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Description
In 1966, General Motors, the most powerful corporation in the world, sent private investigators to dig up dirt on an obscure thirty-two year old public interest lawyer named Ralph Nader, who had written a book critical of one of their cars, the Corvair. The scandal that ensued after the smear campaign was revealed launched Ralph Nader into national prominence and established him as one of the most admired Americans and the leader of the modern Consumer Movement. Over the next thirty years and without ever holding public office, Nader built a legislative record that is the rival of any contemporary president. Many things we take for granted including seat belts, airbags, product labeling, no nukes, even the free ticket you get after being bumped from an overbooked flight are largely due to the efforts of Ralph Nader and his citizen groups. Yet today, when most people hear the name "Ralph Nader," they think of the man who gave the country George W. Bush. As a result, after sustaining his popularity and effectiveness over an unprecedented amount of time, he has become a pariah even among former friends and allies. How did this happen? Is he really to blame for George W. Bush? Who has stuck by him and who has abandoned him? Has our democracy become a consumer fraud? After being so right for so many years, how did he seem to go so wrong? With the help of exciting graphics, rare archival footage and over forty on-camera interviews conducted over the past two years, "An Unreasonable Man" traces the life and career of Ralph Nader, one of the most unique, important, and controversial political figures of the past half century.
Amazon.com
As the title of his biography puts it, Ralph Nader: Crusader, Spoiler, Icon. Without him, automobiles would be less safe... and Al Gore would've been elected president. Well, one of those statements is not in dispute. Henriette Mantel and Steve Skrovan's illuminating documentary begins in the 1950s with Nader's career as a consumer advocate and ends with his more recent reputation as election spoiler. Along the way, they look at a provincial childhood steeped in politics (his parents were community activists). Throughout, they speak with a broad spectrum of interested observers, including Phil Donahue, Pat Buchanan, Howard Zinn--even Bill Murray. They also feature commentary from the man himself. George Bernard Shaw provides the provocative title. In context, it sums up the film's perspective: "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man." So, on the one hand, Nader has saved thousands of lives. On the other, his third party candidacy ruined the 2000 election for many voters. An Unreasonable Man may not convince anyone that the campaign was a wise move, but Skrovan and Mantel, a former Nader associate, make a convincing case that he's a Democrat in the truest sense, i.e. a man committed to the idea that one citizen can make a difference. This Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominee is necessary viewing for any person interested in American politics--which should be everyone. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 An Unfeasible Man, 2008-11-17
This film deserves every accolade it has received, none of which I can think of at the moment...in any case, it's probably the best documentary I've seen in the last 5 years, and man have I seen some documentaries. It is thought-provoking whenever it doesn't succeed at entertaining, and vice-versa.
This biopic does many things, deceptive and otherwise. Firstly, Nader is somehow made out to seem like a regular human, when, from other interviews, you can clearly tell he is a space alien sent as some sort of social experiment, possibly to see how long it takes us to notice. Second of all, it reveals the unalloyed vitriol that Nader is forced to withstand, from Democratic partisans and other less-than-stable elements of the populace. Note to Democrats: the people who helped ruin the election chose between a guy with no chance and your party, what does that tell you? Eric Alterman is particularly repugnant, frothing at the mouth with venomous personal enmity in between miniature paroxysms.
The movie also makes some excellent points about American democracy, sometimes discreetly, sometimes more overtly, such as when Nader is being escorted away by police, despite having a valid pass to watch the debate between Bush and Gore. Good thing they stopped that crime before it was ever committed! A slightly unnerving vignette, to say the least.
If anything you'll see that Nader is essentially a decent guy, even if he is from another dimension, and in spite of some outlandish and sometimes not particularly coherent political beliefs. While I don't quite agree he fits the description of G.B. Shaw's quote, I'm definitely convinced he's a worthy subject for a documentary.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Excited to see it, 2008-10-17
Iv not seen this film yet, but I have ordered it and am very excited to see the life of The man i voted for in 2008 the most important election in history, I just turned in my ballot last week and am proud to say I voted Nader and Im done with this two party corporate tyranny that we have. Even though he wont win its not about that, its about real hope and real change that hopefully will soon be coming, its about voting for who and what you really believe in instead of the lesser of the two evils, they just don't cut it anymore.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
No American Has Saved More Lives In The 20th Century..., 2008-10-14
than Ralph Nader. This statement is not just my opinion - it is backed up magnificently by "An Unreasonable Man." It is also backed up by this lone voice who only started to stand up, stand out (most painfully at times) for the sake of truth and justice that I owe to Ralph Nader's spark of hope in the heart of a female attorney at a time when one colleague in the law was jailed for contempt by a judge for violating the dress code when she wore a pants suit to court! More to the point of this small review, it would be fruitless for me to cross-reference the film itself especially when it is not only a substantive goldmine but also a nail-bitter, a thriller - truly. For example, as a retired attorney who has spent years fighting for the rights of sick and disabled kids - I learned something new from Ralph Nader in this film. I realized that The US Constitution is, literally - if not as a matter of law, the most profound instrument of an American's "identity" so to speak as a citizen-in-action. Now I've always kept the US Constitution close by in book form for easy reference. But as a result of watching one segment of this DVD that had me on the edge of my seat, I intend to carry it on my person as often as possible in an effort not to go anywhere without it! Thanks Ralph for reminding me that this precious instrument was intended to protect and defend one group - We The People - and no one has kept that spirit of truth alive especially in these times more than you...!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
A Must-See for Lovers of Politics and History, 2008-10-02
I hope many people will watch this, even if they were not and are not inclined to vote for Nader. He has one of the most interesting careers of any activist/lawyer in this country's history.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Amendment I, 2008-09-07
Gives new status to the term "pioneer." Also, "citizen."
It seems that Mr. Nader has made some of the people think, all of the time, and all of the people think, some of the time. Pass it on.
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