Janeane from Des Moines (FILM REVIEW)
For photos, visit: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/janeane_from_des_moines/pictures/1/
Janeane from Des Moines
Film Review
by Kam Williams
Iowa
Housewife Weighs Options in Presidential Race
Docudrama
How do you get the Republicans vying
for the presidential nomination to appear in a movie which might not show them
in the most flattering light? You might have a nondescript, middle-aged actress
pose as a Tea Party conservative during the lead up to the Iowa caucus, a time when the candidates generally
make themselves available to valuable voters.
That was the inspired idea of
filmmaker Grace Lee, who followed around Janeane Wilson (Jane Edith Wilson)
with a camera at the State Fair where it was relatively easy to approach the
likes of Michelle Bachmann, Mitt Romney, Herman Cain, New
Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul. Pretending to be unemployed, uninsured,
suffering from breast cancer and in danger of losing her home, the desperate protagonist
sobbed while asking each of the Republican hopefuls how they planned to help
someone like her.
The upshot is a gotcha docudrama
that’s a cross of Borat and Michael Moore which captures some of the candidates
as plastic, some as somewhat sympathetic. The only problem with Janeane from Des Moines is that it feels a bit dated, as it is arriving
in theaters a little late since, at this point, we really care more about
Romney’s responses than any of the also-rans.
Although
his callous “Corporations are people” comment is included here, he proves to be
about as patient as one might expect of a polished politician with bigger fish
to catch. And even though he knows how to escape the clutches of a very clingy
constituent, you come away feeling he’s actually acting just as much as Janeane,
who becomes disenchanted with the whole lot by film’s end.
The
futile search for a presidential candidate who cares about the average person’s
everyday concerns, a quest leading frustrated Janeane to conclude that her only
option is to pull the lever for Obama in November.
Very Good
(3 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 78 minutes
Distributor: Wilsilu
Pictures
To see a trailer for Janeane
from Des Moines,
visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj3r-NkV4NE
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