Noam Chomsky Movies

In an era where partisan politics seems to have split America right down the middle and political debate can grow so heated that most folks choose to avoid the topic altogether, filmmaker Kelly Nyuks travels from coast to coast in order to find out why political discourse regarding public affairs has become so disconnected. What does it mean for the future of our country when we can't even discuss our political differences in a civil manner anymore, and who has the authority to say what's truly "right" or "wrong" anyway when it comes to such hot button issues as abortion and gay marriage. In the run-up to the November, 2008 presidential elections, Nyuks attempts to answer all of these questions and more by interviewing such noted political commentators as Tucker Carlson, Noam Chomsky, Jesse Jackson, and Robert Putnam, and engaging people all across the country in a constructive dialogue about politics in general, and the potentially destructive effects that political partisanship has had on American society as a whole. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

British actor Tom Baker narrates Oscar-winning animator Bruce Petty's thoughtful meditation on colonialism, capitalism, and the longstanding tensions between Islam and the Western world. Input from such noted thinkers as Gore Vidal, Noam Chomsky, Robert Frisk, and George Monbiat help to highlight precisely how mankind's greed has sent the planet spiraling into self-destructive tailspin. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Filmmakers David Leaf and John Scheinfeld offer a compelling look at the efforts of the United States government to silence one of rock & roll's most outspoken war critics in this documentary detailing the Vietnam-era struggle between the Richard Nixon administration and iconic peace activist John Lennon. The Vietnam War was raging and the nightly news was filled with stories of failed offensives and massacred U.S. troops. As anti-war protests back home gained momentum, it was the hopeful voice of former Beatle Lennon that served to perfectly encapsulate the frustrations felt by many citizens that the U.S. had gotten caught up in an quagmire from which there was seemingly no end in sight. There's a high price to be paid for standing strong in your beliefs and openly criticizing the ruling elite, though, and now, through interviews with those who knew him best and revealing glimpses into an era where all hope seemed lost, filmmakers finally uncover the truth behind the Nixon administration's highly classified efforts to isolate and eventually deport the man whose powerful words threatened to actually make sense in a world slowly suffocated by the grip of insanity. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Jean-Bertrand Aristide was the first democratically elected president of Haiti, a nation long marked by political instability and corruption, but while the former Catholic priest was voted in as a friend of the poor and the disadvantaged, staying in office proved to be his greatest challenge. Aristide was first sworn into office on February 7, 1991, but a military coup removed him from office seven months later. Aristide went into exile in Venezuela and later the United States, but after the collapse of the military regime that staged the coup, he returned to Haiti and served as president from 1994 to 1996. Prevented by the law from succeeding himself in office, Aristide was reelected president in 2001, but another coup in 2004 ended his term in office, and the leader went into exile once again, this time in South Africa. Aristide claims that the second coup coincided with his being kidnapped by American intelligence agents, and a number of political analysts and activists, including Noam Chomsky and U.S. congresswoman Maxine Waters, contend that the United States government directly interfered with Aristide's rule in favor of the right-wing military regime. However, others have argued that Aristide's administration fell into widespread corruption, and that he was removed from office for the good of the people. Aristide and the Endless Revolution is a documentary which features extensive interviews with Jean-Bertrand Aristide as he discusses his political career in Haiti, and with others who speak out in support of the leader (Noam Chomsky, Maxine Waters, Danny Glover) as well as those who oppose his rule, including former U.S. Secretary of State Roger Noriega and Timothy Carney, an American ambassador to Haiti during Aristide's administration. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

A pair of pacifist-minded documentarians reach out to dozens of their generation's greatest thinkers in a bid to ensure a peaceful future for all in this documentary that encourages viewers to take an active role in the peace process. From September 2002 to May 2003, filmmakers Gabriele Zamparini and Lorenzo Meccoli conducted interviews with such internationally recognized thinkers as Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Gore Vidal, Jesse Jackson, Ossie Davis, and Desmond Tutu to explore peaceful solutions to global conflict. In addition to exploring various alternatives to war and weapons of mass destruction as a means of solving conflict, these interviews provide fascinating insight into the modern era while simultaneously offering a look inside the minds of some of the planets greatest tinkers, activists, and leaders. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Did the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, allow certain Republican leaders to put policies and legislation into effect that they knew would be rejected by their colleagues and constituents at nearly any other time? That's the question posed by this documentary, which offers a detailed look at the thoughts and deeds of a number of figures close to the George W. Bush administration. During Ronald Reagan's presidency, a number of neo-conservative theorists proposed that the United States should abandon its support of certain international treaties, take a more aggressive approach in taking military action against nations deemed uncooperative with U.S. interests, enact legislation that would curtail civil liberties at home, and increase military budgets by a massive margin. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and others were able to bring about these changes, either in whole or in part. But was all of this in the best interests of the American public, has the risk of terrorist attacks truly been curtailed, and what will the long-term effects of these actions be? Narrated by Julian Bond, Hijacking Catastrophe: 9/11, Fear and the Selling of American Empire features interviews with Norman Mailer, Noam Chomsky, Scott Ritter, Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatowski, William Hartung, and Jody Williams. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

An insightful examination of the controversial School of the Americas, director John Smihula's Hidden in Plain Sight offers a rare look inside the U.S.-based military training school where such notorious figures as Manuel Noriega learned their trade. Over the course of its history, the Fort Benning, GA, school for Latin soldiers has provided training for more than 60,000 military personnel. Hidden in Plain Sight is narrated by actor and political activist Martin Sheen. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Activist, linguist, and dissident thinker Noam Chomsky was once described by The New York Times as "the most important intellectual alive," and he has gained both passionate admirers and vehement detractors for his outspoken speeches and writings on United States foreign policy. From the Vietnam War to the post-9/11 conflict in Iraq, Chomsky has bravely confronted the failings of America's policies abroad, and examined how the nation's political decision-making process is frequently compromised in a manner that does not benefit the people. Noam Chomsky: Rebel Without a Pause is a documentary which looks at the work of this outspoken activist, focusing on the issues of post-9/11 terrorism and the growing sentiment against Americans around the globe; the film also includes contributions from fellow activists and Carol Chomsky, Noam's wife and tour manager. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The state of civil liberties and political dissent in a post-September 11 world is examined in Other American Voices, a documentary featuring comments from such left-leaning luminaries as Noam Chomsky and Amy Goodman. Particular attention is paid to the Bush administration's efforts to control immigration laws and rights in the name of quelling terrorism, as well as to the mainstream press' reluctance to pursue what might be perceived as anti-American issues. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi