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Reviews
Hoaxed (2019)
A clever, timely look at how Big Media manipulates you, and how to fight back
HOAXED employs stellar, Hollywood-quality production values and a Matrix-esque "Welcome to The Simulation" theme to take the viewer on a gonzo tour of modern day journalism, social media, and pop culture entertainment, cleverly demonstrating the myriad ways in which unscrupulous Orwellians con the modern viewer into believing that up is down, night is day, and wrong is right.
Along the way you'll meet a motley host of interesting people from all corners of the political spectrum, who find themselves by turns caught in the sinister web of The Media Simulation and then cleverly turning it to their own ends. Many are instantly recognizable New Media luminaries -- Alex Jones, Jordan Petersen, Scott Adams, and ex-Trump Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci -- but some of the most trenchant vignettes concern less famous personages who employ the modern tools of social media is novel and courageous ways to tell stories that even a few years ago would have had no chance of wide dissemination.
By the end of this rollercoaster of shock, hope, despair, and exhilaration, you're likely to achieve a bottomless disgust for the ridiculously baritoned, immaculately coiffed millionaire mediocrities who have turned television journalism into a ghoulish parade of lies and disinformation. At the same time, you'll be left with a palpable sense of empowerment at how anyone with a few bucks and a lot of moxie can build their own Empire of Truth on the ruins and scars left by Big Media on our collective psyche.
Highly recommended, and worthy of a full purchase to facilitate the inevitable repeat viewings. A search of Amazon will reveal the availability of a companion book of the same name, filled with interview transcripts and additional material.
Jimmy the Gent (1934)
James Cagney is an unscrupulous geneologist who hilariously scams deceased millionaires out of their money.
A delightful example of 1930's comedy, with James Cagney on fire as a tough and uncultured geneologist-scam artist who matches wits with an assortment of shady types in pursuit of a dead rich woman's fortune.
The dialogue is snappy and frequently laugh-out loud, the supporting cast led by Bette Davis is fine, and James Cagney is particularly hilarious in his portrayal.
One of the subplots involves Cagney's attempts to learn a little class with which to impress his love/nemesis Davis, and there is a sustained scene of hijinks concerning this that will have you laughing and commending Cagney's acting at the same time. All I can say is that I will never look at tea the same way again!
Finally, this movie is worth seeing just because it was directed by the great Michael Curtiz. This was the first time Curtiz was entrusted with a really major film project, and he makes the most of it. Of course, Curtiz would later direct Cagney in arguably his greatest role, that of Rocky in Angels With Dirty Faces (1938). Curtiz also directed such classics as Casablanca (1942), Captain Blood (1935), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), The Sea Wolf (1941), The Sea Hawk (1940), Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942 - which won James Cagney an Oscar) and many many other great films.
Between Curtiz, Cagney, Davis, and the rest, there is a lot to like about this movie. It's not Heavy Drama, but if you like the kinds of witty and lighthearted comedies that flourished in Hollywood during the 1930's, you will enjoy this example.