A documentary playbook for a tyrant's rise to power, highlighting six key steps: seize power, crush your rivals, reign through terror, control the truth, create a new society, and rule forever. [ How to Become a Tyrant credits: Peter Dinklage/ 180 min/ Documentary/ Abuse of Power/ 2021 ] External Reviews "It's the quirky delivery that gives How to Become a Tyrant an … [Read more...]
Obamagate The Movie | Film
The story of the Obama administration's spying on the Trump campaign and subsequent harassment of the Trump administration (i.e., Obamagate) is told through verbatim texts, emails, tweets, memos, and Congressional testimony from the ensuing investigations. [ Obamagate the Movie credits: Dir: Cliff School/ Writers: Phelim McAleer, Brian Godawa/ Dean Cain, Kristy Swanson/ Film … [Read more...]
The Plot Against The President | Documentary
Russian collusion in the 2016 election, once called the biggest political scandal in US history, turns out to be just a loose thread in something much larger and more sinister -- an attempted coup. [ The Plot Against The President credits: Dir: Amanda Milius/ 92 min/ Documentary/ Abuse of Power, Corrupt Government/ 2020] Now available on Amazon streaming This is a … [Read more...]
FBI Lovebirds: Undercovers | Film Review
Two romantically-involved FBI agents assigned to “objectively and dispassionately” investigate possible crimes by the Trump presidency privately discuss their loathing of the president and his supporters. [ FBI Lovebirds: Undercovers credits: Dir: Richard Kuhlman/ 82 min/ Written by: Phelim McAleer/ Dean Cain, Kristy Swanson, Bruce Nozick, Christopher T. Wood/ Film (Stage … [Read more...]
What Happened in Vegas | Film Review
GRAND PRIZE WINNER: ANTHEM FILM FESTIVAL Filmmaker Ramsey Denison investigates the Las Vegas police department for corruption -- and finds plenty. [ What Happened in Vegas credits: Dir: Ramsey Denison/ 90 min/ Documentary/ Abuse of power, Corrupt government/ 2017] In 2013, Ramsey Denison was vacationing in Las Vegas when he witnessed police abusing a handcuffed suspect. … [Read more...]
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
A run-away orphan is pursued in a nationwide manhunt by Child Services. [ Hunt for the Wilderpeople credits: Dir: Taika Waititi/ Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House / 101 min/ Comedy, Adventure/ Individualism, Abuse of power] As the film opens, an orphan boy is just being delivered to his quirky new foster family -- a down-to-earth couple eking out a … [Read more...]
Civil Asset Forfeiture: Libertarian Video Shorts
Comedian John Oliver mocks civil forfeiture law, highlighting abusive cases. [16 min] Philadelphia uses forfeiture law to seize citizen property on a routine basis to fund, among other things -- salaries for its own staff. [4 min] Two IRS agents seize an innocent grandmother's money because she made regular cash deposits from her small business; she … [Read more...]
Guardian: Chicago Police Using Secret Homan Square ‘Black Site” for Interrogations
A young man alleges he was shackled for 17 hours in Homan Square police station without being charged, and without being given access to an attorney. [4 min/ Abuse of Power, Corrupt Government] Films With Related Themes Abuse of Power Corrupt Government Links About Homan Square "A Chicago man says he was confined for three days – shackled, interrogated and … [Read more...]
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
A WWII veteran, transformed into a superhero by an experimental serum, discovers that the counter-terrorism unit for which he works has been corrupted and that its plans to preemptively eliminate threats through global surveillance may be a cover for something more insidious. [ Captain America: The Winter Soldier credits: Dir: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo/ Chris Evans, Samuel L. … [Read more...]
America’s Longest War: A Film About Drug Prohibition (2013)
Victims of the War on Drugs tell their personal stories of abuse and injustice, revealing the human cost of zero tolerance drug prohibition. [ America's Longest War: A Film About Drug Prohibition credits: Dir: Paul Feine/ 67 min/ Documentary/ Legalize drugs, Abuse of power] Warning: Graphic material. Some may find offensive. External Reviews "With politicians in this … [Read more...]