainstream.

If the publicity continues, there's going to be a number of apolitical, undecided voters who will go see Fahrenheit 9/11 out of sheer curiosity... the same was true for Al Franken's book.

-MR

[Kid_A]

2. I saw "Uncovered"...

My local library had a screening (good ol' local library), and the film was very good. Anyone who payed close attention during the lead-up to the war won't learn anything new from it, but seeing all those lies in the same place was infuriating. The filmmakers show Bush, Rumsfeld, or whomever lying through their teeth, and then they have a large number of experts to completely debunk every single one of BushCo's arguments for war. The audience chuckled every time Bush said "nookyaler" and booed and hissed every Cheney said anything. It was a lot of fun, and people should definitely buy a copy on DVD (Moveon.org sells them on their site.)