America’s Burning movie review

OVIE TITLE: America’s Burning

This frustrating documentary about the awful state of my country opens in select theaters on July 12, 2024.

RATING: (Documentary)

LENGTH: 83 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B

Featured item of Today’s movie review:

To show your love for our country, you can get this outdoor flag for only $8.49 on Amazon! Here’s the link: https://amzn.to/3zEhIDJ

IN A NUTSHELL:

Working families today feel abandoned. The American Dream’s promise of great social mobility for everyone is dying. Our compromised economic system is increasingly controlled by a corporate elite. Is a second civil war possible? If so, how do we protect our democracy?

The film is surprisingly hopeful as it celebrates America’s history of social and economic resilience. We can survive today’s challenges by embracing a spirit of humility, empathy, and equity, recognizing that we are all in this together.

The film was directed by New York Times best-selling author David Smick, and executive produced by actor Michael Douglas, who also narrates all of the bad news. Barry Levinson also co-produced it.

God bless America. God help America.

THINGS I LIKED:

The people who are interviewed include James Carville, Amy Chua, Ian Bremmer, Leon Panetta, James Baker, Arthur Brooks, Stan Druckenmiller, Katherine Gehl, Hawk Newsome, and Larry Summers.
The film generally takes a non-partisan look at America.
The images are shocking, infuriating, and saddening.
There are pretend news clips to show how a Civil War could break out in America between Red states and Blue states.
The film spends some time talking about the dangers of white nationalism, and shows how a young man that was set to inherit the movement chose love over hate.
During the film, we often see text written on the screen to announce the theme of the next segment. For example, at the half-way point, we see this statement: “The biggest threat to our democracy is the collapse of the American dream. This isn’t a Democrat or Republican problem. It’s an American problem.”
We see video clips of stand-up comedians and movies on various subjects.
The good news about this film is that it ends on a hopeful note. Despite its ominous title, the film illuminates the fact that America has an impressive history of resilience in the face of adversity so our best days could still lie ahead.
At the end of the movie, the audience is given a challenge. The words on the screen say, “If you were moved by this film, call your member of Congress with this message: America’s best days could still like ahead if our leaders stop the hate and division and begin to put our country before party.”

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The film doesn’t offer any great solutions for America’s ills.
There were some errors on some of the written text on the screen.
I couldn’t tell if “America’s Burning” meant “America is Burning” or the possessive form of America’s Burning.” Hey, I’m an English professor at a university, so those little details bug me! ha ha

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be bored
Scenes of violence and destruction in the USA
Talk of concepts like capitalism, socialism, etc.

THEMES:

Refuse hate
Division
The economy
Innovation
Socialism
Hope
The American Dream

FUNNY LINES:

None. The state of America is scary and dangerous.

INTERESTING LINES:

“Despite great scientific and technological advances, man has not the faintist idea of who he is or what he’s doing.” – Walker Percy (American Writer, 1916 – 1990)
“A true hero is one who turns an enemy into a friend.” – Ancient Hebrew Proverb
“The alternatives to capitalism never work.” – James Carville
“Our future is in our hands…if we come to our senses.” – Michael Douglas
“We’re the problem. We need a revolution of the heart.” – Michael Douglas
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” – Abraham Lincoln