With the out-of-nowhere success of 2016: Obama?s America, the nation could finally have a conservative counterpart to Michael Moore. I say the nation rather than the Republicans, because a balanced box office is good for us all, at least as a reminder of our right to oppose the current government and make a profit in doing so. Similar to Moore?s release of Fahrenheit 9/11 during the summer of 2004, author-turned-filmmaker Dinesh D?Souza offers a one-sided, first-person documentary that challenges the incumbent President during his campaign for re-election. Unlike his liberal predecessor, however, D?Souza, who co-directs with writer/producer John Sullivan (Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed), doesn?t have much to fall back on in the way of entertainment value and so only delivers a transient attraction for the anti-Obama crowd.
You could say that a film like 2016 shouldn?t be entertaining, and maybe it is true that the left?s overdependence on jokesters and satire have hurt their efforts in the past. But while Fahrenheit 9/11 might not have influenced enough voters eight years ago, it remains a popular work of cinema in its own right primarily because of Moore?s appeal to a certain audience both personally and stylistically. D?Souza is neither engaging as a character nor as a storyteller, but even worse here is his lack of intensity. As a pressing piece of propaganda, the film could use a louder voice and edgier tone. To truly be an effective Moore equivalent, frankly, D?Souza could stand to be more of a nuisance.
Basing the documentary on his best-selling books The Roots of Obama?s Rage and Obama?s America: Unmaking the American Dream, D?Souza, retains a very subjective angle for his exploration of the President?s true identity and political motives. In fact, before really even addressing the titular subject, the filmmaker…
Amber Brkich Amber Heard Amber Valletta America Ferrera Amerie Amy Cobb Amy Smart Ana Beatriz Barros
