On one hand, I can appreciate that they played it as neutral as they could and I think both sides would believe they were fairly represented. On the other hand, that kind of guaranteed that it wasn't going to have the punch that the audience wanted. The first half goes by really quick and the sides are established very early; back half slows way down and becomes a tedious court case. But they really let this man dig his own grave for 80 straight minutes, but I guarantee he'd watch this and think they made him the hero. As a documentary, I think is accomplishes what it set out to do and got its message across strongly without having to hamfist anything (although I don't think they needed SPLC's involvement). Personally, I wish they'd gone farther at the expense of appearing balanced and showed us more of the town fighting back. This doc is clearly a warning and although the message is clear and they definitely made Cobb and his crew look like shit, I don't think the doc gives the town enough spotlight, especially the one (and apparently only) black guy in the town.
On one hand, I can appreciate that they played it as neutral as they could and I think both sides would believe they were fairly represented. On the other hand, that kind of guaranteed that it wasn't going to have the punch that the audience wanted. The first half goes by really quick and the sides are established very early; back half slows way down and becomes a tedious court case. But they really let this man dig his own grave for 80 straight minutes, but I guarantee he'd watch this and think they made him the hero. As a documentary, I think is accomplishes what it set out to do and got its message across strongly without having to hamfist anything (although I don't think they needed SPLC's involvement). Personally, I wish they'd gone farther at the expense of appearing balanced and showed us more of the town fighting back. This doc is clearly a warning and although the message is clear and they definitely made Cobb and his crew look like shit, I don't think the doc gives the town enough spotlight, especially the one (and apparently only) black guy in the town.
