proud_luddite A documentary covers the private and political life of Anthony Weiner during his campaign to run as mayor for New York City in 2013.The beginning of the film informs of Weiner's promising career as a congressman during which he fought passionately for underdogs and other good causes. But in 2011, he was disgraced and had to resign as he had been caught exposing explicit photos of himself on the Internet.This documentary is almost like a fictional film in that there is a riveting start with snappy editing, an encouraging mood, and then a plot twist that throws everything right off.In the second half right until the end, the movie leaves many questions: why stay in a long campaign and face more humiliation for yourself and your wife (Huma Abadin who has also been a top aide to Hillary Clinton)?; why did you not get help for your compulsions and sick behavior?; why did you bother to have even more exposure and degradation by doing this documentary (this question is actually asked though in different words)?The viewer might even feel guilty at witnessing some conversations and silent exchanges between spouses that should truly have been kept private. Perhaps, there is even a greater neurosis about receiving attention of any kind that would allow this privacy to be so exposed.In any case, this film is fascinating in exposing a very odd element of the human condition. Even more odd is after watching it, it's still possible to like Anthony - not just for his good causes but also when he gets fired up in arguments with a pompous political commentator on TV and a voter in a bakery shop. He's got fire.

McFred This documentary was awesome. Now I even hate mainstream media more then I did before. For that I thank you.What I find weird about it is that its actually media that is the perverted one, not Weiner. They just cant stop talking about his dick. To make such a big deal out of a picture is beyond me. Why would that even interest people? And why didn't Weiner take a step back to get some perspective on things. After that leak from a girl who clearly only wants attention, he should have been like "Its a dickpic guys, get over it. Now to the real problems at hand". He gave in to it.Id vote for Weiner any day of the week. What a strong person he is.

Red_Identity For those who are familiar with the political campaign and the main subject of the film, nothing that is a huge revelation is discovered. What the documentary definitely does a great job of is simply letting us having a first-person access to the behind-the-scenes footage and events that went on in this trainwreck of a political campaign and arc. Weiner is a very interesting political figure as well as a very entertaining person, and so the documentary doesn't have to do a whole lot to become a fascinating watch about politics and the media. I definitely recommend this to any documentary lover and to anyone really interested in the effects of the media.

Antonius Block Much is already known of Anthony Weiner's sexting scandals, so you might think (a) you already know this story, and (b) you've heard more than enough about this guy (and other recent political candidates' infidelities). To that I would say, you will be blown away by the level of access Weiner provided to filmmakers Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg, and this is a very unique, frankly extraordinary documentary. You'll see Weiner trying to rebuild his career by running for mayor, what I have to believe was the original impetus for the film, with obviously the hope for a different outcome. You'll see him behind the scenes with aides and his wife, real-time, as subsequent revelations are made, and the ensuing incredibly difficult conversations. You'll see him fighting with the media and then reacting privately afterwards. You'll see him trying to figure out strategy and messaging in an unguarded way. You'll see him confront hecklers in New York, sometimes well, and sometimes not so well. You'll see the 22-year-old woman he had sexted (who he never met in person) come forward to stalk him on election night, chasing him on the way to make his concession speech, as his aides scurry him through a back route in a nearby McDonald's. It's all jaw-dropping.You do see the side of Weiner that got him elected 7 times to Congress – his fiery oration, his passion for the issues, his connection to the people in the streets of New York – things that actually made me think more highly of the man. You also see his incredibly poor judgment, his humiliation of his wife Huma Abedin, and his lack of real understanding of what he'd done to her – while he says publicly and privately he's sorry for what he put her through, he gets testy when she won't meet the press and "act like a normal candidate's wife", or participate in a commercial, snarkily commenting "leave … after I do so people don't think we're married or anything", or words to that effect. Meanwhile, her facial reactions tell it all as the documentary progresses, and, ultimately, after the documentary ended, we know his behavior continued. As with all great documentaries, this one is honest, impartial, and well-edited to keep the story moving along. What sets it apart is the incredible inside look it gives into the crash and burn of a politician.