Let's Get Frank

This documentary is a real breath of fresh air... I particularly like the fact that I learned a lot about Barney in a totally unpretentious format. His colleagues, mother and lover all give a great external view of Barney and his enormous achievements, but it is Barney, himself, who we learn the most from. He has his own unique style of deflecting the small minded haters - showing up the very juvenile attitudes toward his homosexuality by some of his colleagues - even in the most public settings, by zinging it to them with one liners that flawlessly hit the spot.

The "off target" connection between the witch-hunt Clinton impeachment hearings and the obsession of many politicians who are still so openly anti gay, is sadly, very well documented. Barney, unabashedly, tells it like it is... It makes you thankful that he has been such a brave spokesperson for all oppressed people, not just the gay community.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) - armed with an extemely sharp intelligence, and an even sharper wit - has lived the best and the worst of political life in our nation's capital.

Having survived his own political scandal, Rep. Frank has a discerning and "experienced" eye on the Clinton Impeachment Hearings, firmly holding the line between the legitimacy of the law and responsibility before one's constituency in public service, and partisan political "witch-hunt". Very few have walked this border zone and survived.

"Let's Get Frank" is insightful, even more relevant today that it was yesterday, and well-worth the watch...

A great presentation. Well constructed, excellently paced, and an overall unique look into a man of stellar abilities, credentials, and accomplishment during one of the most vile moments in the history of our democracy.

An excellent behind the scenes narrative on the workings of government. A phenomenal expose of the hatred at the foundation of the Republican attempt to remove from office a President for the most specious of reasons and predicated upon the most evil and sordid of political motivations.

Kudos to a great man, Barney Frank. For his many decades of work on behalf of all Americans. And for his life of excellence, honor, candor, and honesty.

I have a completely different view of Barney Frank from positive (mostly because of Dodd-Frank) to negative after viewing this.

The back of the DVD describes it as "an insightfully and hilarious movie about the hypocrisy of politics" in Washington and weaponizing impeachment.

20 years later, this documentary does not age well because the very hypocrisy Frank is criticizing with the Clinton impeachment has been repeated with the impeachments conducted by his own party since this movie was made.

In the interview included in the DVD extras, Frank further rails against Republicans by making fun of them, yet, again, the same behavior he criticizes and jokes about has been exhibited by Democrats of recent.

In fairness, I suppose the documentary does spotlight the hypocrisy of politics, yet fails in this presentation, becoming exposed as just a one sided propaganda piece.

Seeing this film screened before a hip, youthful audience was a real treat. The occasion was the 29th Cleveland International Film Festival, and a joy it was to revel in the audience's pleasure.

Bart Everly's direction was on-target, but it was Film Editor David Dawkins that's to be lauded for his sharp, no-nonsense work. Here's a documentary that really moves, catching a breathtaking amount of footage on Congressman Barney Frank (D. Mass.) as he pursues the '98 Clinton impeachment proceedings.

What emerges is an uncommonly lively, fun filled series of shots of Frank and other members of bipartisan committee members debating, discussing, wrangling what amounts to a "wrestling match," as Frank calls it. Lots of kicks, punches and throws, but not a lot of meaningful results.

Here's a chance to see your vote and tax dollars at work. Here are your reps in action. And if it's not exactly what you had in mind as you cast your ballot, well, vote for somebody else next time.

The Festival audience lapped up every word, often bursting into loud belly laughs, sometimes applauding--no passive viewers here. And Yours Truly was right in there, chuckling and howling. When have I seen a documentary that held the audience in such rapt attention?

"Let's Get Frank" is worth going out of your way to find, though its showings may be limited. Anyway--good luck.