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| Movie Review: Conventioneers Alternate Title: Politics Makes Strange Bedfellows
Story: The 2004 Republican National
Convention held in NYC is the background for this movie that combines
a fictitious love story between a left wing protest organizer and a
Conservative Republican delegate from Texas. The story blends fiction
and documentary in a style that I call 'docu-fictionary' (I just made
up that word). Writer and director
Mora Stephens and producer husband Joel Viertel
did a credible job in combining the two forms of storytelling. Their
own real life arrest during the convention in one of the NYPD's sweeps
of protesters might have been an even better story to tell. The idea that these two polar opposite characters
could meet, hook up and contemplate a future together crossed the line
into the realm of fairy tale story telling for me. Politics indeed is
passionate and the bedroom could easily be a place where demonstrative
emotions run wild. This couple, however, did not elicit an emotional
response from me. I was way more interested in the politics of the street
as millions of demonstrators gathered to protest just about everything. If you like politics, need to be reminded of
what happened just two years ago in the 2004 lead up to the elections,
then check out this film. Acting: Matthew Mabe as the delegate
looked very much the part and handled his role well. Woodyn
Koons as the left wing politico played the at times, confused
liberal well too. Alek Friedman, played the most interesting
part. He was a semi-retired protester, who's day job was as a sign language
interpreter. He is called upon to sign for Bush at the convention. This
part was true and I found more interesting than the love story.
Predilection: I am a politic and was one of the demonstrators
that week. Luckily I did not get caught in one of the sweeps by the
NYPD.
Food: Many of the protest meetings take place in
eateries. Lots and lots of booze is drunk.
Theater Audience: It was a screening. There were
only four people in attendance.
Weather: It was late summer. It was hot.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: The convention made me squirm.
Drift Factor: It could have been tightened a bit.
Predictability Level: High
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine.
Length: Under two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 5
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