Amazon Holiday

Monday, May 17, 2010

Casino Jack and the United States of Money


Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A documentary about how lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, manipulated the system for personal profit, and how it's not really his fault that he's super clever, because the system was set up for him to be able to do that.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Real Washington mucky-mucks.

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketProceed with Caution. It's really long for a movie that's basically a well told history lesson, and you practically need a Phd in political science and 5 or more years working in Washington D.C. to follow parts of it.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Some of the soundtrack choices are humorous.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No, because if you cared about the sorry state of the US government, you probably would've gotten up off your lazy butt and tried to do something to make it better. But I guess, you, like I have lost all hope of actually being able to make a difference, so I forgive you. And as the movie points out, you can't get anything done without powerful connections and lots of money to pay them to agree to push through your ideas (without reading them, of course).

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: "A" for effort. At least this movie is trying to start a conversation and make a point. Then again, I think the point may have been, "Our country is screwed, it always has been, and it always will be. That's what you idiots get for worshiping money."

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Some of these criminals are really good at acting like they were the victims.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: There are several distracting shots of people's hands, kankles, and crotches. I would think that the director/producer of a vast majority of the important documentaries of our time would be able to find something a little more pertinent and interesting to cut away to when he needs to tighten the dialogue. But I guess he didn't have time to find those shots, since this is only one of three movies Alex Gibney has directed, that are coming out this year.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: If you know stuff about stuff you may not learn anything you didn't know. And if you don't know stuff about stuff, you'll learn some stuff, but you'll also be really confused about stuff, because stuff is complicated.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: There's a fictionalized biopic about this very same thing, coming out in the future, starring Kevin Spacey. I enjoyed that one more, as it was easier to follow, and had more entertainment value. But stuff was still complicated.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/casino-jack-and-the-united-states-of/10025113/trailers

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why don't you add drop-down menus of all your Yellow and Red lights too? I think that would be helpful.

Monique said...

You are the first to suggest that. I think most people seem to be interested in what they should see, than what they should maybe see or what they shouldn't see. And every drop down list is more work for me each time I write a review, so let's see if a lot more people request it before I go to the trouble.

Thanks for your suggestion.