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Movies / On DVD / Bush's Brain
Bush's Brain

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Bush's Brain (2004)

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Reviews Counted:48

Fresh:30

Rotten:18

Average Rating:6.1/10

Consensus: Most of the evidence is more circumstantial than conclusive, but it's still a disturbing portrait of misuse of political power.

Rated: Not Rated

Runtime: 80 mins

Genre: Musical & Performing Arts

Theatrical Release:Aug 27, 2004 Limited

Synopsis: Not to be mistaken for an exploration of the 43rd US President's gray matter, BUSH'S BRAIN takes a look at the shadowy figure of the man behind George. W. Bush's rise to the Oval Office. Karl Rove... Not to be mistaken for an exploration of the 43rd US President's gray matter, BUSH'S BRAIN takes a look at the shadowy figure of the man behind George. W. Bush's rise to the Oval Office. Karl Rove may be an unfamiliar name to many, but to the Bush family he is an invaluable political ally who has worked in a carefully disguised capacity for many years. Rove ghosted his way through Bush Sr.'s presidency with such silent ease that a mention of his name would have been met with indifferent shrugs and feverish head scratching. His attempt to pull off the same trick twice when Bush Jr. was elected almost came to fruition, until the publication of James Moore and Wayne Slater's startling exposé of Rove in their 2003 book, also titled BUSH'S BRAIN. Filmmakers Michael Shoob and Joseph Mealey quickly picked up the baton from Moore and Slater, producing this damning filmic indictment of Rove and the Bush presidency. From political cover-ups, to an uncanny ability to manipulate facts and figures, the directors leave no stone unturned as they dig up the dirt on the little-known political aide. A scary, thoughtful film, BUSH'S BRAIN paints a worrying picture of Bush Jr.'s presidency, positing the believable theory that all has not been as it seems behind the walls of the White House. [More]

Starring: George W. Bush, Karl Rove

Starring: George W. Bush, Karl Rove

Director: Joseph Mealey, Michael Paradies Shoob

Director: Joseph Mealey, Michael Paradies Shoob
Producer: Joseph Mealey, Michael Paradies Shoob

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Oct 12, 2004

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Bush's Brain

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21 - 40 (sorted by date)
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An engrossing, disturbing portrait of the perversion of our political process -- a victim of our collective disdain and disinterest that we let it get dragged down this far.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Today | comment Comment
09/07/04
Brent Simon
Brent Simon
Entertainment Today

A chilling study in political power and how it's employed to get, well, more of the same.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
09/04/04
E! Online

Propaganda? You bet. But a scary and persuasive case is made.

Full Review Source: Rolling Stone | comment Comment
09/03/04
Peter Travers
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Offers little proof, beyond the circumstantial, to convince anyone outside the hallelujah chorus of its accusations.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
09/03/04
Glenn Whipp
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Daily News

Nowhere near as entertaining or incendiary a piece of filmmaking like Fahrenheit 9/11, but it's extremely involving and raises many disturbing questions about the ethically questionable tactics Rove uses in his 'win at any cost' brand of politics.

Full Review Source: Reel.com | comment Comment
09/03/04
Timothy Knight
Timothy Knight
Reel.com

Simplicity may be appealing, but it has its limits.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
09/02/04
Kenneth Turan
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Pushing creepiness into horror -- and giving the movie its sting -- are the recollections and insights of folks who've tracked the handiwork of Rove, this summer's scariest movie monster, for more than 30 years.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
09/02/04
Ernest Hardy
Ernest Hardy
L.A. Weekly

Examines Rove's rise to power within the context of politics-as-usual. Such perspective adds power to the movie's punch.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
09/01/04
Gene Seymour
Gene Seymour
Newsday
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A modest documentary that is little more than filmed journalism and pales in comparison with more ambitious recent non-fiction films such as Fahrenheit 9/11 and The Corporation.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
08/31/04
Richard Porton
Richard Porton
Film Journal International

It succeeds in generating discussion, but leaves you with a distasteful feeling. If you ignore the content and look merely at the quality of the film, it's lacking in focus.

Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com | comment Comment
08/30/04
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com

I'm not sure that depicting Rove as a demonic Wizard of Oz does much more than stir righteous indignation among the already indignant.

Full Review Source: New York Magazine | comment Comment
08/29/04
Peter Rainer
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The film poses an interesting question ... but few of the Texas witnesses to Rove's reign and Beltway insiders interviewed here offer much of an answer.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
08/27/04
Ken Fox
Ken Fox
TV Guide's Movie Guide

One of the better political documentaries flooding into theaters after Fahrenheit 9/11 and before the election.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
08/27/04
Lou Lumenick
Lou Lumenick
New York Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

There is no denying the relevancy of the film.

Full Review Source: Film-Forward.com | comment Comment
08/27/04
Kent Turner
Kent Turner
Film-Forward.com

The movie feels like a rush job and at times its tactics are as suspect as those attributed to its subject.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
08/26/04
Jack Mathews
Jack Mathews
New York Daily News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This politically damning profile chronicles the rise to power of Karl Rove, the brilliant, nerdy chief aide to President Bush.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
08/26/04
Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

You may not agree with its perspectives, but you'll always know where it stands, and it's amazing how many Republicans the filmmakers have found to spill the beans on a politico who considers himself in the same camp.

Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | comment Comment
08/26/04
David Sterritt
David Sterritt
Christian Science Monitor

Politics as usual, until that devastating conclusion with the dead Marine's family.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
08/24/04
Phil Hall
Phil Hall
Film Threat

Some believe that the evil genius behind our unelected maximum leader is Dick Cheney. The filmmakers argue that it's 'co-president' Rove (installed, we learn, in Hillary Clinton's old office).

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
08/24/04
J. Hoberman
J. Hoberman
Village Voice
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A technically modest but persuasive documentary arguing that Bush's political Svengali is, to use terminology even the president can understand, an evildoer.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
08/23/04
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion
 
 
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