"The Nine Lives of Marion Barry" is a 2009 documentary that portrays the political career and personal life of Marion Barry. It takes viewers through both the ups and the downs of his career. It begins with the story of him coming to DC and the change he creates for the city, especially in black communities. By the late 80's, however, crime rates and high school dropout rates were going up, and many people believed he turned a blind eye to these problems. It also covers his personal life, from matters such as the infamous 1990 crack bust, and his relationship with his wife.
When watching this documentary, I noticed that Barry was portrayed as a flawless hero, with no shortcomings. This can be noted when they mention how he dropped out of getting a doctorate to go join the civil rights movement. I think it is an important piece of information, but it, among other points, set him up to be a perfect person. I think that this has been done to set up a shocking reversal for when the film starts to cover the uglier parts of his life. However, I don't like it. This is because the reversal is too strong; you feel like a step was missed from Marion Barry the heroic mayor to Marion Barry the prison inmate. Also, it is not accurate. To portray him as a person who had no haters, and did all good, is never going to be accurate. I think he was doing a very good job at the start, but this level of black and white comparison just makes the story less comprehensive.
The documentary does a good job displaying the chaos Marion Barry invoked. After it discusses the sting operation, there is a series of seemingly "deja vu" moments. Think like "Marion Barry did that again?" It mentions two more cocaine busts, it mentions the allegations he faced with other women, and it does so repeatedly. Watching these same unfortunate scenes play out again and again brings viewers to a conclusion the writers want: To understand Barry's negative impact. And the method works, too. By the end of the film, you will find yourself asking "Again?" And the chaos also leads in to the more overarching point of the film: Marion Barry's respect and legacy carried him through his darkest times.
Viewers will see the stark contrast between the first half of the film and the second. The film does respect the positive impact Barry had on the city, but it does so to set up the chaos. This plan is carried out perfectly; and viewers will certainly see and feel Barry's chaos. But does the film do so at the expense of paying full respects to Barry's positive impact?