The key players in the radical movement known as the Weather Underground are skillfully brought to life in this Oscar-nominated documentary. The Weathermen were born of sixties protest, but took their scheme to overthrow the U.S. government to especially violent extremes. Never a well-populated movement, the Underground petered out as its leaders aged during the seventies; by decade's end, weary of hiding, most of them had turned themselves over to the authorities. That journey, by which a fire-breathing revolutionary such as Bernadine Dohrn became a (still fiery) gray-haired wife and mother, is an intriguing one. This film, rich in period footage (and some unnecessary sensationalism) captures the era somewhat broadly. But the present-day interviews with the participants, contrasted with their radical selves, provides an exceptionally detailed look inside the organization itself. It's not a nostalgic look back, and the overall mood is sobering rather than celebratory. Lili Taylor provides the narration. --Robert Horton
(24 votes)
2.
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary feature, The Weather Underground explores the unbelievable story of The Weathermen, the notorious group of '70s radicals who, outraged by the Vietnam War and racism in America, went underground to wage a low-level war against the U.S. government. From bombing the U.S. Capitol to breaking acid-guru Timothy Leary out of prison, former members look back and speak candidly about the idealistic passion that drove their missions, and the trajectory that ultimately placed them on the FBI's most wanted list.
(21 votes)
3.
IN THEATRES: MAY 4, 2003 (NY)
This intensely captivating documentary from directors Bill Siegel and Sam Green focuses on the radical political activist group the Weathermen, who organized in the 1960s to protest the Vietnam War. With roots in a group called Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), the Weathermen represented a small faction of political-minded protesters who believed that in order to avoid being marginalized and ignored by the U.S. government, they would need to take violent action. Speaking out with clear goals to intentionally inflict violence, their slogan was "Bring the War Home," indicating that they would mimic on the U.S.'s home turf the violence that U.S. troops were ordered to carry out in Vietnam. They organized bombings--sometimes botching their plans horribly and causing unintended casualties--that put them on the Most Wanted list of the FBI. In turn, they split up and went underground, trying to avoid persecution while continuing to plan violent protests. While THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND takes a fascinating look at this group, its wildly daring tactics and philosophies, and its dedication to making a change; it also comments on the group's failures and its irresponsible methods. Some of the most revelatory moments of the film come from other political activist groups, such as the Black Panthers, reflecting back on the actions of the Weathermen, and, in hindsight, looking at the group's practices with new perspective.
(22 votes)
Mooviees.com is not the official site for this film.
All editorial views and opinions expressed here are for entertainment purposes only.
<>
Movie Database
In Theaters
