Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry

"Going Upriver" is well worth a watch: if for nothing else, to provide a reality check about the horrors of war. The movie provides further documentation on reality of Kerry's (and other Veterans') experience on the swiftboats and other arenas of Vietnam. Kerry's clear and consistent rationale for protesting, his solidarity with the soldiers and Vets, and the stakes of his decision to march against the war (many considered it political suicide for a man who was thought to be destined for a political career) were crystal-clear from the speech clips and interviews in the film.

On the other hand, the similarity of language describing Vietnam and Iraq, from recorded clips from the early part of the Vietnam War, was disturbing. "Bringing democracy to Vietnam" and "working with the people" so quickly became a war against the civilians, even in the South. The movie's transcription from Nixon tapes (Nixon ran a smear campaign against Kerry because of his popularity after the Vet protests) also showed that the attacks against Kerry haven't really changed much at all over the years. It's time we put Bush where he truly deserves to be - in the halls of impeachment with "tricky Dick".

Politics aside, this is a very well-made film, dramatic, and enhanced with a perfect score by Philip Glass. You learn not only a great deal about John Kerry, but about the Vietnam War and its aftermath, especially in terms of the anti-war movement. The film uses a great deal of stock footage to carry the story along and has all the appropriate talking heads. The present John Kerry is excluded from the interviews, which is appropriate. There is honor attached to Mr. Kerry in this film, but it can be viewed by anyone without feeling as if it were a piece of propaganda. George Ball has made a great motion picture that can be considered of Oscar-caliber. Since Michael Moore gave others room in the Documentary field, this should be considered as one of the year's best in that category.

This film was somewhat pedestrian at first, but as it got into the heart and passion of the Vietnam era it really caught fire.

During that time I was a naive teenager/college kid, with these events going around on the periphery. This movie helped to crystallize the past, as well as to connect it to the present. The statement John Kerry made, about asking someone, or someone's son (now include "daughter") to die for a lie holds so true today. Although Kerry has mellowed a lot in 34 years, if even a fraction the spark, the integrity and the bravery it took to volunteer for battle and then to see the truth and to fight for a just cause are still in him, I can be proud of my vote on Nov. 2nd.

It would be oh so illuminating to contrast the current president's past life and times during those same years with that of this impressively articulate and thoughtful man.

I saw this in Toronto. George Butler, director of "Pumping Iron" and "Shackleton," proves his talent again. Though obviously pro-Kerry, this film does not hit you with a sledge hammer and does not come across as propaganda. Artistically, it is in a different league than Michael Moore's heavy handed screed. I'd bet that even after the election is over, and even if Kerry loses, the film will still be frequently viewed because of its insights into the psyches and motives of the veterans who opposed the war. The scene where the veterans give back their medals should be mandatory viewing because it so forcefully rebuts the common conception that the act was some sort of merry prank. It was in fact a solemn and heart-wrenching experience for most who did it.

It is 2:30 in the morning, and I have several hours of work ahead of me. The last thing I was expecting to do today was watch a movie. I did, and I do not regret it - worth the loss of sleep.

I have made up my mind to vote against Bush a while back. My line has been, "I know that Kerry is just another politician. I know that he is a demagogue who promises everything. But, he is not evil, and Cheney and Rumsfeld aside, I can't see who would be worse than Bush."

Now that I have watched the film, I realize how little I knew about Kerry. I've suddenly realized that not only will he be better than Bush, but he is one of the very few people in this country that are perfect for leading the US out of the Iraq quagmire.