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Slacker uprising, a review by Rich

3rd November

Slacker uprising



Michael Moore's new film is strategically timed to mobilize voters in anticipation of the 2008 United States presidential election.

Slacker Uprising takes us back to the 2004 election, when the polling margin between candidates George W. Bush and John Kerry could have tipped either way. Framed like a concert film, it captures Moore's activities as he set out on a campaign trip almost as rigorous and far-reaching as the candidates' own. He targeted young people as the demographic that could make the most difference, visiting sixty-two cities in forty-five days, and holding large rallies on college campuses. He dubbed it the Slacker Uprising Tour.

This documentary of his journey is made in the feisty spirit of independent media, budgeted at a tiny fraction of Moore's recent films. It acts like a time machine, returning us to the weeks prior to the November 2, 2004, election, when campuses across the country were exhilarated by a sense of hope and urgency. Moore masterfully foments this energy, speaking to audiences as large as fifteen thousand. He riles up the crowd with his hilarious improvisation, riffing off the day's headlines or responding to hecklers. He also brings a star-studded lineup of friends - we see appearances and performances by Roseanne Barr, Eddie Vedder, Viggo Mortensen, Steve Earle and Joan Baez, among others. His political opponents certainly take notice, lobbying schools to ban him from campus, sometimes successfully.

Although the election didn't go Moore's way, this film is a cure for the hangover that followed, and a reminder that a new political force emerged on those campuses. Young voters turned out in record numbers in 2004, reversing a trend of decline since 1972 (after the voting age lowered to eighteen). The youth vote increased even more in the following mid-term elections. If you want to understand the future of American politics, Slacker Uprising is a great place to start, showcasing what the filmmaker calls "the birth of a new political generation

As always with Moore films this is entertaining, stage managed, skilfully edited, and enlightening to a European. I'm not sure if he is a patriot or just a troublemaker, but he certainly whips up a fervour on every subject he undertakes.
Good timing for this release, it is important to note the influence of this venture did not keep the war criminal Bush from taking office for a further 4 years.
Biggest downside for me as the viewer were the many musical interludes, it kept stalling the flow of the feature IMO
 

(From November Alphabet Marathon - Discussion/Review Thread on November 3rd, 2008)

La Gran Final, a review by Danae Cassandra

Where We Are:  Niger
wikipedia

What We Watched


La Gran Final  (The Great Match)
Year of Release:  2006
Starring:  Atibou Aboubacar, Shag Humar Khan, Wirapitang Kaapor
Directed By:  Gerardo Olivares
Genre:  Comedy

Overview:
The Great Match tells the adventurous story of three soccer fans, none of whom have ever met, but who nevertheless have two things in common: firstly, they all live in the farthest-flung corners of the planet and, secondly, they are all determined to watch the TV broadcast of the 2002 World Cup final. The protagonists in this global comedy are a family of Mongolian nomads, a camel caravan of Tuareg in the Sahara, and a group of Indios in the Amazon.

My Thoughts:
First I should let you know that Film Movement lists this film for Niger, Mongolia and Brazil, while IMDB lists it for Spain and Germany - definitely an international co-production!  I'm including it in the marathon here because of the Niger aspect.  It's a funny, fascinating little film about the lengths men will go to for soccer fandom.  It's a colorful look at three very different traditional cultures, with a quiet look at class and politics on the side.  It's a good look at how very different, and how very similar we all are.  Recommended for just about anyone who doesn't mind a subtitled film.

Bechdel Test:  Fail

Overall: 3/5

(From Around the World in 86 Movies on February 11th, 2013)

HawthoRNe: Season 1 Ep. 4: All the Wrong Places, a review by addicted2dvd

ALL THE WRONG PLACES
As Christina uncovers a rare disorder that could place an accident victim and her young son in grave danger, Bobbie is pressed to counsel a young man facing the loss of an arm.

Notable Guest Stars:
DB Woodside (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 24) as David


My Thoughts:
Another episode I enjoyed... though not quite as much as the previous ones. I actually enjoyed the side story about the amputee then I did the main storyline.

My Rating:

(From HawthoRNe Episode Reviews on June 23rd, 2013)