Starting around 2005 (IIRC) there was a spate of documentaries talking about the toxic influence of right-wing media in America. Outfoxed-a fullthroated attack on Fox News-is the earliest one I can recall seeing. I have watched several of the films. The information and history presented is largely the same. This one doesn't add anything new or novel to the explanation of the problem. It's only saving grace is the personal story of a daughter trying to reach her father.
This story forms the framing device and emotional core of the film and it is the easiest the best part of it but there are long sections of explanatory material. It would have been nice to seen some of the father's rightwing rants and the like. But the messier family scenes are only described. The film is curiously distanced from criticizing the father all that much. The notion that he-or others-elected to be "brainwashed" never comes up. I am sure some rightwing blowhards are actually deluded. But a lot them at in fact trolls-who delight in bad faith and know they are spewing nonsense.
I feel like this film would have been better had the director been a friend of the family.
This story forms the framing device and emotional core of the film and it is the easiest the best part of it but there are long sections of explanatory material. It would have been nice to seen some of the father's rightwing rants and the like. But the messier family scenes are only described. The film is curiously distanced from criticizing the father all that much. The notion that he-or others-elected to be "brainwashed" never comes up. I am sure some rightwing blowhards are actually deluded. But a lot them at in fact trolls-who delight in bad faith and know they are spewing nonsense.
I feel like this film would have been better had the director been a friend of the family.