2016 Directed by Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg
Documentary featuring a jaw-dropping, behind-the-scenes look at the attempted comeback of Anthony Weiner in 2013 as he mounts a campaign for New York City mayor in the wake of his sexting scandal. Featuring unfettered access to the candidate and his campaign.
Sex, Lügen und Social Media, Sex, Lügen und Social Media - Der Fall Anthony Weiner
68/100
Clearly, Huma Abedin's choice to remain primarily a background presence here was strategic (vis-à-vis her own career and Clinton's, not her husband's). Kriegman and Steinberg use that constraint deftly, however, and I wish they'd gone even further in positioning her as Weiner's antithesis, as all of the film's best moments involve what are essentially silent screams. Thing is, I find that I now like the guy considerably more than I would ever have guessed from the way these scandals were covered in the media. He's a self-destructive moron when it comes to sex, but so is roughly half the planet (conservative estimate), and I tend not to place a whole lot of public-trust weight on lies that politicians tell…
one day i'll grow up and get over how truly unfortunate a name this dude has but today is not that day
Hardly just an opportunistic snapshot of a celebrity's public implosion, Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg's inside look at the spectacular failure of Anthony Weiner's 2013 mayoral campaign in New York is one of the best documentaries ever made about a political scandal. A passionate fighter for the middle class who nuked his career by accidentally tweeting a selfie of his bulge, the indefatigable Weiner is nothing less than a true American tragedy — but this hilarious and humbling portrait rightly sees him as so much more. At once a portrait of media sensationalism, a marriage under fire, and of a city that felt betrayed by its best hope, the movie is so unsparing that when they finally ask Weiner why he let them film him, the disgraced ex-congressman can only shrug.
Read more: www.rollingstone.com/movies/lists/10-best-movies-we-saw-at-sundance-2016-20160129#ixzz3ylb1dnTr
What are the fucking odds that someone named Anthony Weiner would be involved in a sexting scandal (several fucking times)
In a fascinatingly indirect way, two particular documentaries have proved to be the most damning critiques of American society I could find all of 2016. In a year driven by the unfortunate rise of populism and prejudice; OJ: Made in America and Weiner serve as starkly contrasting yet oddly similar answers to these questions, provocative and infuriating in their entirety. OJ prods some unsettling taboos with broadly explored ideas funneled through the rise, fall and gray-area dominated life of OJ Simpson. Weiner charts the struggles of the unfortunately named Anthony Weiner as he combats scandal and tries to get back into politics.
The film acts as a microcosm of a growing cancer in America; the dangerous ignorance that feeds off…
There's something awfully sad but darkly hilarious about seeing this film in context with the events of late. Weiner is like Boogie Nights meets Gone Girl meets Spinal Tap. Probably the saddest subtlety was seeing how gradually detatched Huma became as the film progressed. It's so strange but ultimately fascinating it's amazing to think that this stuff is really real and not a mockumentary political satire. Weiner does a fantastic job and doesn't just do a blank autopsy, and instead explores the triumph and tragedy of this crooked figure. Whether or not you like or dislike him, Weiner is essential viewing. This is without a doubt one of the greatest documentaries of 2016.
still can’t get over the fact someone named weiner was involved in a sex scandal involving his penis.... the jokes write themselves
I wish Richard didn't watch this documentary with me because now I'm going to have to listen to him laugh about the headlines highlighted in the movie, stuff like "Do you think Weiner will pull out of the race?" or "Weiner: Beat It" or "Weiner: 'I'm Sticking it Out.'"
Added to: 2016 Ranked
I'd just like to start by saying that I have close to zero interest in politics and with that, foreign politics would do even less for me, aside from the great debacle of Trump vs. Clinton. Nonetheless, this documentary has found the power to make me both laugh, cringe and care about a man, his troublesome nature and the effects it has on his complicated life.
From the start we are bombarded with Anthony Weiner's incredible dishonesty towards his wife and his loyal supporters. A mistake that feels like something that could happen to nearly anyone in these days of our heightened online existence, is made the deal of the day, pulling some much needed humanity…
Impulsively seeking sexual gratification despite it being clearly self-destructive? We’ve all been there, Weiner. Keep fighting the good fight.
A film so entertaining, it's hard to know if it's actually enjoyable. I have a pet peeve with people complaining that documentaries should have "done more" with their subject matter, as I feel that is a dig at the documentary form and people are only happy when a film involves a lot of satirical animations and overarching theories of society - however! My first impression was this was a little too linear and face-value for such a surreal story. Reading others' reviews, I think maybe it wasn't, people seemed to get a lot out of it. And I did, too, about the dehumanising nature of politics, the distortion ad absurdum of the verb "to care", the interplay of personal weakness and objective skill. I feel sorry for the guy, but also, in such a strange world maybe there's no way to really win.
The story would already be a perfect illustration of how the superficial media exploits our appetite for puritanical schadenfreude rather than face nuanced issues that actually make differences in people's qualities of life without Anthony Weiner sacrificing his dignity for seemingly no other reason than to make a really great, funny, painful movie. Had a wonderful time seeing this in the initial run with the Greek chorus of New York pedestrians represented onscreen occupying the sold out main IFC theater.
This is so surreal at times that it almost feels like a black comedy movie until you remember that its a documentary
We need more documentaries where the makers have open contempt for their subjects, you can tell the editor had the time of their life putting this together.
Genuinely think Anthony Weiner is the funniest man alive and documenting this is a public service as far as I’m concerned.
It's so rare that anything from 2016 holds up in 2020—a tweet, a joke, let alone a political documentary—that it's all the more impressive that "Weiner" is still just as biting and relevant today as it was at a time before DeBlasio took office, Weinstein got canceled, and the promise of a Hillary presidency was dusted into the trash bin of history. Dick jokes aside, and there are plenty of them, "Weiner" is not only a portrait of the pugnacious game that is city politics, but it's also a near-Shakespearean account of the downfall of a very flawed man with an even more unfortunate name. (The documentary opens with the perfect quote from Marshall McLuhan: “The name of a man…
Not to go on a Network-like, on-the-nose rant here, but the nature of political discourse post the invention of visual media, particularly in the internet age is rooted almost entirely in sensationalism and superficiality. Weiner takes us along with Anthony Weiner's failed mayoral campaign to provide a closer look at how they dealt with his sexting scandal.
It is interesting to note that Huma Abedin's (Weiner's wife) decision to actively support and then later stay away from his 2013 campaign must have been heavily influenced by her own profession as a major player in Hillary Clinton's team and, of course, Clinton's own political aspirations. (No judgement here. That's the sensible thing to do) Funnily enough, three years later, when further…
God damn I wish I didnt look up what happened in between my original viewing and the rewatch.
Love how this doco is handled though.
Expected it to be better — first 1/2 was quite slow and unremarkable from a filmic perspective — but definitely some “jaw dropping” scenes. Feels just as timely in 2020.
Tobias Andersen 8,470 films
Rules: Generate a number (from 1 to x) via: www.random.org
See how many number of films there are in the…
Vanessa 6,429 films
Check out the official top 100 narrative feature films by women directors list
FAQ (please read before commenting)
1) Why…
aobh 14,887 films
This list is for scripts or source material written or co-written by women. Recs welcome!
Be sure to check out…
Jayce Fryman 18,683 films
This list collects every film from the Starting List that became They Shoot Pictures Don't They's 1000 Greatest Films. This…
Princess Buttercup 239 films
Depictions of NYC from various eras and neighborhoods. Films are organized chronologically by when they take place. (not by release…
Ⓚⓔⓥⓘⓝ Ⓗⓐⓦⓚⓘⓝⓢ 5,000 films
The dawn of the new century, the first 20 years.
Top films of each year
2001 - Mulholland Drive 2002…
robert 261 films
there's a thing where you adds 'in my ass' to the end of a movie title, so here are some…
benseerocker 2,469 films
The Big Picture’s Long List is every single movie that gets mentioned on The Ringer’s Big Picture podcast this year,…
The Big Picture 20 films
Listen to our episode on 10 classic election movie double features here.
Emily 1,332 films
Films set in NYC hit different. 🗽
Comment what I’m missing.
Feel free to add me if you are looking…
