MLK/FBI

"MLK/FBI" is a decent overview of the FBI's surveillance and efforts to ruin Martin Luther King and, by extension, also does a fair job of summarizing some of the civil rights leader's achievements. Although some of the archival footage employed for the documentary's expository mode looks newfound and, reportedly, is based on some recently declassified documents, there isn't much if anything new discussed here.

I'm not an expert on King, but I've read about him over the years, seen other documentaries, visited the hotel-turned-museum where he was assassinated, and it's a challenge to point to one new thing in this doc that I learned. Generally, it's what anyone with even a passing recreational interest in 1950s-1960s American history would already know. Maybe there aren't any other documentaries that focus primarily on this angle, though, so I'll rate it positively for that. One may check out "King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis" (1970), for instance, if they want a grander overview of King's activities, and there've been many others, along with documentaries about Hoover and the FBI. We even have biopics such as "J. Edgar" (2011) and "Selma" (2014). In the end, the desire is palpable to release the FBI tapes already that are scheduled to be unsealed in 2027 (which talk about arbitrary), as at least then there'd be new material for the historians and documentarians to work with.

Otherwise, as it is, too much time is wasted here musing over King's sex life. Yes, he had extramarital relations; move on. I read about that and mentioned it in a biographical speech I delivered back in secondary school; it's not a revelation. The most scandalous "new" item, I suppose, is the FBI's rape accusation, but there's nothing really to say about such a claim from the racist organization that was out to ruin the man if there's no evidence available to substantiate it. The filmmakers could've used the same tact here that they offered J. Edgar Hoover, for whom they only hint photographically of his rumored homosexuality and never mention the more dubious claims of transvestism.

The commentary on the FBI's actions against the civil rights movement is better, including contextualizing it as part of mainstream American white supremacism of the era. Perhaps, not enough credence is given to the fact that the FBI, however, was part of a federal government where administrations were offering support for civil rights out of one side of their mouth and eventually legislatively at the same time as they were approving Hoover's surveillance and intimidation campaign. Conspiracy theories regarding the FBI's involvement (or at least willful negligence) in King's murder are largely glossed over, too.

As an introduction or overview, "MLK/FBI" does well enough, as I said, though. Plus, I like the archival footage approach with the voiceover exposition as opposed to talking-head interviews. Fortunately, I recognized some of the film clips shown, for which the identification here was inconsistent. "The FBI Story" (1959), for example, gets a caption, but not, as far as I noticed at least, "The Birth of a Nation" (1915) or "The March" (1963). Even if I saw the narrators' faces, however, I wouldn't really know who most of them are, although hearing James Comey remark on what he considers the most shameful aspect of the agency's history (the letter basically attempting to blackmail King into suicide) is interesting, to say the least. But, that's a whole other doc on bureau shenanigans.

This documentary tackles a very interesting part of history. It is a story I don't often see taught in school. It features a lot of big figures is U. S. History. It is the 1960's, we have J. Edgar Hoover, Lydon Johnson and of course, Martin Luther King Jr. Take those characters and put them in the U. S. 1960's setting, with the Civil Rights, Cold and Red Scare. Put all these ingredients together and you have your self a fascinating recipie.

Looking at the situation from the lense of today, it is easy to see that Hoover is acting selfishly and irrationally, but this documentary does a good job of rationalizing his actions, without justifying them.

It is also quaint to remember a time when the FBI needed wiretaps in order to listen in to American's phone calls.

Not much to say, the film does its job well. It informs its audience of an interesting story in an interesting matter.

This is a must see documentary which chronicles a vital period in American history. Don't miss it!

A very thorough documenting of MLK's political activism and attempts by the FBI and others to shut him down for political and ideological reasons.

Using the latest info available on him, it connects all of the dots and reveals his work to bring about equality and his frustrations with the forces who were preventing that.

IN BRIEF: A well made documentary about this great leader but flawed man and the FBI 's vicious attempt to discredit him.

JIM'S REVIEW: (RECOMMENDED) Sam Pollard's gripping documentary, MLK/FBI, chronicles the Civil Rights movement and the FBI's shameful discrediting of one of its leaders, the Rev. Martin Luther King, which was orchestrated by its bureau chief, J. Edgar Hoover. Having the FBI conduct surveillance of MLK with the sole purpose to humiliate and destroy his image with the public, the film uses declassified documents, archival footage, and Hollywood propaganda film to state its case. (The entire FBI tapes are slated to be available to the public in 2027, so only some documentation, photographs, and interviews are the film's basis.)

The documentary is fascinating in its thorough researching of those turbulent times during the 50's and 60's from the start of the Civil Rights protests until MLK assassination, with comments from historians about his legacy. The filmmakers try to encapsulate the unrest in our nation during those polarizing times and it confirms the governmental tactics used to wiretap its citizenry and lump MLK with the evils of communism while labeling MLK with other more military-minded Black protest groups as subversives. Call them "domestic terrorists" before that term was commonplace, but the film resonants with today's racist climate.

The documentary is not totally successful in its narrative structure and one wishes their scope was narrowed down and more concise in its storytelling and also focused more on Hoover's backstory and obsessive mission to destroy another man. Granted there is too much to comprehend as the film covers nearly two decades and most history buff would savor this retelling. But this is an important film for all to experience and its lingering message is truly thought-provoking. Most telling is the turnaround by a supportive President Lyndon Johnson and the FBI Bureau after MLK is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Indeed, politics does have strange bedfellow.

The director's sense of irony is also at play as he begins his documentary with this quote from a film clip of former President Ronald Reagan:

"In most stories, villains are usually defeated and the ending is a happy one. I can make no such promise with this picture you are about to watch. The story isn't over..."

MLK/ FBI is a noble effort by Mr. Pollard and his crew. Their film is very well constructed and edited with skill by Laura Tomaselli, making this history lesson a cautionary tale for all Americans to heed. And yes, the story isn't over! (GRADE: B)