Bully. Coward. Victim: The Story of Roy Cohn

This 2020 documentary is a terrific look at this very hated, yet very successful high society lawyer. Cohn got his teeth cut on the Ethel and Julius Rosenberg treason trial and as Counsel to the infamous Joseph McCarthy. Cohn went on to private practice representing such figures as Donald Trump, Fat Tony Salerno, The Gambinos, and the owners of Studio 54. The film is centered around the Rosenberg sham and talks about how this was the basis for the character created to be Roy Cohn, a guy who was well connected but almost universally thought of as a "evil" person. There is great footage, interviews, news clips, and more. A good documentary.

This latest look at Roy Cohn is an "HBO" doc from the Rosenbergs grandaughter it's called "Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy". Those words pretty much sum it up as it's a collection of interviews with friends, family, journalists, and associates, who knew and had dealings with the legal and business power play as thru their words they give opinions and facts about Roy's life. Clips and vintage footage is shown all during Roy's life from the Rosenberg trial right up until his death in 1986 of "AIDS". Spotlighted is his working in "NYC" with business and political leaders and how he did some money hiding. Plus he was the one to influence Donald Trump to much bigger things(like now being president!) Interviews given show Roy as cold and win at all cost also sheltered and closeted as he never admitted having "AIDS". Interviews given from the gay community were revealing and eye opening about his backdoor secrets. Overall this man was stubborn and tough who in the end had a downfall from his power and secrets. Overall good political and historical doc to watch.

I went into this documentary not being to familiar with Roy Cohn or the Rosenbergs so this review is from an outsider's (non-US) perspective and not political.

Roy Cohn was certainly an interesting individual in looks, actions and drive. A man who was gay and Jewish in a time when both would have been pilloried. He proudly declared that he has no assets so the IRD can't get them. Early on in his career (age 26) he oversaw the prosecution and eventual death by electrocution of Julius and Ethyl Rosenberg for treason (or rather conspiracy to commit espionage for the USSR) and much is made of them selling or giving the plans to the atomic bomb to the Soviets. He was an advsior to McCarthy, attorney for the mob and rubbed shoulders with the rich and powerful, Trump being the main target in this documentary.

It was directed by Ivy Meeropol, a granddaughter of the Rosenbergs which is probably where the issues start. The documentary makes no bones about it's position on Roy Cohn, he is evil and this repeated through out by enemies and so called friends. It alludes to the Rosenbergs being innocent by claiming an unfair trial where lies were used to ensure a guilty verdict. Although no deep dive or proof, just a lot of innuendo and finger pointing. In fact if you listen carefully there is the admission that Julius was guilty to some degree and Ethyl was innocent. This line was not pursued. Unfortunately for the family, both have since been proven guilty through Soviet records and were major suppliers of information.

What is evident is that this documentary's main aim was to discredit Roy Cohn in his private life as well as business life despite his success. Salacious rumors and gossip abounded. His involvement with Studio 54, his toyboys were ever present and his grand living despite having no assets. There was a segment on the bank account of one of his lovers (Peter Fraser) where 100 of 1000s of dollars were deposited from RCs business. What a shame this wasn't explored more instead it was labelled money laundering and mentioned no more. He frequently ignored paying bills and wrote notes to his secretary not to pay accounts.

Interviews with the gay community who 'saw' RC at various gay hotspots and who were only too keen to spill the beans. His friends (none of whom I've ever heard of) regaling stories of his tight fistedness with funny stories of items being delivered then reclaimed after non-payment.

And eventually his death from AIDS which he denied having till the end.

Where this went wrong in my opinion is that it had an agenda. If he was such good friends with the high and powerful where were the interviews? Who is a friend with an evil man? He had a huge attendance to his birthday party but no one was interviewed. He was with Peter Fraser till the end but no interview (assuming he is still alive). I'm sure RC was a man you didn't trifle with and may even have been thoroughly disreputable, even evil but there was no balance in the 'documentary'. You just had to take the narrators word for it. The clips were were tied in with the gay scene of New York from the 70s and much was made of his personal life although very little corroborated, gossip aside. What of his business and how he made money? Why was he liked, what did he do for them or what did he have over them. Trump was trotted out as the 'high and powerful' yet he was also an advisor to Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Rupert Murdoch.

There were too many stories that needed deep diving (Rosenbergs, dealings with the Mafia and his hand in NY contracts to name a few) but the only thing that was explored, maybe too deep was his sexuality. A shame really, he looks to be worthy of a better exploration to really find the man who is Roy Cohn.

I gave it a 5, it kept me interested and I will do more research and as salacious as the gossip and 70s gay scene was it kept me watching to the end. A 5 for the voyeur in me.

Well, this is indeed an enlightening documentary given the current state of the USA. Trump has emulated Cohn's playbook. And it's starkly obvious. The amount of corruption in USA politics is nothing new. But it is interesting to see how people can so easily manipulate it using money, power and influence. Cohn was an awful human being. And the people trying to say this documentary is biased or slanted, are the same people who will excuse felons in the White House. This documentary showed how easily people are manipulated. People love proximity to power and to see people openly admit they were friends with Cohn because it benefited them, is just an echo of history we see today. Unless corruption affects them, they don't care. Fascinating.

This movie matches what I believe about conservatives; I enjoyed it!