My favorite parts were Saul Alinksy and Bono, who amazed me with his amazingly candid take on the role of the USA and what Bush (I’m no fan) did for Africa.
On the technical side I should say the color saturation was turned up too high in post-production and the elevated stern shot of the Pina, Nina and Santa Maria needed heavy CGI re-touching —I know people who would have done that almost for free.
I know people loved the very well-done Revolutionary War scene when Washington goes down (granted that particular bit is critical) but I might have used half of what was allotted to whose 20 seconds to more Alinsky stuff —people are going to jump on me for that, I know, but I would say that scene alone probably required 30 costumed people, plus the crew, food, etc.
I thought the phased-release strategy and targeting of Church congregations was good, I though the early release venues (Houston, Atlanta) were well-chosen. I might have considered also a couple venues in heavily military areas.
I probably would have let Ward Churchill vent with a lot more nasty stuff, but I dunno —he might have been really watching his mouth that day, or perhaps he had final say on the release cut featuring him, I don’t know.
I might have also spent a little time on how conservative blacks are vilified (Dr. Carson, Justice Thomas) and how other minorities are racially targeted by lefties with total impunity (”Dr. Laura has a huge Jewish nose..!” etc etc.), but there are probably good reasons why he didn’t go in this direction.
I also think 30 or so seconds should have been spent on Obama’s (real African) brother (who now lives) in China, who totally hates his drunkard father.
In closing, I did like 2016 better but I’m happy this general format is proving profitable and Dinesh is building a solid brand and proven track-record.
My freepership was suspended on America’s opening day in my area so unfortunately I couldn’t write the timely review his film merited but I’m always going to see Dinesh’s films on their opening days.
He is a really fantastic film-maker and his stories need to be told.
Absolutely, Bono surprised me with his insights.