LeonLouisRicci A Fine Emmy Winning Portrayal by Gary Sinise as Gov. George Wallace the Opportunist Southern Politician that let His Ambitions Corrupt His Principles and later "Saw the Light".A Good Supporting Cast helps the proceedings and Solid Directing from Frankenheimer, who doesn't let Style intrude on the Story and tells it Matter of "Fact". Relying on Stock Footage to set the Mood and Tone, the Story of Wallace and His Influence on Politics and Society is Interesting.It might Lack the Impact that His Racists Proclamations had on Blacks and Hateful Whites, He never did get the Implications of His Influence until it was Too Late and much Damage had been done. Wallace is shown On Screen Contemplating these things now and then. But He never seems to realize what He had Wrought and only in the End does He come to grips with the Guilt and Truth.Overall, it's a Long TV-Movie, originally shown over Two Nights and does seem a bit Shallow in Stretches and has Difficulties Maintaining a Profound and Consistent Message. But Overall, the some of the parts and the Acting make it a Good Study of the Man and His Time in and out of Power.

MartinHafer "George Wallace" is a made for TV documentary about the famous and very controversial governor of Alabama. Gary Sinese plays the title role and won an Emmy for his performance. The film runs about three hours and is a very long film. Very, very long. While there was more than enough material on the man to make a very long film like this possible, I question the need. Now this isn't to say it's a bad film. It's just that it seems to go on too long and loses some of its momentum through the course of the film. Yet, despite this, the film still is exceptional and is a quality production throughout--and I strongly recommend it. Another reason I recommend it is that while George Wallace is a rather famous historical figure, the WHOLE picture is not known by most people. How the repellent man changed through the course of the film is THE reason to see the film, as it's a rare chance to see a true story about redemption and change.By the way, look closely during the scene in Boston about midway through the film. One of the hard-hatted protesters is Ron Jeremy!

dtucker86 The late John Frankenheimer was one of our truly great directors. He cut his teeth in the early days of television, directing over 100 tv shows and then he went on the direct Birdman Of Alcatraz, Seven Days In May, The Train and his masterpiece The Manchurian Candidate. He had a long dry spell after that where Hollywood more or less forgot about him, but in the early 90s he was able to make an amazing comeback with a series of tv films like Against The Wall, The Burning Season, Andersonville and this film. This is a man who directed actors like Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan and Edmond O'Brien, and yet he said Gary Sinise was one of the finest actors he ever worked with. Sinise is probably best remembered for his role as Lieutenant Dan in the Forrest Gump movie (one of the most depressing films that I ever saw I HATED IT!!!). He did a wonderful job as Harry Truman and he equally rises to the occasion as George Wallace. George Wallace was one of the truly controversial figures of our time. In 1958, he ran for Alabma's governor as someone who favored cival rights and lost. According to friends he vowed that he would never be "out niggered" again (excuse my language I'm just quoting what he said) and he won. He voweed in his inagural address "segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever!" If ever a man symbolized the horrors of racism in the 1960's it was certainly George Wallace. Sinise brilliantly portrays Wallace's ruthless ambition and drive for power, but then there is the 1972 assassination attempt that left him paralyzed. There is a sad scene in the film where a doctor tells him that he will be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, that he will be impotent and not even able to control bladder or bowel and that he will never have another day without pain. It's maybe because of this that Wallace sought not power but forgiveness in the last years of his life. He apologized to those he had hurt like the Freedom Riders. Sinise is wonderful in his role as is Angelina Jolie as his wife Cornelia. Forget her tatooes and her eccentricities, she is a fine actress who always delivers. Joe Don Baker also gives as Jim Folsom, Wallace's protege. Actually, it was only thru luck that Wallace became governor in 1962. Jim Folsom was a very popular Alabama politican who had been elected Governor twice before (1947-51,1955,59). In 1962, he ran against Wallace and had a good chance at a third term until he appeared drunk on a tv show on the eve of the election. Folsom forgot the names of his children and gave an extended imitation of a cuckoo clock. The performance cost him the election and ended his career as an important politician in Alabama.

Lupercali As an Australian I was unfamiliar with many of the fine historical details depicted in the movie, so it was in part a history lesson for me. It also means I have little at stake politically, so my review ought to be fairly unbiased in that respect.George Wallace isn't an extraordinary film (especially considering it's from John (Manchurian Candidate) Frankenheimer), but it's thoroughly enjoyable, even if a little overlong for a single sitting. There are none of the elaborate directorial flourishes which you would get if this was an Oliver Stone job. Frankly, I was relieved.I said the movie, as a whole, wasn't extraordinary. But Gary Sinise is quite simply superb. Irrespective of anything else, Wallace is worth watching just for his remarkable performance.6.5/10 overall 10/10 for Sinise