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| Movie Review: One Bright Shining Moment: The Forgotten Summer of George McGovern Alternate Title: Sunlight is the Best Disinfectant
Story: Sigh! Can you imagine
what our country might be like today if George McGovern had beaten Richard
Nixon in 1972? I am sure my contemporaries have vivid memories
about what this country was like when McGovern declared his candidacy
in 1970. We were engaged in an unpopular war that divided our nation.
Poverty was on the increase. Inflation was rising. Cronyism, nepotism
and corruption (remember Watergate?) were oozing from our Executive
branch. Yikes! It sounds familiar, doesn't it? This well done (but a bit long) documentary about
McGovern's run for the Presidency is fascinating stuff. I had forgotten
a lot of the details from the period. Using talking heads including Gore Vidal,
Gloria Steinem, Warren Beatty, Howard Zinn, Dick Gregory, Jim Bouton
and Ron Kovic we get a first-hand narrative from the
people who worked for and knew McGovern at the time. Best of all, George
McGovern, still the honest man he always was, speaks his mind from his
ranch in South Dakota. Director Stephen Vittoria does a fine job of portraying
the times as they were (at least as I remember them). If you are a student
of history I urge you to see this film. But I warn you there are times
that your head will likely explode. Acting: No acting in a documentary but some of the
file footage of the lies being told about the Vietnam War by Nixon and
Kissinger was good acting.
Predilection: I supported McGovern in 1972 (are you
surprised?)
Soundtrack: A fine track including, Bob Dylan, Robbie
Robertson, Donovan, and Elvis Costello
Theater Audience: About 20 other politicos (all ages)
but mostly male.
Squirm Scale: I squirmed when I saw Nixon, Rumsfeld
and Kissinger.
Predictability Level: Sadly, very high.
Tissue Usage: I admit to shedding a few tears.
Oscar Worthy: No
Soap Box: Not really a soapbox, just a personal memory.
In 1972 I was living in a small town in North Western NJ. I was a poll
watcher for the Democrats election night. I watched as people voted
and then watched as the votes were counted after the polls closed. My
naive hopefulness at a defeat of Nixon faded fast.The numbers proved
dismal for McGovern. The few people who voted for McGovern were my personal
friends.That night my youthful thoughts of a better world turned me
into the cynical, conspiratorial left winger I am today. AURGH!
Nit Picking: The film needed to be shorter.
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine. How about
renting All the President's Men for a fine document about the Nixon
years?
Length: A bit over two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 8
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