Weiner (film)
| Weiner | |
|---|---|
.png) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by |
|
| Produced by |
|
| Cinematography | Josh Kriegman |
| Edited by | Eli B. Despres |
Production company |
Motto Pictures |
| Distributed by | Sundance Selects |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 96 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1,702,489[2] |
Weiner is a 2016 American fly on the wall documentary film by Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg about Anthony Weiner’s campaign for Mayor of New York City during the 2013 mayoral election.
Synopsis
The film follows Anthony Weiner and his wife Huma Abedin, beginning with his time in Congress and his 2011 resignation after photos of his bulging underwear appeared on Twitter. The bulk of the film is about his 2013 campaign in the Democratic Party primary for Mayor of New York City. At first his campaign is going well, with many New Yorkers willing to give him a second chance as reflected in polls putting him at or near the top of a crowded field. Then additional examples of his online sexual activity surface, including explicit text conversations with women that occurred well after his resignation from Congress. The mood of the campaign switches from exuberance to pain. Intimate views are captured of Weiner, his wife and his campaign staff struggling with the new revelations and the media firestorm that ensues. In only a couple of instances is the camera asked to leave the room.[3][4]
People
People documented in the film include:
- Anthony Weiner
- Huma Abedin, his wife and a close aide to Hillary Clinton
- Sydney Leathers, one of Weiner’s online sex partners, who attempts to confront him on election night
Though Weiner and Abedin were the film's main figures, many other prominent figures in the campaign were featured. The documentary also uses video clips from coverage of the campaign, including archival footage of Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Lawrence O'Donnell and Howard Stern.
Release
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2016.
Critical reception
The film received near universal acclaim by critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 96% "fresh" rating.[5]
Accolades
Permission controversy
After the film was released, Weiner claimed that "Kriegman had assured him verbally and in emails that he would not use Abedin in the film without her consent", and that Abedin never granted permission for Kriegman to use the footage. When asked if he will sue the filmmakers, Weiner didn't give a definitive answer.[8]
References
- ↑ "Weiner (15)". British Board of Film Classification. June 8, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ↑ "Weiner Boxoffice data". The-Numbers. September 3, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
- ↑ Sundance Review: 'Weiner' is the Best Documentary About a Political Campaign Ever Made, Eric Kohn, Indie Wire, January 2016
- ↑ Weiner review: an unsparing portrait of politics, Lanre Bakare, The Guardian, January 24, 2016
- ↑ "Weiner Review; Rotten Tomatoes".
- ↑ Bakare, Lanre (30 January 2016). "Sundance film festival: The Birth of a Nation and Weiner win top awards". theguardian.com. theguardian.com. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
Weiner won the grand jury prize for best documentary at the festival in Park City, Utah.
- ↑ Sage, Alyssa (25 April 2016). "'Weiner' to Open Rooftop Films' 2016 Summer Series". variety.com. Variety. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
New York’s Rooftop Films has set the initial lineup for its 20th annual summer series, soft-opening May 18 with a screening of “Weiner,” the winner of the Sundance Film Festival’s 2016 U.S. documentary grand jury prize.
- ↑ "Anthony Weiner Says His Wife Never Agreed to That Documentary". The New York Times. August 18, 2016.
External links
- Weiner at the Internet Movie Database
- Weiner at Box Office Mojo
- Weiner at Rotten Tomatoes