A Review by Phil Calabro
2004, ThinkFilm, Dir.George Butler – Starring David Alston, Dan Barbiero, Doug Brinkley,
Max Cleland, Bobby Muller, James Rassmann, Lenny Rotman, Rusty Sachs,
and archive footage of John Kerry
With the big election year nearing the corner, director George Butler
decided to take initiative and hop in on the documentary bandwagon.
But instead of spending his time and money on the faults of one
candidate, he wisely documents and achievements and valor of the
candidate he supports. Butler, a legendary documentarian who made
'Pumping Iron' with Arnold Schwarzenegger, has made a very effective
documentary on John Kerry, which will both move and interest the
audience on this smart young man's rise from a student to a political
activist to politics.
The film generally details the progress of Kerry's hard work in life,
from the tough expectations of his father to his acceptance into Yale.
From the Ivy League, he enlisted in the Marines and manned a Swift
Boat while on his four-year tour of duty. After the atrocities that he
supposedly witnessed in combat, he formed a group afterwards entitled
'Vietnam Veterans Against the War", who interviewed former veterans
and testified before the Supreme Court about the war crimes committed
by his fellow men of military. This act was regarded as a courageous
and strong-hearted move in which Kerry's political life built upon.
The interviews and footage of Kerry in battle are very systematic,
and seems very similar to that of Errol Morris' 'The Fog of War' early
this year. But despite the similarity, it is still captivating to see
the battleshots imposed upon the eerily transcendent Philip Glass
soundtrack. As in all political documentaries, no opposing view is
given, but there is not much that can said more about that. Unlike
Michael Moore, no sarcastic tones or comments are made to sway people
away from President Bush, but feel more intoned to giving a toasting
speech to Senatory Kerry.
The second half of the film is what impressed me the most. The
anti-war protests by the VVWA, which were led by John Kerry, are
dramatized in such a fashion that is seems monumental. The powerful
video of the veterans ditching their medals to what they thought was a
failed war is simply spectacular. From a protest that seems to be
ignored in the history books, director Butler makes a strong effort to
show the impact of one man's actions against the government's choice
not to withdraw from Northern Vietnam. Whichever party you may stand
on, this is an incredibly poignant piece of work.
Going Upriver is a great piece of film for those who don't know
enough about John Kerry, and are skeptical on his duty in Nam which
has been refuted by opposing veteran groups this election year.
Whether or not you agree with the material shown in the film, you may
have to admit that you were moved by the locomotion of Kerry's stance
against the war and what he did to "make the country wake up."
3/4 stars
