The F Word

"The F Word" was one of at least two films inspired by "Medium Cool" screened at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival, though with even a looser story on top of the 2004 Republican convention in New York City than Haskell Wexler did for Chicago in 1968.

The pretext for covering the demonstrators, both real ones and actors in cameos playing New Yorkers, is Josh Hamilton as a DJ whose low power community radio station is being shut down due to FCC fines for inappropriate language, sort of an update of the old Mike Agranoff folk opus "The Ballad About the Sandman" about a rebellious DJ's last show, but here he takes it to the streets. (The real New Yorkers are quizzical because the fictional station's call letters start with "K" whereas East Coast radio stations start with "W", so I'm not sure why writer/director Jed Weintrob chose that additional artifice.)

Hamilton is very engaging and makes a genuine effort to involve protesters and curious passers-by in substantive debate and conversation as he hikes from downtown to a respite with the oblivious sunbathers in Central Park and back down to the convention site in midtown. He really does try to find Republicans or at least be a devil's advocate in discussions to try to be fair. Demonstrators dressed almost ridiculously theatrically prove to be articulately heartfelt.

He is at some of the same rallies as the filmmakers of "Conventioneers" so I expected the actors from that movie to show up in this one, but Weintrob does let the real thing come through, especially the march of the coffins representing those killed in Iraq, and this film covers a colorful demonstration in front of Fox News headquarters that the other film missed (maybe it happened while the other filmmakers were under arrest).

The closing warnings about the threats to free speech of the Patriot Act are even closer to coming true.

I expect the distribution for this film will be limited to meetings of liberal organizations.

The only redeeming thing about the movie is the star/roving reporter. The typical behavior of the uneducated, disrespectful liberal crowd outside the 2004 RNC was embarrassing for all Americans who actually respect the law. They felt disobeying rules and warnings for their own safety was an act of protest. They had the right to continue of they cleared the streets and they failed so that got what they deserved. Dissent doesn't mean being an ass, but today's protesters think exactly that. You want to disagree and dissent, I'm all for it, but be a grown up and obey the law. Otherwise, you become the type of people who don't deserve respect, attention or citizenship.

>I expect the distribution for this film will be limited to meetings of liberal organizations.

That's a shame, because while it's definitely a political film, it's also good film-making.

I don't disagree with the previous reviewer's comments, but I want to add how fresh this film is despite its quickly-revealed perspective on an event from six years ago.

The mix of real-life footage with acting is sharp and engaging: several of the night scenes blend the two especially well, rewarding the viewer for close attention.

And the character of Hamilton fits perfectly in this vein. He's Bob Newhart-esquire as a calm presence amid lunacy. I don't mean to imply that he's similar in personality, or that the film carries a light-comedy feel: it doesn't (though it does have laugh-out-loud moments, and others of uncomfortable chuckling). But Hamilton gives the film a center while allowing attention to focus on what goes on around him. It's a perfect choice for an intelligent, surprising film.

Like "Triumph of the Will" before it, "The F Word" doesn't even pretend to objectivity. It puts its writer's chiliasm in shameless display, representing bigotry and a really dangerous degree of political extremism as normal and desirable, when any thinking human being knows otherwise.

Jed Weintrob gives it all away when he has his main character ask how the Republicans would dare show their faces in the most liberal city in the country. You get the idea that he's deeply disappointed now that Obama hasn't built concentration camps to put conservatives in, now that the United States is run by the man most influenced by Weintrob's own brand of leftism of any US President in history.

All Americans ought to watch "The F Word" in Civics class for the same reason the Army used to make recruits watch "training films" - to acquaint everyone with exactly how bigoted and violent liberals really are.

By writing a movie for his co-religionists, Jed Weintrob has also exposed their intolerance and exclusivity to everyone else.

Future generations will regard this movie as a classic of the art of propaganda, out-classing "Triumph of the Will" in its ability to manipulate the weak-minded.

Perhaps a better title for this turkey would be "Jedi Mind Tricks."

I just kinda fell into watching the movie while scrolling through the channels. I always seem to find amazing movies on the good Ole IFC. It brought one other "F" word to mind FANTASTIC! Charles Bukowski always used the F word just perfectly and in the right context. This film did that too. I found myself thinking that it was an actual Documentary. I am figuring that was the whole idea. Well Done. Josh Hamilton did a great job mixing in the actors and the actual protesters. A must see. Especially en light of the upcoming elections. Great work from Director and writer Jed Weintrob. Pure genius on his part, great characters, great mix of actors and actual protesters, wonderful display of emotion, and ideas.