Totally Under Control

When understanding 2020, this will be a good place to start. Totally Under Control covers the beginning response of the Trump administration really well, but in a fast-moving world, it's already outdated now. This did provide a good behind-the-scenes view of the chaos that was happening, and the things I learned shocked me.

Remember Dr. Nancy Messonnier? Exactly. But there she was, the face of the CDC, warning of pandemic and closures necessary to contain it, back in February. FEBRUARY!

Messonnier was swiftly swept under the Trump carpet where all science based experts reside. It is a big carpet, with a growing bump. Huge bump. That is the sad crux of this documentary, a thorough, blow by blow spine-chilling COVID-19 dateline, and the shocking ineptitude and dangerous apathy from the Trump government (if you can call it that) in response. Not much new here for anyone keeping up with the news, fake or not, but when presented in a calm, simmering sequence, plays out like a bloody horror movie. Which, let's face it, it is.

"Totally Under Control" is an impressive cinematic achievement, stretched out like a real time news program, brimming with startlingly blunt interviews, thorough investigations, slick editing, and stunning clips. The parade of despondent experts daunting. The series of unfortunate events mind-boggling.

Just to rub salt deeper into the festering wound, an alternate reality, the successful South Korean response to the virus is not just eluded to, but is presented in all it's meticulous glory. A cold hard slap to the face of American foolishness. Ouch.

A series of bungles, lies, incompetencies, and cover ups, lead to a catastrophe most are still trying to properly comprehend. This is an utterly infuriating watch. A strong drink might help.

The dictatorial and abusive power wielded by the president is at the rotten core of this calamity, and filmmaker Alex Gibney eagerly lets The Don indict himself throughout. Repeatedly. Important agencies bow to his whims, try to massage (in vain) disasters, and for the most part, dare not contradict or question Trump for fear of reprisal. Those who do, are quickly dispatched. Fact or fiction? The lines are blurry.

Will a devastating pandemic that threatens to hurl America into full blown depression finally sway the Kool Aid drinkers, or is this the end of the greatest country in the world? We are about to find out. This important film is ample warning, and a primo election primer.

• hipCRANK

I am in no way biased or care about American politics as I am not American,

I do think this movie does nothing more than show how a government cares more about money and re-election than the health and safety of its citizens. It also appears the majority of those who support Trump tend to follow his every word like sheep. So when you get a president who states that he does not believe in science and medicine... well you are going to get a lot of his followers that blindly follow his words and in turn creating a more "un-educated country"

In the end this seems like a propaganda film strategically placed mere weeks before an election, but at the same time the film is based on facts.

7.1

The truth is out now -- if any doubt remains for the masses of non-voters (100 million in 2016) and the undecided. This meticulous film can be wince-inducing as it carefully assembles the disgusting FACTS that finally make it clearly understandable just how the US government, corrupted under Trump, completely failed us with their shockingly pathetic, deadly mishandling of the pandemic response. Those who have been on the front lines are seen & heard leveling with the people, telling it like it is. Not to be overlooked by any sane individual. Get the word out.

Not living in the US, I wondered how 220,000 people died needlessly so fast. This movie shows the exact timeline, the responses by the negligent Trump government to a tee and in detail. This shows how a manager of the most important country in the world had COVID 'Totally Out Of Control'! Like in this movie & in books the loss of life due to COVID-19 will be forever remembered like the Spanish Flu of 1918. This is one of best documentaries I have watched and will recommend to my friends and family. Well done NEON!!! 👍😊