Wednesday, September 13, 2006 09:39:00 AM
MOVIE PICK
Al Franken: God Spoke
It's safe to assume that Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity probably are not in line
right now waiting to buy tickets to Al Franken: God Spoke, a new film by
Nick Doob and Chris Hegedus, which opens today in Manhattan.
We all know that America is divided into red and blue. Yet, as far as television
news and commentary is concerned, it for the most part consists of varying shades of red.
The darkest belonging to Mssrs O'Reilly and Hannity at Fox News, the lightest to the other
networks that seldom challenge what the powers that be have to say. Most of the dissent
comes from the Internet and a few radio personalities. And from the comedy of
Jon Stewart, Bill Maher and Al Franken.
Franken is by far the boldest of this last group. Say what you might about him, he
doesn't tell a joke and run away. Instead of being the snide kid that might
have mocked the teacher behind his back, he remains the snide kid who mocks
the teacher to his face.
What is impressive about Al Franken is how his humor keeps adding more punch
after 30 years in the business. That is, while the "decade of Frankin"
from 25 years ago is still funny, his skewering of administration apologists is the
hard-hitting jolt the country needs. And O'Reilly, Hannity and the administration
do get roasted .
The film, somewhat disjointedly, covers much of Franken's recent manifestations:
entertaining troops in Iraq, doing his radio show, and serving as a jocular pundit
and potential candidate. But mostly it follows Franken around during the 2004 campaign,
a theme many of his fans might have thought hard to laugh about until they see this film.
Those who take Franken's side might well wonder why it is that a comedian
is filling the void the leaders of the opposing party should. But then, John Kerry
and Al Gore would not be nearly as entertaining or funny a subject for a documentary.
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