Requiem for the American Dream

Gravitas Ventures | Release Date: January 29, 2016

8.8	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 12 Ratings

USER RATING DISTRIBUTION

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Review this movie

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.

Check box if your review contains spoilers

0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

MeritCobaMay 22, 2016

It is hard to level criticism at a documentary that has the famous Noam Chomsky as spokesperson in it. Who am I to naysay a man who knows more, has experienced more, means more and has more written all over. But this, in a strange manner,It is hard to level criticism at a documentary that has the famous Noam Chomsky as spokesperson in it. Who am I to naysay a man who knows more, has experienced more, means more and has more written all over. But this, in a strange manner, works both ways. When a documentary is out to proof something, accepting such because Chomsky says so sets us up for a fallacy called speaking from authority. But before continuing on: what is the documentary about anyway?

This documentary is trying to make the case that there is some kind of conspiracy to kill democracy and the American dream. It is not a documentary trying to give you an insight in the theories of Chomsky for instance or trying to give you an overview of his career. In fact Chomsky, being a linguist, is treading outside his area of expertise. We are in the land of economics, politics and power-mongers in general. Which doesn't mean that he has noting valid to say, but it is really a pity that what he seems to have revolutionized isn't being talked about or used. Linguistics, the use of language, is a powerful way to shape the world around us for it is the way we get to know the world. You can read books like 1984 or How to read Donald Duck to get and idea. Mind you that me naming them doesn't mean that I agree with the contents, it merely to give you examples.

The documentary is split in two parts. One with figures and charts that show how the divide between the rich and the rest of the country dramatically changes over the decades. It shows how all kinds of restraints and controls on banks and other financial institutions have been done away with. It shows how the labor unions declined and so on. It tries to make the case that power is getting monopolized. And this all commented upon by Chomsky. And there is nothing wrong with this as far as I can determine. .

It is the second part however that made me pause. It is where the documentary and Chomsky try to suggest that all of this is deliberate and aimed at undermining democracy and the American dream to the benefit... of who actually and planned by whom?
And here is the weakness of the documentary which is profound. Who are those people, Chomsky? Only a flimsy piece of evidence is given, which is where Chomsky strongly suggests that Alan Greenspan admitted in an open inquiry to promoting worker insecurity. I was baffled at this, for what use is a conspiracy that openly reveals itself and thus admits to being one? And as a matter of fact, it wasn't what Chomsky said it was. And Chomsky was even challenged on this back in 2014, but he didn't bother to correct himself and even repeats it in this documentary but now in sly way. The documentary shows Greenspan concluding something and then Chomsky immediately says in the next shot that it is deliberate. Suggesting again strongly that it was deliberate. It took me a few minutes to google this. You can do that too.

The documentary in this part reveals to be another conspiracy aimed at promoting the idea that yet another version of the Illuminati is at it again, only now they are so vague that we do not even get to know who these people are, what they do and how they do it. Chomsky talks unopposed and no criticism of what he says can be found in this documentary. It is preaching for the choir. It is propaganda.
Chomsky strikes me as a man walking in a forest who hears a tree topple over and concludes that a private company is out to wreck nature because the tree must have been cut down by a man, and that man can only work for a company and companies only do stuff because they aim at enriching themselves at the cost of anything else and therefore it is a deliberate way to wreck nature.
Upon investigation however it could very well be that the tree toppled over because it was old and decrepit. You can probably think of yet another explanation.
Alas this documentary doesn't give room for alternate explanations and this damages the whole purpose. For what would be the upshot of Chomsky's arguments? That a nefarious group of people plans this? Hence: get rid of this group and all will be well?

Chomsky shoots himself in the foot. For he has to twist language to vindicate his believes which is really shameful for a man who has been a linguist. Twisting words in one case with intent discredits everything else that is said for I do not have the time to fact check everything. And now? What can I trust you to say truthfully? I would almost say: shame on you, Chomsky and those who made this documentary and didn't bother to check and correct. You did yourself an extreme disservice.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

I8yourreviewMay 11, 2016

This sobering and understated documentary offers a much need dose of reality aimed at fostering a working class consciousness. Noam Chomsky's analysis of contemporary politics and society is, as always, pointed, unflinching and enlightening.This sobering and understated documentary offers a much need dose of reality aimed at fostering a working class consciousness. Noam Chomsky's analysis of contemporary politics and society is, as always, pointed, unflinching and enlightening. Any progressive, humanist, activist or public advocate would do well to take this film in, and do so more than once.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

OlalaBananaMay 10, 2016

This documentary is a little low on tempo, but explains in a great visual way what people talk about when they talk about the 'dissapearing middle class' and the one percent of the one percent. the visuals are cute, the message is distressingThis documentary is a little low on tempo, but explains in a great visual way what people talk about when they talk about the 'dissapearing middle class' and the one percent of the one percent. the visuals are cute, the message is distressing to say the least. Noam Chomsky explains to the viewer how society has changed over the last century or so and does everything in his power to explain to us how on earth we got where we are now.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews