Jimmy Carter Man from Plains (2007)

JIMMY CARTER SHOULD BE CANONIZED A SAINT, as DECENT HUMAN BEINGS WOULD UNANIMOUSLY AGREE.

The Palestinian Holocaust/Genocide is no longer a secret in America, in spit of CNN"S cnstant effort to 'hush it up.' President Carter is the sojourner of truth. How does the minority of Israelis, completely, tarnish the image of Israel, for the majority, who oppose the daily killing and home demolitions of Palestinian women and children in PALESTINE! This movie makes clear what is going on. As many who have been there state: Go see for yourself, to see the Palestinians, on their land, being denegrated and treated like animals - despicable! Rachel Corrie, a young American college student went to help Palestinians and was murdered by an Israeli in broad daylight, in front of witnesses. Rachel Corrie website is worth a visit, another wonderful saint like Carter, who was trying to help the helpless Palestinians by joining peaceful/non-violent organizations. What's going on is wrong and must stop. Bush, Cheney, know full well, but could care less. Jimmy Carter opened my eyes to all this with his book; Palestine: Peace not Apartheid. Like many Americans, brainwashed on the TV toob, I was fooled as to who the real bad guys are. President Carter has opened many eyes, transcending our joke media in telling the truth about the Palestinian Holocaust/Genocide being committed by a MINORITY?! of Jewish Israelis.
On a lighter note, this movie was incredibly done: Cinematagrophy, sound and quality of the highest standard; A+. It felt like I was watching Blue Ray, which I don't have, but the quality was that excellent and crisp. More than anything, you will be forever moved by President Carter's dedication to making the world a better place. Educational, Extremely Enlightening and Uncomparably MOVING! After viewing this, you, yourself will want to go out and do something to make the world better. Helping stop and speaking out about the daily brutal,savage, murders and home demolitions of destitude "walled off from each other" Palestinians is a good place to start for the safety of America and the World. It will move you deeply, without a dull moment.!Phenomenal!!INCREIBLE! y !FANTASTICO!!! June 3, 2008

Demme Catches Carter in a Crossfire and Exposes a Man of Uncommon Strength

Depending on your political proclivities, those expecting a full-blown biopic of the 39th President of the United States will be either severely disappointed that it focuses primarily on his 2006/7 book signing tour, or exhilarated that it is not a two-hour Biography Channel special of his life's highlights. Filmmaker Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia) is no stranger to the demands of the documentary format, although his previous efforts have been concert films, 1984's Stop Making Sense with the Talking Heads and 1998's Storefront Hitchcock with English singer Robyn Hitchcock. This time, he and cinematographer Declan Quinn followed Jimmy Carter, spry and fit for 83, on his extensive tour to promote his controversial 2006 bestseller, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid about the indignities faced by Palestinians living in the Occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. The book's deliberately provocative title was designed to spark discussion, and the thrust of the 2007 film is to show the media-intensified firestorm Carter faced as a result.

To his immense credit, Demme lets Carter speak for himself in the film and doesn't allow a narrator to provide color commentary on the former president's hectic touring schedule. What comes across is a man rightfully proud of the 1978 Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, and has most recently taken to heart his sense of responsibility as a private citizen and former leader to share the devastation he has seen the Palestinians experience in the occupied areas cut off from the rest of the world. It's an arc that Demme explores through an effective use of archival footage, interviews with key figures (including Carter's wife of 62 years, Rosalynn, who speaks movingly about what led Menachem Begin to sign the final treaty), and the robust, even-keeled presence Carter maintains throughout despite what seems to be a dizzying pace and the consistent critical onslaught. Much of Carter's politic demeanor can be attributed to his faith, including nightly Bible readings with Rosalynn (no matter where he is), but Demme also shows the discipline Carter employs with his handlers and in his regular regimen of swimming laps.

It's definitely a favorable impression of the former president, which is unlikely to sit well with detractors who view him as a treasonous rabble-rouser, but the effect is understandable given that some of Carter's more vocal opponents refused to be filmed, including Dr. Kenneth Stein, who resigned as a Carter Center fellow (of whom Carter dismissed as an absentee member), and a roomful of protesting rabbi elders in Phoenix. Fortunately, renowned Harvard professor and attorney Alan Dershowitz is included as one of the most vocal opponents of Carter's book. His fair-minded comments provide a critical counterbalance to the positive image of Carter, and interestingly, it is never really explained why Carter would not face Dershowitz in a public debate at Brandeis University, who initially turned down Carter's proposal to lecture for free. Intriguingly, Demme takes a behind-the-scenes approach to the various media interviews, whether it's Terry Gross, Charlie Rose, Wolf Blitzer, or Tavis Smiley. In turn, Carter expertly modulates his points to fit the format, including an amusingly deadpan confession to Jay Leno on who really wears the pants in the Carter marriage.

Demme also incorporates the other key priorities in Carter's life to provide more dimension to the portrait - his dedicated work on Habitat for Humanity and as caretaker of the land his family has owned for nearly two centuries around Plains. The parts of the film that drag unnecessarily are more logistical in nature - traveling repeatedly with his kowtowing Simon & Schuster publicist and preparing the customers for the book signings. At 125 minutes, the film runs a mite long and could have benefited from another editing session. Extras are plentiful on the 2008 DVD starting with over thirty minutes of additional scenes and a half-hour featurette on the making of the soundtrack. Neither feels essential though an extended sequence showing a signing at Costco brought out a perturbed woman who tersely told Carter he should be tried for treason. Demme and producer Neda Armian also contribute a very thoughtful commentary track. Trailers for ten other Sony Classics films on DVD complete the extras. April 19, 2008

A Man of Integrity

My respect for Jimmy Carter drew me to this.

The film surrounds the release of Carter's book and book tour on Palestine and the obstacles he met because of it. We get a sense of Jimmy's character and devotion to what he takes on and also his emotional tie to people, religion and our place in the scheme of things on earth.

As a film, I was less impressed, especially with the shaky camera work in some places. I think there is a better documentary about Jimmy Carter to be made. April 12, 2008

A Fascinating Look at an American Statesman

People who admire Jimmy Carter -- and I am among them -- will enjoy this documentary, which provides a fascinating look at a man who is devoting his life to making a better world. The film makers follow President Carter as he tours to promote his book, "Palestine Peace Not Apartheid," which shined a light on Israel's violations of Palestinians' basic human rights, and inflamed animosity among Israel's supporters in the United States.

Having witnessed, on a visit to the Occupied Territories, the Israeli military bulldozing Palestinian homes because Israel's leaders want the Palestinian land but not their kind in the Jewish state, I can vouch for the accuracy of Carter's criticisms of Israel. Critics of President Carter's book, as shown in the film, apparently cannot refute his facts; therefore, they must resort to ad hominem attacks.

It is enlightening about the human condition to observe prominent critics badgering Carter about a book they have not read; and a woman accusing the former President of the United States of treason, presumably because he exhibited insufficient loyalty to her favorite foreign country (this clip is in the special features).

"Jimmy Carter: Man from Plains" affords a rare opportunity to watch a prominent octogenarian statesman speak the truth about an unpopular cause, sometimes to antagonistic audiences, calmly parrying vituperative attacks with reason and facts. One short segment in the film, as Carter draws on a notepad the Occupied Territories and notes the location of the wall and the Israeli "settlements" throughout Palestinian land, is more informative about the source of the conflict than a year's worth of coverage on CNN. I highly recommend the film, which is artfully directed, and the special features, which are as interesting as the clips included in the film. April 10, 2008

Make me laugh.

The single worst United States President in modern times (if not ever) has a movie put out by well known leftist Demme and I'm supposed to jump in and buy it? Boy, I bet speaking in front of Brandeis was so daring! Please... the left preaching to the far left. I guess that's daring! Now do what you guys do best and trash all the conservative authors who you couldn't stomach to read just so they get a lower star rating. You know you do so go do it. Great country America! April 8, 2008

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