WOW! I just finished watching Going Upriver

[nonconformist]

And I just have one thing to say...

I WILL BE DAMN PROUD TO CALL JOHN KERRY MY PRESIDENT WHEN HE IS SWORN IN ON JANUARY 20TH, 2005.

[DinahMoeHum]

1. You and me both. Saw the movie last weekend.

:kick:

[gauguin57]

2. Ebert and Roeper gave it a great review this weekend

on their syndicated show!

[nonconformist]

4. Awesome... here is Ebert's review

Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry

BY ROGER EBERT / October 1, 2004

Of all the dirty tricks in this unhappy presidential campaign, the most outrageous has been the ad campaign by the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth," attempting to discredit John Kerry's service in Vietnam. Supporters of the malingering Bush have shamelessly challenged the war record of a wounded and decorated veteran. Their campaign illustrates the tactic of the Big Lie, as defined by Hitler and perfected by Goebbels: Although a little lie is laughed at, a Big Lie somehow takes on a reality of its own, through its sheer effrontery.

"Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry" is a matter-of-fact documentary that describes Kerry's war service and his later role as a leader of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. It's not an in-your-face Michael Moore-style doc, but an attempt to rationally respond to the damaging TV ads. The most remarkable connection it makes is that John O'Neill, mastermind of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and co-author of the current book Unfit for Command, was originally recruited by the dirty tricksters in the Nixon White House to play precisely the same role!

The movie documents this with tapes of Oval Office conversations with Richard Nixon discussing John Kerry with his aides H.R. Haldeman and Charles Colson. Kerry had made a strong impression as a spokesman for Vietnam vets who now felt the war was immoral and ill-advised. Sen. J. William Fulbright, head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, visited the veterans' bivouac on the Mall in Washington, D.C., and asked Kerry to testify before the committee. Kerry's testimony, sampled in the film, is forceful and yet not radical; essentially, he was early with what has become the consensus about that war. In the Oval Office, it is noted that Kerry made a good impression, especially on the network news programs. "He's a Kennedy-type guy. He looks like a Kennedy and sounds like a Kennedy," says Haldeman.

"We have to destroy the young demagogue before he becomes another Nader," Colson tells the president. Asked to get some dirt on Kerry, Colson reports "we couldn't find anything on him." Then he comes up with the idea of recruiting Vietnam vets who would be coached to smear Kerry. Colson enlists O'Neill, who 30 years later has revived his old role.

<snip>

More...

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041001/REVIEWS/409300303/1023

[3113]

3. Equal Time

The FCC should force the Sinclair Group's forced showing of "Stolen Honor" to be followed by "Going Up River."

Let the voters decide. What a novel idea.

[LittleClarkie]

18. Yes, yes, yes

This is a direct rebuttal. If Sinclair won't, then perhaps on a rival network.

[AnIndependentTexan]

What about CBS ?

[AnIndependentTexan]

21. What about CBS ?

[Crazy8s]

28. I actually emailed George Soros

suggesting that he get involved in doing just that--airing the opposing view on another network. I figured someone like Soros would have the money and ability to get something done.

[zinsky]

24. Dear Mr. Rove

I think we should launch a multi-generational, intensive investigation of the Bush family and war profiteering. Starting with Prescott Bush financing the Nazi war machine, through Iran-Contra (particularly selling Hawk missiles to Iran) down through Poppy Bush's special role in arming Saddam Husseion in Iraqgate, to the present day and Carlyle Company and Halliburton and the Second Gulf War.

Yes, it wil be expensive and yes, it may result in several life imprisonments and possibly executions for treason, but it's hard work that must be done......

[DancingBear]

5. I could not agree more

I saw the film in Waltham, MA last week. It is an unvarnished documentary of who John Kerry is, and what John Kerry truly did during the Vietnam War years.

If every person who believes Limbaugh, Hannity et al. could see this film John Kerry would win all 50 states. Amazing how someone that young could speak with such truth and elegance.

If you have a chance to see this film, please go.

[mzmolly]

6. I am literally afraid to see it. I fear that a loss in November will be

beyond painful if I "fall in love" with Kerry. I hear it's a fantastic movie and I hope I get up the nerve ...

[nonconformist]

11. As someone who was a pretty, ahem, vocal supporter of Dean

I feel what you're saying. I felt like my heart was ripped out earlier this year.

But I've went and done it again. I've went from grudging acceptance, to ABB fervor, to respect and admiration, to complete support of Kerry over the last few months... but this did it. I've "fallen in love" with him. Who knew it could happen twice in one election, but it's there.... when I was watching all I kept thinking was "this man was BORN to be President".

[mzmolly]

13. I hear you! God how I hear you!

:cry: I can't bare the thought of such noble men losing to * and his facist followers.

[LittleClarkie]

17. This man was BORN to be President NOW.

Indeed, I followed the same trajectory as you. He now seems utterly perfect for this time and place.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

20. I fell in love with Kerry (officially) at the Dem convention

and have only fallen more and more in love with him since. I, too, am afraid to see Going Upriver because I just....urg....cannot fall in love with him MORE.

I was a Deaniac, too.

[Sick_of_Rethuggery]

27. Me too!

Gore to Dean to Kerry -- tho' I beat you all to it! I fell in love with him after seeing his Senate floor speeches on the IWR and a few others and then his '71 testimony, early this year!

He's meticulous and poetic and I love both those qualities, however antithetical they seem :-)

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

7. My comments posted last night after watching it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1025794&mesg_id=1025794

[venus]

8. Haven't seen it as of yet but

echo the other post about getting it distributed or broadcast right before election night. I know Wes Clark's team spent a pretty penny distributing his CD in NH. Unfortunately this is not a viable option for the entire country. But is sounds like it MUST be seen to counter the upcoming smear by Sinclair.

[jonnyblitz]

9. yes, in 1971 John Kerry was quite impressive.

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie! :thumbsup:

[mainer]

10. Marty Meltz gave it four stars (top rating)

Said the film was about way more than John Kerry.

[Keirsey]

12. DVD

Today it's #73 on the Top Seller list at Amazon - scheduled for release on October 19.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/new-for-you/top-sellers/-/dvd/all/dvd/0/1/3/ref=pd_ts_pg_3/102-9460850-0412147

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

14. I had a couple of attempts at download that locked up most of the way

through. Now the URL,
http://www.thekerrymovie.com
is no longer working for me! :shrug:

[SammyWinstonJack]

15. I second that!

John Kerry is an extraordinary man. This should be shown on prime time, instead of that crap propaganda piece the rightwingnuts are trying to pass off as the "truth" about Kerry. :argh:

[CBHagman]

16. Just saw it today.

It's running at a couple of theaters in the Washigton, DC, area (E Street Cinema and the Avalon). I think if you check at www.imdb.com, you can find out where it's playing.

I found it intensely moving and a sometimes painful reminder of what Vietnam really meant in terms of human cost. Yes, it's pro-Kerry, but who do you believe more: Someone who chose to go to war and then became disillusioned, or macho types who took more than full advantage of deferments and connections, only to proclaim their warrior status from the safe distance of several decades, after their contemporaries came home in boxes or without limbs?

See it or buy it, if you can. You'll probably want to watch it more than once. "Fahrenheit 9/11" was too intensely painful for me to see more than once. This one I want to absorb.

[goddess40]

19. Rate the movie on yahoo

http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&cf=info&id=1808591020

yahoo users are giving it a c+, Critics are giving it a B+

[fknobbit]

31. Freepers were killing it earlier, it was a C- now up to B-

We need to do an academy award winner review on this one it will sell more than theater tickets come november.

[Nickster]

22. Just saw it tonite myself

Got to say that I'm convinced now that if John Kerry isn't elected as our next President, then there is something deeply deeply deeply wrong with this country. All through the movie, I was thinking, my God, aren't the similarities between then and now striking? It is amazing how similar those times were to the times we are living in now and a matching war to boot. One question that I had after seeing this movie though. WTH are our Winter Soldiers at now? Where is our march on the Capitol? My wife doesn't think that we as a society would even bat an eye at a protest of that nature. I think I'd at least like to see someone give it a try.

[texanshatingbush]

23. Only a matter of time the Repubs respond with thier Movie

"Goin Up To Alabam"

[4_Legs_Good]

25. Stupid question: What's this film? Is it a theatrical release?

Amazon has it available on October 19.

I'm sorry I haven't followed this, but I'm excited to hear about it!

david

[CBHagman]

26. Here's a link

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407263/

Just by way of background, the film was inspired by Douglas Brinkley's book "Tour of Duty," which you should be able to find at your library or bookstore.

"Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry" is just one of a seemingly endless supply of genuinely worthwhile documentaries out this year, many of them with political themes.

It's not a popcorn and soda sort of movie. The images you will see are often intense and in some cases unbearably sad. The faces you see may be familiar -- Max Cleland, Bob Kerrey, Bobby Fuller, et al.

It's as much a story of veterans as it is the story of John Kerry. Kerry himself was NOT personally interviewed for the film, though he does appear in footage and through audio recording.

On edit: Yes, it is out in theaters now. IMDB ought to have listings for you. Unfortunately, it may be in limited release. I only found two local theaters playing it in my area, and one was an independent, noncommercial movie house.

[Bongo Prophet]

29. The power of this movie is to inform

That is, to inform us as to the depth of his commitment to fighting for what he believes in. IF it gets nasty in the post-election struggle, as well it might, we need to remember the battles he has personally fought. In this way we will be battling FOR an example of a good leader as well as AGAINST the usurper. Those who know this story are armed with some powerful truth that we would not have otherwise.
Will it change some Bush supporters and act as antidote to the poisonous and treasonous LIES that were spread? Maybe a few. Combine it with JK's deficit-hawk and pro-veterans rights record, and there can be some movement there.
Will it change some softcore Bushies, who have been swayed because they think JK is what the GOP says he is? Probably effective to quite a few, if helped along by those of us who know better. All the more so if we are now FOR our candidate, and not always bitching about this and that.
Will it energize some ABBers who were in LOVE with some other candidate, and weren't aware of this part of Nixon's dirty war against his own enemies? I think we see the answer is YES. Bush/rove/Cheney/et al is Nixon's REVENGE. This IS the continuation of that war.
Will it comfort us and fortify us if we have to hit the streets and outnumber freeper brigades? Damn straight. It had better.
See it. Download it SHARE. We have to solidify and fortify. Save some strength for post-election day though, we might need it.
Watch your back and each others, too.

Any swing staters that can act as a HUB--get a CD and make many more copies!
Exponential growth, and spread like wildfire!

[smbolisnch]

30. I second that! n/t

[NinetySix]

32. OK, I've had the mpeg for a couple of days now,

and after reading your brief post, I decided it was time to watch it. I agree with you completely.

This man is perhaps the most qualified of his generation, perhaps among the most qualified this century, to hold the office of the Presidency. His depth of understanding, his unshakable courage and confidence, and his deep-seated sense of rational humanity are all qualities which indicate his potential to lead this country with a statesmanship, the like of which I have not seen in my lifetime. I find after seeing this film that I very much look forward to this man entering the Oval Office to steer us in the right direction, whereas before, I was somewhat lukewarm on his candidacy.

I have doubted that the situation in which the United States now suddenly finds itself could be repaired. I still maintain that doubt to a degree, given the gravity of the harm that has been done to our reputation internationally in recent years, but if anyone can repair it, I would now certainly expect John Kerry to be among those few who could.

[Keirsey]

33. Wow!

The DVD has moved up to #38 on Amazon's Top Seller list now!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/new-for-you/top-sellers/-/dvd/all/dvd/0/1/2/ref=pd_ts_pg_2/102-9460850-0412147


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000646MMA/ref=pd_ts_d_38/102-9460850-0412147?v=glance&s=dvd&n=404276