Home movies

Published September 10, 2004 12:05AM (EDT)

One of the more interesting developments in the 2004 presidential campaign is the home movie phenomenon. First there was "Outfoxed," Robert Greenwald's indictment of Rupert Murdoch's fair and balanced news channel, which opened not in a theater near you, but in your neighbor's house. And now we have "There's Something About W," a damning, point-by-point critique of the havoc wreaked by the Bush administration. Featuring the sober analysis of intelligent Bush critics like Paul Krugman, Molly Ivins and Kevin Phillips and enlivened by the one-liners of comedians like Bill Maher, Will Durst and Al Franken, the 40-minute documentary is a useful tool of political persuasion for the swing-voter couple who lives down the street. (Franken gets off the best shot: "During the 2000 campaign, when Bush said he was against nation building, I didn't realize he meant only our nation.")

The makers of "There's Something About W" -- a group of documentary film veterans led by Robin Chin and Louise Rubacky -- are encouraging people to use the film as an educational tool at house parties and community screenings. Copies of the film can be ordered at SomethingAboutW.org.


By David Talbot

David Talbot, the founder of Salon, is the author of New York Times bestsellers like "Brothers," "The Devil's Chessboard," and "Season of the Witch." His most recent book is "Between Heaven and Hell: The Story of My Stroke."

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