The Name Game
(RATING: ☆☆☆½ out of 5)
THIS FILM IS RECOMMENDED.
IN BRIEF: An interesting behind-the-scenes look at a campaign and the destruction of a politician's career.
GRADE: B-
SYNOPSIS: The sex scandal of a once promising politician.
"The name of a man is a numbing blow from which he never recovers." Oh, how very true! That quote, attributed to Marshall McLuhan, begins this riveting documentary about a politician's fall from grace. Weiner is standard treatment of a compelling subject. Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg assemble interviews and archival footage to show the makings of a scandal and the undoing of a promising career. Their access to the politician and his campaign provides many insights into the election process and its toll on his family.
Once the rising star of the Democratic Party and now just a shameful reminder of ego and sexual bravado, ex-U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner suffered humiliation and defeat literally with his own hands (or other anatomical parts). A mix of intelligence and no common sense, the man remains a curiosity. His undoing: First by sexting his bulge (sorry, there's no other way around it), and sending it to another woman online (not his wife) and later texting salacious messages to another woman, Miss Sydney Lathers, a publicity seeker and porn-star, imploded his political career big time. His penis (thinly veiled) was seen around the world, under his code name Carlos Danger, making the entire situation even more absurd and constant laugh fodder for many pundits and late-night comedians.
The filmmakers give us a front row seat to gawk at this emotional wreckage of the politician's failed bid during his New York City mayoral campaign. In viewing this debacle, one wonders about Weiner's unwise decision to allow filming this documentary which becomes a creepy time capsule of his life unraveling. We silently debate if this decision was his best judgment call, among many other poor personal choices throughout his career. Nevertheless, it sure makes for fascinating behind-the scenes journalism.
The scandal is presented factually which proves uncomfortable for all involved, especially for his "good wife", Huma Abedin, the clear victim of her husband's destructive behavior. The tension between the couple is palpable. Her body language, glaring looks, and gestures fill in all the anguish and scorn of a betrayed lover. She becomes the human center of the film for this moviegoer.
Weiner follows the scandal and lets the viewer determine if the cause is due to the congressman's sexual addiction or just his narcissistic impulses rearing its ugly head (no double entendre intended). Still one can only feel remorse for his loyal wife and family members during this self-inflected ordeal. The media has a feeding frenzy on the politician and leaves nothing in its path. Unfortunately, the bad outweigh all of Mr. Weiner's good, which eventually ended a highly productive career.
The documentary depicts a man who shows more regret about his personal loss than about the hurt and humiliation he caused friends and family. At least he now has this film for repeated viewing to serve as a helpful reminder should he feel the need to stray once again. Let us hope the situation became a lesson learned and an even better reason for Mr. Weiner to accept his actions and move on with his life in a more positive way.
Visit my blog at: www.dearmoviegoer.com
ANY COMMENTS: Please contact me at: jadepietro@rcn.com
THIS FILM IS RECOMMENDED.
IN BRIEF: An interesting behind-the-scenes look at a campaign and the destruction of a politician's career.
GRADE: B-
SYNOPSIS: The sex scandal of a once promising politician.
"The name of a man is a numbing blow from which he never recovers." Oh, how very true! That quote, attributed to Marshall McLuhan, begins this riveting documentary about a politician's fall from grace. Weiner is standard treatment of a compelling subject. Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg assemble interviews and archival footage to show the makings of a scandal and the undoing of a promising career. Their access to the politician and his campaign provides many insights into the election process and its toll on his family.
Once the rising star of the Democratic Party and now just a shameful reminder of ego and sexual bravado, ex-U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner suffered humiliation and defeat literally with his own hands (or other anatomical parts). A mix of intelligence and no common sense, the man remains a curiosity. His undoing: First by sexting his bulge (sorry, there's no other way around it), and sending it to another woman online (not his wife) and later texting salacious messages to another woman, Miss Sydney Lathers, a publicity seeker and porn-star, imploded his political career big time. His penis (thinly veiled) was seen around the world, under his code name Carlos Danger, making the entire situation even more absurd and constant laugh fodder for many pundits and late-night comedians.
The filmmakers give us a front row seat to gawk at this emotional wreckage of the politician's failed bid during his New York City mayoral campaign. In viewing this debacle, one wonders about Weiner's unwise decision to allow filming this documentary which becomes a creepy time capsule of his life unraveling. We silently debate if this decision was his best judgment call, among many other poor personal choices throughout his career. Nevertheless, it sure makes for fascinating behind-the scenes journalism.
The scandal is presented factually which proves uncomfortable for all involved, especially for his "good wife", Huma Abedin, the clear victim of her husband's destructive behavior. The tension between the couple is palpable. Her body language, glaring looks, and gestures fill in all the anguish and scorn of a betrayed lover. She becomes the human center of the film for this moviegoer.
Weiner follows the scandal and lets the viewer determine if the cause is due to the congressman's sexual addiction or just his narcissistic impulses rearing its ugly head (no double entendre intended). Still one can only feel remorse for his loyal wife and family members during this self-inflected ordeal. The media has a feeding frenzy on the politician and leaves nothing in its path. Unfortunately, the bad outweigh all of Mr. Weiner's good, which eventually ended a highly productive career.
The documentary depicts a man who shows more regret about his personal loss than about the hurt and humiliation he caused friends and family. At least he now has this film for repeated viewing to serve as a helpful reminder should he feel the need to stray once again. Let us hope the situation became a lesson learned and an even better reason for Mr. Weiner to accept his actions and move on with his life in a more positive way.
Visit my blog at: www.dearmoviegoer.com
ANY COMMENTS: Please contact me at: jadepietro@rcn.com
- jadepietro
- Jul 1, 2016