George McGovern was perhaps the most decent man to ever run for president. How he failed so spectacularly is the subject of this loving portrait of a man and an era of chiaroscuro morality. An early, courageous opponent of the Vietnam war, he emerged from the political wilderness to hijack the nomination from the political establishment of the Democratic party.
At times rising to a level of hysterical reverence, the doc nevertheless exhaustively places his one bright shining moment in brilliant context. The cast of talking heads includes a delightfully acerbic Gore Vidal, a clear-headed Gloria Steinem and McGovern himself, who comes across every bit as honest, intelligent and heroic as the movie takes pains to portray him. The relevance to our current morass is obvious, and begs a plethora of questions. Like why do morally bankrupt men still send soldiers off to die in far-off places without shame?
Opens September 16
