Yep, the government is still full of crooks and liars.
In what is hands down my favorite movie title of the festival, director Alex Gibney tells the story of how Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff scammed all kinds of people out of millions of dollars. And how he was doing it for a long, long time. The film features interviews with nearly everyone involved, including Dancing With the Stars contestant and all-around douchebag Tom DeLay.
The film runs a bit long—close to the two-hour mark—and definitely drags in the middle, which hurts it as an overall film. But the story of Abramoff’s early rise to prominence with the College Republicans is fascinating. His ad-libbed speech at the RNC where the powers-that-be try to cut him off by lowering the floor from under him is a highlight, as is the story of Abramoff trying to parlay his political views into films by financing the classic Red Scorpion. Did you know that the weight lifting move Dolph Lundgren performs to save the day at the climax of the film was added because Abramoff was a champion weightlifter in High School?
The film had some interesting moments, but if you follow politics at all, you already knew the story. But if you don’t, at least Casino Jack is a fun way to learn a thing or two.
2/4
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