Keeping in mind that this film is a response to Michael Moore and "Fahrenheit 9/11", which present a case to vote against President Bush, "C 4111" makes all the points on which to vote for him. Its fundamental flaw is that it makes Israel's best case for the Iraq war, not that of the U.S. Except for Fred Thompson, the stentorian lawyer-turned-actor-turned-Senator-turned-actor, the talking heads are pretty much AIPAC and Zionist. The lead spokesman is Charles Krauthammer, who never tires of advocating the use of U.S. power to pursue the expansionist goals of fanatical Zionists. He makes an excellent case that Bush supports the expansion of Israel, and that Hussein would oppose that (as will any future democratic Iraq), and so Bush should be reelected to continue to fight the anti-Zionists. Other Jewish spokesmen are also trundled out, including Michael Medved, who seems to harbor a grudge against Kerry from their Yale days. Medved does not present any Vietnam era credentials, so we must assume that he avoided service to establish a career as a movie reviewer. Another draft dodger with plenty to say about the patriotism of a combat veteran. In his own mind, he is an expert on the U.S. invasion of Iraq and Kerry's fitness to lead. He is particularly upset with Kerry's ambition, as though someone who succeeds in show business had no ambition! I was left with the impression that he has a Woody Allen inferiority complex.
Bush supporters will nod their heads at every point made, just as anti-Bush folks nodded at every point "F 9/11" made. The film is silliest when it includes Michael Moore in Kerry-and-friends shots, and always pans to Teresa Heinz Kerry, knowing that the pan will pander to Bush supporters. Moore was more effective in his cinematography, if just as silly.
The most effective segments were Kerry's and Edwards' own words on Hussein and weapons of mass destruction dating from before no WMD's were found! Least effective was the completely false assertion that Niger and yellow cake war justification was TRUE, even though Great Britain and the U.S. have admitted the evidence was FALSE. That is a bit "1984" considering that no nuclear equipment has been found in Iraq.
Mansoor Ijaz was an enigma. He seemed knowledgeable about terrorism and the U.S. involvement in the Middle East, but his ties to Republican hawks were apparent in his opinions that did not seem to flow from the facts he recited. Ijaz is founder and chairman of Crescent Investment Management LLC, a New York investment partnership between Ijaz, Lt. Gen. James Abrahamson (USAF Ret), former director of President Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative, a major Abu Dhabi investment group and the heir of a prominent European shipping family. Former CIA Director, Amb. R. James Woolsey, serves as vice chairman of Crescent's Board of Governors. Maybe that explains his opinions better than the facts.
The theater was nearly empty -- just me and two others -- so it was hard to gauge the gut reaction of the audience. Since "C 4111" is simply an unofficial campaign spot for Bush, I suspect that it does little to change viewers minds. Patriotic music played behind Kerry was supposed to be ironic, which patriotic music behind Bush was supposed to inspire us. You must be prejudiced for that to work! It will work, because only the choir will pay to listen to this sermon.
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