For smarter audiences… THE END OF AMERICA

Hope seems unavoidable these days. But just because our new President preaches optimism does that necessitate the nation’s rosy outlook? Rabble-rouser Naomi Wolf (The Beauty Myth) wrote The End of America prior to Obama’s election, but likely still harbors the fears that led her to publish her “Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot.” Now, with the assistance of award-winning documentarians Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern (THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK; THE TRIALS OF DARRYL HUNT), the author has transferred her polemic to the big screen. Methodically, she spells out the alarming parallels between the United States under the Bush administration, and the rise of the Third Reich… along with other fascist and totalitarian governments. Wolf, in the academic’s sheep-suit, counts down the ten ways by which we can recognize the devolution of our country from democracy to dictatorship, from the creation of unifying scapegoats to the shackling of the press and innocent civilians to the blatant dismissal of Law and Order. (Take that, Sam Waterston!)

THE END OF AMERICA unspools much like AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH; it is a lecture disguised as a movie. However, Sundberg & Stern are far more capable filmmakers than Davis Guggenheim and manage to weave the occasional interviews and appropriate imagery into the talk without detracting from the messenger or the message. (Thank goodness, Wolf commands her stage.) TRUTH’s outlook was sunny, in a double-edged manner. THE END is nearer to doom, a not-so-soft sell that, ominously, fades to black. Of course, if you believe the hype of Hope, you may assume this is the eve of Change. Or, you might invest in Ambien; it’s going to be a bumpy night.

THE END OF AMERICA will screen on Saturday, March 21st, 2009 as part of The Warren Report’s ACT NOW! series at The Henry Art Gallery. Filmmaker Annie Sundberg will be on hand for a politically-charged post-show Q&A. Reserve your seat today.