Al Franken: God Spoke (2006)
Runtime: 90 mins
Theatrical Release: Sep 13, 2006 Limited
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 political satirists of our time. Franken fearlessly confronts pundits and politicians, blurring the... 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]
Genre: Education/General Interest
Starring: Al Franken, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Michael Medved, Michael Moore
DVD Info
Release:
Apr 24, 2007
DVD Features:
- Keep Case
Additional Release Material:
- Deleted Scenes
- Filmaker Biographies
Buy It On DVD
Reviews
A humorous, but more importantly illustrative, documentary about the weight of the media -- especially the comedic media -- on the last presidential election.
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.
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.
There's so much previously available material used that for a while "God Spoke" looks like the first documentary assembled entirely from YouTube clips.
I haven't seen this much smug, awkward laughter and bathos since, well, Man of the Year.
Whether one agrees with his point of view or not, it's a message worth hearing.
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.
Feisty, quick-witted and quixotic, Franken takes on such right-wing demigods as Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As a record of the Al Franken you already know and love, Hegedus and Doob's rather slapdash movie is fun.
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.
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posted by Gitesh Pandya September 14, 2006
Following the worst box office weekend in three years, Hollywood has nowhere to go but up. It hopes.
Around the Network
Al Franken: God Spoke at IGN
Al Franken: God Spoke at AskMen

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