AmericanKestrel Reviews

True Detective (2014– )

Declining Quality of Ideas and Storyline

[5/10 · 7 March 2024]

I'm a latecomer to this series. Having recently watched the first season, which I felt was excellent in every way, I then watched successive seasons to see how they compared. It seems to me that the quality of ideas and storylines declined in general as the seasons were rolled out. My star rating reflects the overall quality of all five seasons considered together. This review focuses on the fifth season, because I have strong feelings about it.

Overall, the production quality of the fifth season was high. The cinematography was also great, and at times mesmerizing. However, the storyline was a repeat of emphasizing the flaws in the two main detectives' personalities and histories. Their lives were in effect being investigated as much as the lives of the criminal perpetrators of the murders under investigation. That can be interesting, but it's been done many times by now, and it got tedious here.

More objectionable to me was the last episode and story resolution. It appears that the creators and producers believe that vigilante "justice" is an acceptable response to crimes, especially if the perpetrators of the crimes are of a certain gender and race. That is obviously a popular theme in movies and television these days, but it is a very bad idea - and an old one. I don't find it edifying or entertaining in any way.

I am hoping that there are quality fiction and non-fiction shows produced in the future that illustrate the many injustices perpetrated upon native peoples in Alaska and the arctic. I realize, however, that shows like True Detective Season Five are more likely, instead, because their sensationalism and star-studded casting bring more viewers and advertising dollars to the networks.

Euphoria (2019– )

Artistically Impressive, But Intellectually Shallow

[5/10 · 31 January 2022]

I've watched a few episodes of this series, to see what the fuss is about. On the surface, I can admire a series that tries to show us something of the authentic inner and outer lives of teens in today's USA. This series does involve us in the many anxieties, preoccupations, and challenges faced by teens today - at least teens as imagined by Sam Levinson. The cinematography and sets are amazing - at times right up there with the best of major movies. The acting is also impressive, especially by the series leads Zendaya and in particular Hunter Shafer. Zendaya plays a teen with a serious drug addiction problem, and Shafer plays her trans best friend and love interest. Hunter Shafer allegedly had never acted before she auditioned for this series - which makes her performance all the more impressive. She is capable of digging deep down into her psyche to show us every emotion imaginable, all in one episode.

The problem I have with the series is a problem many viewers share with me - the non-stop, in-your-face abuse all of the major characters of every age seem to engage in throughout every episode. Watching the series is like being assaulted yourself, as you watch the characters, most of whom are supposed to be teens, abuse themselves and each other physically and emotionally. The graphic violence and intense use of drugs and alcohol are significant and common problems encountered by youth today throughout the USA, and it is laudable to bring up those subjects. Even so, the level of sustained violence, drug abuse, and nudity shown throughout the series will be difficult for most teens to identify with and see as a representation of the world they live in. I think the series would be more interesting if it addressed a wider variety of problems and concerns faced by high schoolers today, rather than going over the same problems as repetitively as does this series.

I can't help but get the feeling, in watching the episodes, that series creator and producer Sam Levinson thinks so little of the audience that he feels we need to be pummeled continuously by violence, nudity, and drug abuse on screen for the series to hold our attention. It is kind of insulting, and a disservice to the fine young actors and artists creating the drama and often beautiful images in the series. I mean, what's next, "The Public Execution Channel?"

There is an episode that centers on Hunter Shafer in a therapists office, going over her past and present life and being guided to new observations and realizations by the therapist as we see flashbacks of events that have occurred, that is actually interesting and insightful. I would hope more episodes like that are in the offing, rather than more scenes of beatings, vomiting, and verbal and drug abuse, but I will probably pass on the rest of the series.

Nomadland (2020)

The Melancholy and Beauty of A Modern Day Nomad's Life in the USA

[8/10 · 1 May 2021]

I wasn't going to write a review of Nomadland, until I saw so many reviews describing the movie with words like "boring," "pointless," "aimless," and phrases like "lacks any story," and "nothing happens." No, this movie is not boring, pointless, aimless, or lacking a story. And a lot happens during the course of the movie. If you are capable of patiently allowing this movie's charms to work on you, you will be rewarded by a unique experience by watching this movie.

Frances McDormand puts in a pitch-perfect performance in which she seems not to be acting, but seems to actually be Fern, a woman who has lost her husband and set out to lead a nomadic lifestyle through the American west, moving from one seasonal job to another. As she moves from place to place, she learns the details of living independently, with occasional assistance from fellow nomads and others who understand her way of life. She also meets people from many different walks of life, all with their own reasons for living on the road, and all with their own road to travel down in life, which will take them in and out of Fern's life at times that are not predictable by Fern or by the viewer. We share her pleasures in learning how to live this life, in making friends along the way, and in the small comforts she is able to afford with much effort and some luck. We also share her troubles in losing friends, trying to maintain and hold on to her meager material possessions, including her vital customized van, and in her attempts to fit into a more stable life, with relatives or friends who want to share her life on a more permanent basis. There is much drama to be enjoyed - and suspense wondering if she will give up her lifestyle and learn to change, at the entreaties of various people who invite her to stay and put down roots

Anyone who tells you that nothing significant happens in the movie, because they perceive Fern to be in the same position at the end that she was in the beginning, is simply not capable of grasping the beauty and significance of a movie that shows us events unfold as they would in real life, without quick edits and easy resolutions of problems that are not easily resolved in reality. Yes, there are valid criticisms from people who would have liked to have seen in the story more of the hardships and dangers of the real nomadic life, but I believe the story presented is a rich and meaningful one that gives the patient viewer many insights into the joys and hardships of the real nomads - many of whom portrayed major characters in the movie. For that real glimpse in to a life many of us never would have seen, otherwise in such depth and in such detail, this is a priceless experience.

The cinematography and direction are perfect for the subject matter - with scenes unfolding as if they were not edited at all, including unpleasant sights and sounds that are allowed to linger, as well as the many shots of the beautiful sunsets and mountains. The loneliness of the nomadic life is highlighted in many scenes, as is the camaraderie of the road and open vistas. And the performances of McDormand and David Strathairn are worth the price of admission alone. Conclusion: if you only have the patience for the violent revenge fantasies or insipid romantic comedies being churned out of the production companies these days, and you need everything spoon fed to you and tied up with a happy ending in order to enjoy a movie, then this is not the movie for you. If you enjoy realism and a glimpse into the lives of people you might actually encounter some day in a way that will touch on broader themes about your life and how you live it, you will find this movie very rewarding.

Lincoln (2012)

A Realistic Portrayal of Our Best President and The Highest Levels of Government in 1865

[8/10 · 18 February 2021]

There has been much criticism of "Lincoln" being too cerebral, focusing too much on the fight for the 13th amendment to the constitution, or having limited perspective due to an absence of camera tricks and aerial shots of Washington, DC, but all of these criticisms fail to see the beauty and originality of this movie. Spielberg and Tony Kushner, who penned the screenplay and also the screenplay for the most audacious and powerfully challenging of Spielberg's films, "Munich," have focused on portraying the inner workings of the U.S. federal government during the Civil War, and also on Abraham Lincoln's brilliance and humility in presiding over the most challenging and impactful period of U.S. history. This focus required a look at the dialog between important government figures, as well as the common foot-soldiers on the front lines, as well as Lincoln's unique humor, intelligence, and compassion in addressing his responsibilities. It also required an attention to detail unequalled in previous films depicting this time period, and no aerial shots, as there was no aerial photography in the 1860's United States.

The realism and historical details in this movie extend to the brief scenes with General U.S. Grant, showing that one of his aids was a Native American (the fascinating Ely S. Parker, who deserves a movie devoted to his life story), the lack of security at the White House, and the peculiar and unrefined characters that men of great influence in the Capital used to accomplish their political aims. Lincoln himself is portrayed with some of the common character flaws of the men of his day, as evident in his blunt and honest discussions with the African American characters in the movie, but the movie also shows clearly Lincoln's robust character in recognizing his own prejudices and the prejudices resulting in slavery and the oppression of African Americans in general in the 1860's. It also focuses on Lincoln's efforts to get the Congress to pass the 13th amendment abolishing slavery throughout the U.S. While this leaves no time to portray other fascinating aspects of Lincoln's life, it also clearly shows Lincoln's brilliance in political maneuvering, his humility, and his commitment to doing what he knew was the right thing for the country and for its people - all of its people - even though he knew he would be hated for it in many quarters (and it led to his assassination).

The performances by Daniel Day-Lewis, David Strathairn, Sally Field, Hal Holbrook, Tommy Lee Jones and many others are wonderful, and they give the movie its realism and emotional punch in the midst of the speeches and sweeping scenes. This movie was obviously a labor of love to which many fine artists gave everything they had. Daniel Day-Lewis again demonstrates his complete immersion into the character he is portraying, and the fact that many viewers find this Irish actor's portrayal a believable incarnation of a larger-than-life real U.S. person is in itself a minor miracle. See this movie - it will enrich your life, entertain you, and give you better understanding of U.S. history and our finest president.

Beginners (2010)

A Creative Look At Guy Learning to Define and Determine His Own Life Choices

[8/10 · 17 December 2020]

A man who has trouble maintaining the relationships in his life finds out that his widowed father, who was married to his mother for decades, is gay. At the same time, he finds himself at odds with the other aspects of his life, as a professional artist who can't seem to please his clients, and in his new girlfriend, who has a similar history of breaking off relationships before they get serious. We watch this man, played with just the right tone by Ewan McGregor, analyzing his past, figuring out how to relate to the father he never really knew, and navigating into a new future in which he doesn't necessarily have to keep repeating the broken history of relationships he has known in his previous life. Christopher Plummer is astonishingly good in the role of the father. This movie is a quiet, understated, yet creative foray into the messiness of real life, and how we cope with it and learn to create our own life that is distinct from our past and free of its limitations. Highly recommended.

Paterson (2016)

Like A Simple, Yet Profound Poem

[8/10 · 17 December 2020]

Adam Driver is a bus driver who lives with his girlfriend in Paterson, New Jersey and follows the same routine every day. He goes to work, writes poetry during his lunch hour into the one notebook he owns, and then comes home to eat dinner, walk the dog to a neighborhood bar, have one beer, and then go home. The slow, deliberate pace of the movie highlights the repetitive, unspectacular nature of the man's life, but there is one thing that becomes very clear as you watch: he is happy, in his own, quiet way.

Paterson, who lives in the city that shares his name, writes poetry into his notebook in the basement of his small home. Next to the small desk on which he writes poetry in his notebook is a small collection of books, including books by William Carlos Williams and David Foster Wallace, which gives us a clue into the major ideas the movie asks us to consider. The man's poetry is also a reflection of these literary influences and also his life, and the appreciation he has for the mundane, small aspects of life that many people ignore or don't even notice. He is consistently decent to people, even if he doesn't show enormous enthusiasm, as his respect for other people, as well as his dog, is presented as a matter of fact that is readily apparent but never asks for praise or even a like response from others. He is kind to strangers as well as to his girlfriend and friends - being especially appreciative of their hopes, dreams and plans, even if some of them sound unrealistic and unproductive.

Paterson seems finally shaken by a sudden bit of misfortune near the end of the movie, but in the end he is shown that fate can bring renewal and hope to those who are quietly open to appreciating the beauty and possibilities of even a chance encounter with a stranger that could have easily been avoided or ignored. This movie is an ode to a quiet, modest approach to happiness, and the generosity of spirit that generates and sustains love. Highly recommended. It ain't Jerry Bruckheimer.

Within the Whirlwind (2009)

Excellent, Understated Drama Based on True Story

[8/10 · 30 November 2020]

This is an excellent historical drama based on the real memoirs of Evgenia Ginzburg. Her daughter was consulted, as well, and is mentioned in the credits. I appreciated the understated, non-sensationalist approach to the story and the script. They didn't have to sensationalize anything to make the story horrifying.

Emily Watson proves again that she is an outstanding actress - she does a great job in this movie - academy award material. The other actors are also fantastic in their roles.

It is a rare movie that depicts real-life events that most of us would rather not re-visit too often. But the lessons of this movie, and the lessons of history, are important, and this ugly part of history needs to be seen and acknowledged by as many people as possible, so we can prevent similar events from happening again.

Franz Kafka, in his novel "The Trial," predicted the murders soon to come that were motivated by political paranoia, power-mad dictators, and bigotry. The inevitable, tragic results of the abuse of power are depicted bluntly in this movie. As unpleasant as it is to witness the events shown, it is also inspiring to see the true -life strength of will and character that enabled Evgenia Ginzburg to survive the ordeals she was forced to endure. May her memory be an inspiration for us all. Highly recommended.

The Undoing (2020)

Quality Cast and Production Don't Make A Series Interesting or Believable

[4/10 · 30 November 2020]

I watched The Undoing mainly for two reasons: 1) I was hoping the commitment of a quality cast and the money for a quality production would produce something worthy of the effort and expense; and 2) I was hoping the writer, David E. Kelley, would rise above his past offerings and give us something truly worthy of our time. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in the final product.

The excellent cast makes a huge effort in this series, there's no doubt. Hugh Grant, Nicole Kidman, and the rest of the cast, including Donald Sutherland, can't be faulted for their performances. The problem at it's root is the story and script. Kelley presents us with the same button-pushing conflicts that he featured in his television comedy series: racial, sexual, romantic, and class conflicts. He and the producers seem to have nothing new to say about any of these issues - he just wants to provoke our interest and keep us tuned in from episode to episode, or so it seems. There is no new ground covered here, and no fresh insights. It is just a tawdry spectacle, from start to finish.

There are also problems with the credibility of the script. Are we really to believe that a man known by his wife and child and community for many years would suddenly reveal himself to be a violent, womanizing, homicidal sociopath with no remorse for killing someone? It happens, I'm sure, but not often. The actions of the police detectives are equally irrational and bizarre. Real detectives who were as careful and meticulous as they claimed to be in this series would have read the wife her Miranda rights before asking her about whether she murdered someone.

The series isn't interesting enough to rate above a 3, but I gave it a 4 because of the efforts of the cast and the production values. Spend your time on something else.

Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020)

Realistic, Heart-wrenching Examination of Uncomfortable Subject Matter

[8/10 · 12 November 2020]

I was very impressed by this movie. In a world of superhero movies that have to keep increasing the volume and intensity of the violence to get an audience, this movie is a realistic, understated and heart-wrenching story of Autumn, a young woman who finds herself faced with an unplanned pregnancy, and Skyler, Autumn's cousin and close friend. The movie follows the women as they go on a courageous journey to New York City to get Autumn an abortion and the health counseling she is unable to get in her rural hometown.

I have a lot of respect for the way the script and actors show the two young women, brilliantly played by Sidney Flanagan (Autumn) and Talia Ryder (Skylar), quietly and persistently navigating their way to finding Autumn the help she needs, despite their lack of money and knowledge about travel to the big city, the obstruction and dishonesty of the local "family planning" clinic, the misogynist men in their lives, the lack of support in their local community and families, and the men in New York City who are also not respectful of them and their bodies. The quiet communication between the life-long friends, and their weary deference to authority figures and men who can offer them needed resources, are very realistic and subtle cues that the director and writer Eliza Hittman knows what she is doing and does it well.

The script and story are very low key and believable - lending a documentary style to the movie that makes you feel like you are going through the experiences these two young women are going through. Much of Autumn's past is not explained, which is also an unusual and nice touch. I disagree with the reviewers who claim that the movie is unbiased - it isn't unbiased to show every single male the two protagonists encounter as having no respect for women and their bodies, There could have been at least one non-misogynist male in the movie, after all. However, it is very believable that these particular women have no really respectful guys in their lives - it happens. And the actions of the men in the movie make an important point about the hazards and lack of respect young women like Autumn and Skylar often do face in their relationships with men. This movie reminds us that we have a long way to go, if we are to treat each other universally with decency and respect.

The Painted Bird (2019)

A Realistic and Beautifully-made Movie About Subjects We Like to Avoid

[9/10 · 11 October 2020]

I don't speak this highly of many movies, but The Painted Bird is a masterpiece. It is based on Jerzy Kosinski's novel about a young Jewish boy who is separated from his parents during the Holocaust in Poland and has to wander from one place to the next to survive all of the horrors he endures and witnesses along the way.

The novel was based on the stories Roman Polanski told Kosinski about his own struggle to survive in Poland alone as a boy during the Holocaust. The Czech director of the movie set it in an unspecified location in eastern Europe, to make it more universal, and he had all the dialogue spoken in an inter-slavic language made up of Czech, German and Russian.

The international cast that participated in the movie, for very modest pay, is a tribute to the quality of the production and the importance they all placed in seeing that the movie was made. Petr Kotlar, the young actor who plays the boy, Joska, who is the main character in the story, does an amazing job. It's heartbreaking to see the kid not only struggling to survive, but also absorbing all of the abusive, superstitious, homicidal behavior of the adults around him with a passive expression on his face that you know hides a very active intelligence slowly conforming itself not only to deprivation, but also to the violent world around him.

There's been a lot of controversy about the violence and sexuality in the movie - many walked out of screenings at Cannes, and elsewhere. Some people were reportedly so desperate to leave screenings that they forced open locked emergency exits in the theaters. And there are the comments in some of the other reviews on IMDB, claiming that the movie is bad because it has a lot of disturbing violence in it, or that it is a "love letter to Hitler," or that it has "too much" violence in it without any positive themes. These comments and reactions seem to deny the basic themes and historical authenticity of the story, and also seem to want to remove the violence and bigotry and other ugly human behavior from what is essentially a story taking place during a time and in a location where such brutality and ugliness were manifest everywhere. This is tantamount to a refusal to accept and confront reality. How can you go to a movie about a Jewish boy struggling to survive in eastern Europe during the Holocaust and expect the violence and bigotry of the people portrayed to be somehow sanitized or removed so you aren't uncomfortable?

Perhaps we have been so accustomed to seeing our history and fiction based on our history softened to make them palatable and less disturbing that we now think honest, blunt depictions of the uglier side of our history (and current times) in a movie are somehow a reflection of failure or poor quality - rather than a courageous attempt to acknowledge reality, with its horrors along with its joys, and deal with it in a way that we can learn from it and be better people. The Painted Bird is such a rare depiction of reality, and although it is painful to watch, it also contains great beauty and wisdom, for those willing to experience it without averting their eyes from the truth.

Finding Bigfoot (2011– )

How To Destroy A Network's Reputation

[1/10 · 12 August 2020]

"Finding Bigfoot" should be called "Really Dumb People Wasting Time And Money." I've seen a few episode segments, when tuning to Animal Planet, and I was left with the impression that the network is intentionally trying to ruin its reputation. This show is an insult to any intelligent consumer of television, and a complete waste of money. I'll save you some time: there is no real evidence presented in the show that bigfoots exist.

Lemon (2017)

Dark, Yet Witty Movie About A Very Irritating Man Trying Very Hard to Overcome His Flaws

[8/10 · 28 July 2020]

I know this movie isn't for everyone, but it appears that many negative reviews are the result of people not being able to empathize and have compassion for the main character, rather than being focused on any specific qualities of the movie. While it is understandable that you might have a negative reaction to this dark, witty portrait of a very troubled man, it is a shame that so many will be turned off by the generalizations and surface complaints in many of the negative reviews and never have a chance to experience something different. And Lemon is different.

This is a movie about Isaac, played perfectly by Brett Gelman, who compulsively turns off everyone around him. He is obnoxious. He is self-centered. He has no "people" skills. Yet, he is trying. And that is the thread that ties the movie together. We witness a never-ending series of Isaac's attempts to connect with his girlfriend, who dumps him, and with the people he teaches in his theater class, and with a commercial director hilariously played in a cameo by Megan Mullally, and with a new love interest. There are excruciating scenes demonstrating Isaac's awkwardness in every situation, but the actor and the director, Janicza Bravo particularly mine the differences (real and imagined) between Isaac's eccentric white, Jewish family and his new love interest's African American family for some dry humor.

Throughout the movie, while it is exasperating at times to see Isaac ruin his relationships with his dysfunctional and at times even hostile behavior toward others, Gelman admirably gives Isaac a crucial likability, nonetheless, that keeps us hoping he will succeed at something, and with someone, and gives Isaac the humanity that gives some of us the empathy to understand that he is not evil - he's just a mess, emotionally and physically. This is a rare movie experience, albeit an often uncomfortable one. However, it is a real achievement that there is a lot of dark humor to smile about, and a lot of creative, realistic dialog that propels the story and makes us know and understand Isaac and the other characters enough to care about them. It was a pleasure to see this movie, and I hope there is a lot more to come from Bravo and Gelman, who are married in real life.

Joker (I) (2019)

Not Impressed

[2/10 · 19 May 2020]

I had to see Joker, due to all the hype, even though there were already more than enough movies made about the Joker. I was not impressed. There have previously been good movies made featuring repellent characters toward which we feel sympathy at some point during the movie, for example: M (1931), HUD (1963), Five Easy Pieces (1970), A Clockwork Orange (1971), Taxi Driver (1976), and Monster (2003). This is not one of them.

The movie consists of many scenes showing the main character, Arthur, complaining about his life, his illness, and the bullying inflicted on him by others, while his world is apparently populated by people who are either cruel, powerless to help him, or indifferent to his plight. These scenes are punctuated by episodes of sudden, extreme violence that we are apparently supposed to feel are somewhat justified. Instead, we can't help but feel only revulsion and puzzlement as to the purpose of this spectacle. In the real world, the vast majority of the downtrodden manage to go about their day without murdering people. Not everyone is indifferent to their plight or actively trying to make them even more miserable.

This movie seems to ask us to bask in Arthur's dysfunction and get some kind of satisfaction from it, or at least see Arthur's violence as the inevitable result of a sick civilization. We can only wonder why the filmmakers decided to rehash several ideas from Martin Scorsese's movies about violent characters in violent societies (Taxi Driver, King of Comedy, for example), and present us with such a one-dimensional character and simplified, unrealistic world with which to spend over two hours of our time.

Report to the Commissioner (1975)

The Kind of Movie Not Made Anymore

[8/10 · 24 April 2020]

This is a superb movie that has never received its due praise and attention. It is on the surface a story about police detectives in New York City. But deeper down it is really about what happens when idealistic people eager and intent in doing a good job run headlong into the complex and unforeseen reality of the career they've chosen. In the case of a police detective, the results can be life-shattering.

The cast is excellent all around, with Yaphet Kotto being a standout as the idealistic, young main character's older, world weary partner and would-be mentor. The gritty details and story are rare in major movies. The sobering ending, which packs a real wallop, is even rarer still. You won't forget it.

Jesus: His Life (2019– )

Non-history On The History Channel

[1/10 · 9 April 2020]

It's sad to see The History Channel selling information based on the alleged perspectives of New Testament figures as "history." While there are accounts by historians written after the time of Jesus' life asserting that a man named Jesus was preaching to his fellow Jews about his unique connection to their God, and one mention is made of Jesus' brother being executed, that's all. That doesn't stop the history channel from presenting the New Testament accounts of Jesus' life, execution, and resurrection as if they are confirmed by historical evidence of some sort. The only evidence cited to support this is the New Testament itself and numerous theological scholars who obviously have a bias in assuming what's in the New Testament is historical fact. It's sad to see The History Channel, which could have interesting programming based on historical research, resort to this to get ratings.

The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)

Great Ensemble Film About Family

[8/10 · 9 April 2020]

This movie will be especially meaningful to viewers who have a narcissistic personality in their family, but the wry humor about various family members trying to claim their individual self-worth at the same time that they are trying to smooth over long-harbored feelings of bitterness toward their father and others in the family will be familiar to many others, as well. The various actors all do a great job with the intelligent script that doesn't try for cheap sentimentality or unnecessary drama. The three children of Dustin Hoffman each have adapted differently to his narcissism. Sandler was self-destructive and failed to develop his talents. Stiller separated himself from his family and poured his energies into a Type A career. The daughter simply melted into the background. The movie is about how they come together to respond to a milestone in their father's artist career, and his life, when he needs help and his family but is incapable of asking for what he needs or appreciating it when the family provides that support. It's great to watch the adult siblings get to know each other as grown-ups, and try to establish adult relationships with their father and each other. If you like intelligent movies that are realistic but also wryly humorous, see this movie. Don't be put off by the reviews from the usual crowd who can't understand any movies without obvious good and bad guys, or an explosion or gun fight every ten minutes. Ignore the reviews also from people who are bigots and find stories about Jewish people objectionable because the characters are Jewish. This is a good movie for intelligent viewers with the ability to empathize with others.

The Scheme (I) (2020)

A Public Relations Video For Christian Dawkins

[3/10 · 2 April 2020]

This is an extremely agenda-driven documentary that attempts to paint Christian Dawkins as a hapless victim of the FBI run amuck. It goes to great lengths to point out all the mistakes made by the FBI and the US Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York - and they made a lot of mistakes. But the information presented is heavily biased to highlight the details showing how weak the government's case was, and also to show the fact that the main FBI agent on the case misappropriated FBI funds during the undercover operation. It is also heavily biased in allowing Dawkins to present all the usual excuses people use when they're caught breaking laws.

Dawkins was convicted for crimes he clearly committed, even though an argument can rightly be made that the FBI should have used their resources on other investigations involving bigger violations by more powerful people. Dawkins is heard at length talking about how the focus on him was illegitimate because the colleges involved are corrupt and violate the laws more often than he does, because the FBI undercover agents were pushing him so hard to break the law, and because he didn't follow through with some of the crimes he promised to commit at various times during the investigation. He even makes the argument that the government was racially biased in charging him and the coaches charged in the case. There is no comment at all about how irrelevant these excuses are to the issues involved, and the crimes he was charged with.

The most dishonest argument in the documentary is saved for almost the end, when Dawkins claims the entire operation that ensnared him was "entrapment." There is no comment explaining the simple fact that giving someone an opportunity to commit a crime is not entrapment. Forcing someone to commit a crime is entrapment - but that didn't happen to Dawkins. When Dawkins is asked at the end whether he did anything wrong, his answer clearly indicates that he doesn't believe he did. This is the only really honest moment in the documentary, and it doesn't reflect well on Dawkins. The attempt to paint him in a good light ends up making him, and the makers of this film, look very dishonest to anyone who knows anything about the law, and ethical behavior. The fact that the government also looks bad here doesn't improve the overall integrity of the presentation.