Anytown, USA (K Fraga, 2005)-CiNeMANiAC

All Politics Is Local

http://former.imdb.com/title/tt0457278/

All politics is local in this hilarious burlesque of a documentary following a tightly-run mayoral race in the small town of Bogota, New Jersey. When the much-reviled--and legally blind--Republican incumbent Steven Lonegan boldly announces he will run for re-election, the citizens of Bogota go on the offensive to unseat him. Enter Democrat Fred Pesce, coaxed from retirement to share the ticket. With his health in question, and his politics compared to those of Tony Soprano, the field is wide open for sight-challenged town booster and former local football hero Dave Musikant to step in as a long-shot write-in independent candidate--officially making it the only mayoral race in the nation where two of the three candidates are legally blind! Add to the mix the machinations of Jesse "The Body" Ventura's campaign manager, and Anytown USA resonates as an all-too-familiar look at the charade of partisan politics in our increasingly polarized nation.-- Jamie Hook, imdb

 ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: Even though the election takes place in the small town of Bogota, you will feel as if it were a presidential election. First, thereΓ??s Republican candidate Steven Lonegan, who runs for re-election. As the present mayor of Bogota, his budget cuts got rid of football, which angers many Bogotians. Then thereΓ??s Democrat Fred Pesce, who is quiet and back unlike the final candidate, Dave Musikant, the write-in. Director Kristian Fraga mostly focuses on MusikantΓ??s strategy because heΓ??s the most lively and charismatic of all the candidates. Also, by coincidence, he and Lonegan both happen to be legally blind. You really end up rooting for Musikant because, after all, heΓ??s the underdog. He lives in one of his family memberΓ??s basement and, essentially, heΓ??s unemployed. Eventually, the campaign turns war-like when his promotional signs disappear. Then, when he finds out that Pesce suffers from an illness, he makes it publicΓ??although PesceΓ??s wife doesnΓ??t like him doing that. Fortunately, Musikant has Jesse VenturaΓ??s political aide, Doug Friedline to support him. What makes Anytown, USA so exciting is that it simply makes politics into a fun game without hitting you over the head with Michael Moore-ish, preachy political theories. Nor does director Kristian Fraga make any of the candidates particularly unlikableΓ??even Lonegan shows some hope. Whether you live in Bogota or not, you will care about who wins or loses up until the very last minute.

SPIRITUAL VALUE: The game of politics can be unfair and even quite dirty at times. The most difficult struggle is for the grass-roots, write-in candidate Dave Musikant. He was once played football in high school and was pretty famous with the cafeteria ladies who cheer him during his campaign. HeΓ??s not rich, has very few friends, and no experience or education when it comes to politics. However, comes across as a sweet and kind gentleman whoΓ??s courageous enough to face Bogotians door-to-door even though heΓ??s legally blind. The ending is quite moving and even heartbreaking, but nonetheless satisfying.
--NYC Movie Guru

PLEASE SEED AND ENJOY!!!