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| Al Franken: God Spoke | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Nick Doob Chris Hegedus |
| Produced by | Rebecca Marshall Frazer Pennebaker |
| Starring | Al Franken |
| Music by | Ed Smart |
| Distributed by | Balcony Releasing |
Release date |
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Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Al Franken: God Spoke is a 2006 documentary film starringpolitical commentator and futureUnited States SenatorAl Franken. The film was made by the same producers ofThe War Room. It was released in April 2006 at theTribeca Film Festival and was released in the US in September 2006 starting inNew York City.
InAl Franken: God Spoke, the makers ofThe War Room capture the emergence of Al Franken as a political commentator. The film is shot over the course of two years and follows Franken from his highly publicized feud withFox News Channel anchorBill O'Reilly to his fierce campaign againstPresidentGeorge W. Bush during the2004 election.
The film goes to several different places to catch Franken in real settings. The film crew went with him toIraq during aUSO tour in that country, followed him during his airing onAir America Radio, and during his various campaigns. The film crew is given behind the scenes access as the notedliberal goes up against his rivals. The film features many of those allied with Franken and many of his opponents. Some of his allies in this film includeMichael Moore,Al Gore, andRobert F. Kennedy, Jr. Some of his featured opponents includeAnn Coulter andBill O'Reilly.
Variety called the film a "Smoothly paced, well-crafted pic" but thought it "more celebratory than revelatory", suggesting that as a documentary it reflected bias (pointing out, for example, that it showed Franken "gloating" about George Bush's inevitable defeat on the eve of the 2004 election but not his reaction the following morning after Bush's victory).[1]A.O. Scott inThe New York Times felt it unlikely to convert anyone not already an admirer of Franken and his politics: "the film is more likely to attract or repel viewers according to the sides they’ve already chosen".[2] J.R. Jones wrote inThe Chicago Reader, "I love Franken and wish there were more funny liberals in the chattering class, but his crushing sarcasm wouldn’t exactly elevate the national debate."[3] Ed Gonzalez inSlant Magazine was cooler still: "Al Franken: God Spoke doesn’t work as a film... Franken is, quite simply, too nice".[4]
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| Political career | |
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| People | |
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