“A CRIMINAL PIERCES THE SOUL OF POLITICS”
Starring: Jack Abramoff, William Banner and Tom DeLay
Directed by: Alex Gibney
MPAA Rating: R for language
Genre: Documentary
Run time: 2hrs and 2 min.
Release date: May 21, 2010
By John Delia
When documentaries like Casino Jack and the United States of Money get made I am leery about the content. In this new film by Alex Gibney (He won an Oscar for his documentary film Taxi to the Dark Side) we find a political satire on the level of Director Michael Moore (Fahrenheit 9/11, Sicko).
Now I try to avoid films that lean heavily on politics and religion as they tend to be one sided not giving the viewer a chance to weigh the evidence so to speak. Casino Jack starts out showing an excellent account of the dastardly political lobbyist and thief Jack Abramoff and then, in my estimation, becomes preachy, over emotional and subjective. That said, if you’re in the Liberal political camp you’ll love all the innuendos and loosely based fodder that go along with Gibney’s story telling in this film.
Not wanting to take sides with what is presented in the film, I decided to provide you with an accurate description released by the filmmakers. I think it is a justifiable account of what’s contained in the film, however I have taken some editorial liberties that are in parentheses.
‘Casino Jack and the United States of Money (a great title by the way) is a twisting tale in which a small group of charming con men, (including Jack Abramoff on which the film is centered) who use the power of the purse, the zealotry of religion and bare-knuckled political brawling to loot the American government for fun, ideals and profit. It’s about ambitious young men (like Jack Abramoff) who wanted to change the world, the politicians who needed their money (both Republican and Democrat), the corporations and gambling-rich American Indian tribes who desired their influence and how millions were extorted and the foundations of our democracy imperiled in the toxic mix of power and cash.
Wow, sounds very dark and sinister, and it should, because this film shows it all, from the roots where the story was born to the biggest government in the world where it gets nurtured. If this is all true, and it certainly leads me to believe from the footage compiled that it is, then the leaders of the government that runs this great democracy should share the cost as the American people ultimately do.
So I commend filmmaker Alex Gibney for bringing all this to the forefront. But, just like Michael Moore’s diggings, what has been done to put in safeguards against others who may abuse our system of American democracy for ill gotten gain? What have we done about the premises brought up by Moore in Capitalism: A Love Story and Roger & Me? And for that matter Gibney’s Oscar winner Taxi to the Dark Side that depicts the tortures by our military that I believe is brought about by a war against the unknown; including the fear it imposes and consequent frustration of our soldiers?
The downside of the film other than what has already been insinuated in this review, includes its overly aggressive length, repetitiveness, and an empty solution to the problem.
Casino Jack and the United States of Money is rated R for language.
FINAL ANALYSIS: An interesting expose that drags. (2 of 5 Palm Trees)