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| Movie Review: I.O.U.S.A. Alternate Title: Deficit for Dummies!
Story: Oh brother, can you spare
$9,000,000,000,000? Director and writer Patrick Creadon
( based on the book, Empire of Debt by Christine O'Malley
and Addison Wiggin) tackles a subject that is not exciting,
sexy or appealing to most Americans (which could be part of the problem).
He has a successful go at trying to explain to the typical American
dunderhead why we are broke, how we got here and what we need to do
to get out of this mess.
In a non-partisan approach, using as much humor
as possible, he explains via charts, file footage and talking heads
(see list below) why we cannot sustain spending money that we do not
have. He explains the national debt, the foreign trade deficit, why
we need to save money and clearly shows why we are dead last in the
ranking of trade deficits. Shame on us.
Long sad story short - if you can't afford it
- don't buy it.
The National Debt Clock was shut down for a brief
time in June of 20o0 when Bill Clinton and Congress was able to balance
the budget and accrue a surplus. That was short lived. Check out the
National Debt Clock website and watch the debt grow: http://www.babylontoday.com/national_debt_clock.htm Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ9eYvv_bgA Acting: This is a documentary so there are no 'actors',
per se. The two major explainers, David M. Walker and
Robert Bixby are part of a crusade by non-profit, non-partisans
to go around the country to help explain to the American people what
this crisis is all about and what needs to be done. Other talking heads
include: Alice Rivlin, Robert Rubin, Ron Paul, Judd Gregg, Warren
Buffett, Kent Conrad, Paul O'Neill, Paul Volker and Alan Greenspan. Trivia: While watching the 90 minute film the National
Debt increased by $85 million.
Predilection: I like documentary films.
Critters: None
Food: Spaghetti and meatballs and salad.
Sex Spectrum: This is not a sexy subject
Soundtrack: At times, quite funny.
Opening Titles: A file footage montage of past Presidents
and their speeches concerning the economy.
Theater Audience: About 10 other people who seemed
as depressed as I was when the film was over.
Squirm Scale: I squirmed at the mess we are in.
Drift Factor: I paid attention throughout.
Oscar Worthy: Probably not. FYI - the new rules of
the Academy state that is a documentary film is to be considered for
an Oscar nomination, it has to play in NY and LA for two weeks by August
31st.
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would probably be the
way to go on this one. Fleming's other film is Wordplay, about
Will Shorz and the NY Times Crossword puzzle.
Length: 90 minutes
LOBO HOWLS: 7.5 |