Review of Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (2004) by Blind P — 10 Apr 2005

Drunk. That was my recent life leading up to a vegatative Sunday night where I watched four films consecutively, so it was a nice evening to rest from my debauchery. However, the comments will be short.

Mean Girls had some funny moments, but overall it missed with me. I found it all very trite in the end. Value others for their inner beauty, and don't be plastic.

The Player was extremely entertaining to begin with, with an emphasis on all the activity in the studio parking lot, with many different conversations and the camera tracking to and fro. Near the middle it became a bit wearying, as the whole investigation and romance played out, but it ties together nicely to close and with humour it finishes. A good film. Tim Robbins was great in my opinion.

Outfoxed is a one sided critique of Fox news and the Rupert Murdoch media empire, featuring many interviews with former employees and splicing in clips the filmmaker finds objectionable as they seek to prove it is merely a right wing Republican front.

I believe it. I think the message is important for people to see. But, by not offering the rebuttal from the other side, it loses some points all the same. It also tends to do the same kind of statistical fudging as what they are accusing FOX of. Regardless, I find all American network sourced news to be suspect at best.

City of God was much more to my tastes, and I was glad to close on this great note. It details the life of the poor in Brazil, and how the young seek to improve their lots through all too familiar routes of violence and criminal activity. This is not the way of "Rocket", however, who dreams of becoming a photographer and takes menial jobs where he can to try and reach it.

Where other movies could make it too sensational to be taken seriously, this movie achieves great characterizations with depth that allows the viewer to relate. Not for the weak of heart, there are some scenes that people would find troublesome, mainly involving violence among and against small children, but it does no good to hide from what is the reality for many kids in Brazil.

The police are very corrupt, and the citizens have more trust for the hoodlums, as they are repeatedly referred to, so no witness for any crime is ever found.

The cycles of violence are examined from many perspectives. Some characters start down the criminal path and reform, while others leave behind law abiding lives to join gangs.

When at the end of the film we find that "Rocket" is a real person, and the story is based on facts (who knows how much), it adds even more to what is a great film.

I find that I never give a first viewing over 8, saving 9's and 10's for what proves out over time. This is one film that I might revisit and raise the score of.

EDIT: 12/19/06 : I revisted, and raised the score. It might hit 10 in the future.