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Movies / On DVD / Al Franken: God Spoke
Al Franken: God Spoke

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Al Franken: God Spoke (2006)

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Reviews Counted:54

Fresh:32

Rotten:22

Average Rating:5.9/10

Consensus: This documentary traces Franken's transformation from humorist to activist with entertaining, if uneven, results.

Runtime: 90 mins

Genre: Musical & Performing Arts

Synopsis: From his USO tour in Iraq, to the studios of liberal radio network Air America and on the campaign trail, filmmakers Nick Doob and Chris Hegedus are granted entre to one of the most effective... From his USO tour in Iraq, to the studios of liberal radio network Air America and on the campaign trail, filmmakers Nick Doob and Chris Hegedus are granted entre to one of the most effective political satirists of our time. Franken fearlessly confronts pundits and politicians, blurring the boundaries between political satire and impassioned citizenry. Featuring a host of beltway big mouths including Ann Coulter, Michael Moore, Al Gore, John Kerry, Robert Kennedy Jr., Sean Hannity, William Safire, Karen Hughes and Henry Kissinger, the film is an hilarious look behind the front lines of the media wars during the most contentious election in recent history. But ultimately, the film is a personal drama of transformation, as Al Franken leaves his comedy days behind and moves from his seat in the sidelines to become a contender inside the political ring. --© Pennebaker Hegedus Films [More]

Starring: Al Franken, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Michael Medved

Starring: Al Franken, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Michael Medved, Michael Moore, Al Gore, John Kerry, Henry Kissinger

Director: Nicholas Doob, Chris Hegedus

Director: Nicholas Doob, Chris Hegedus
Studio: Balcony Releasing

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Reviews for Al Franken: God Spoke

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Gerald Peary
Gerald Peary
Boston Phoenix

A humorous, but more importantly illustrative, documentary about the weight of the media -- especially the comedic media -- on the last presidential election.

Full Review Source: Cinematical | comment Comment
09/18/07
Christopher Campbell
Christopher Campbell
Cinematical

A inteligência de Franken é notória, assim como seu pavor à retórica da direita norte-americana %u2013 algo que o filme ilustra de maneira burocrática. Além disso, sua falta de foco leva-o a parecer um mero instrumento de propaganda, o que é lamentável.

comment Comment
06/18/07
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
05/17/07
John Thomason
John Thomason
Orlando Weekly
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
05/12/07
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

This uncritical bio-pic presents Al as more of an intellectual on a mission than a funnyman in search of laughs, leaving one to wonder whether the purpose here was to makeover Al into a political figure for his rumored run for the U.S. Senate.

Full Review Source: EURWeb | comment Comment
04/27/07
Kam Williams
Kam Williams
EURWeb

Entertaining cinéma-vérité piece

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/01/07
Eric Monder
Eric Monder
Film Journal International

There's so much previously available material used that for a while "God Spoke" looks like the first documentary assembled entirely from YouTube clips.

Full Review Source: Capital Times (Madison, WI) | comment Comment
11/25/06
Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)

Always engaging, often insightful, [and] at times deeply moving.

Full Review Source: culturevulture.net | comment Comment
11/11/06
Les Wright
Les Wright
culturevulture.net

I haven't seen this much smug, awkward laughter and bathos since, well, Man of the Year.

Full Review Source: Oregonian | comment Comment
11/10/06
Mike Russell
Mike Russell
Oregonian

Whether one agrees with his point of view or not, it's a message worth hearing.

Full Review Source: Miami Herald | comment Comment
11/10/06
Marta Barber
Marta Barber
Miami Herald

A documentary about the comedian and satirist who sees himself as a leftward leaning crusader for Truth and Justice in an era of Lying Liars.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
11/05/06
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

Feisty, quick-witted and quixotic, Franken takes on such right-wing demigods as Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity.

Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly | comment Comment
10/30/06
Thomas Delapa
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
10/28/06
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

This film by Nick Doob and Chris Hegedus forces us to make some decisions about him. For myself, I find him generally gross, in person and in manner.

Full Review Source: New Republic | comment Comment
10/26/06
Stanley Kauffmann
Stanley Kauffmann
New Republic

The documentary skims the surface, appreciating Franken's crass, troublemaking modus operandi. This would be OK if the doc were crammed with hilarious footage, but Franken comes off as more droll and bitter than clever.

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment Comment
10/26/06
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

With his nearly nonstop, self-congratulatory monologues and his seemingly insincere attitude, he comes off as every bit as much an insufferable blowhard as his conservative counterparts.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
10/20/06
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

The film feels unfinished as Franken contemplates a run for the U.S. Senate from Minnesota, which might make God Spoke the set-up for a much more interesting sequel.

Full Review Source: Salt Lake Tribune | comment Comment
10/20/06
Sean Means
Sean Means
Salt Lake Tribune

As a record of the Al Franken you already know and love, Hegedus and Doob's rather slapdash movie is fun.

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
10/10/06
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

Neither as adroitly funny as Franken's comic routines, nor as notable as his conversion to the fine art of politics, this is a 90-minute 'What If?' with no discernible answer.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
10/08/06
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
 
 
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