Friday, June 15, 2018

Film Friday: The Weather Underground



Stars: Bill Ayers, Bernardine Dohrn, Mark Rudd.  With Brian Flanagan, David Gilbert, Todd Gitlin, Naomi Jaffe, Laura Whitehorn.
Extras:  Audio commentary from Ayers and Dohrn and an interview with Gilbert.
Verdict:  Worth watching if you're interested in the Weathermen.  It hits the expected topics - SDS, Days of Rage, the New York City townhouse explosion, breaking Timothy Leary out of prison, the Black Panthers, the Vietnam War, etc. 

--  I can't buy into Ayers' absolutism.  He seems so caught up in ideology that he ignores the flaws of people on his side, and he ignores the valid arguments of those he opposes. 
--  Back then there was 'Nam, Watergate, civil rights issues.  I don't see those same galvanizing issues now - just shades of grey.
--  People suck.  There won't be a magical revolution that makes everything cool.
--  What did they accomplish?  What did they expect to accomplish?
--  I admire the sacrifice and commitment.  I just find it pointless. 

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