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ANTHEM
Reviewer: JA
Seeing Anthem
was truly serendipitous. In working on my netflix account, I read about it, paid it little attention, but selected it. In the course of time, it showed up in my mail.
The subtitle is, "An American Road experience." Basically, these two recent college graduates get up one morning and say, "Wow, let's do a documentary on what it means to be an American." Wow, a great idea.
They gather up a camera which they probably already owned and developed a plan of calling various people, famous and infamous, and started working the phones. Although we don't know the nitty gritty of how it all comes together, it does and we are suddenly with them on their trip.
Anthem is somewhat amateurish, but this is part of its charm. Following the documentarians through the many interviews is a process in itself, and very interesting. For one thing, they have lots of chutzpah.
I can't remember all the interviews, but some of the more memorable ones are George Stephanopoulos or at least the attempt, Willy Nelson, Studs Terkel (learned that he has never driven a car) and Hunter Thompson who was obnoxious and full of himself. I thought when Hunter was being that way: "Well Hunter, guess at some point, you'll make the decision to hit the road(film made in 1997, Thompson committed suicide in 2005)."
They tried to interview Ralph Reed, the supposeded guru of the right wing. He wouldn't talk to documentarians; and, now of course, who would want to see him, based on his history.
My favorite interview was Willy Nelson with maybe Robert Redford being close behind. What struck me about both of these superstars is that they were willing to make themselves available- very, very human and enjoyed talking about the American Dream. I was very moved.
I liked the way they let the person interviewed speak to give their views of what actually was "the American Dream." Having seen Robert Redford's Lions and Lambs, its apparent his views have not changed and he must have had satisfaction about that fact.
The film was made in 1997, before 9-11, and has to be put in that perspective. This film is worth seeing.
2 parachutes.
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