Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
Peter Robinson ·
August 29, 2012 at 9:37pm
I have yet to see the movie yet myself, and I'm getting conflicting reports. Some say the movie is a piece of hackery, unfounded, unfair, and badly-produced--including a couple of people whose views I respect. Others call the movie important. "Every seat in the theater was filled," Thomas Sowell writes of seeing the movie. "I had to sit on a staircase in the balcony, but it was worth it."
If you've seen "2016: Obama's America," would you let the rest of us know what you thought? Is it fair? Does it add to our knowledge of Obama? Would you recommend it to the rest of us?
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Comments:
Jul '11
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
Very well done documentary. You need to go.
Apr '11
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
Being part of the choir, I felt the movie was ok. However, it did do a pretty decent job framing Obama's philosophy around anti-colonialism.
A good 7 out of 10.
May '12
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
I enjoyed the movie, but as a person who listens to every podcast here, and Hugh Hewitt every day, I did not learn a whole lot.
I knew about everything except that Dinesh and Obama were born the same year.
The movie is very well made except for when Dinesh is talking to people on the phone. The audio there should have had subtitles.
So I was disappointed that there was not a bigger "ah ha" moment, but I was glad to put my dollars behind this project.
We need more conservative documentaries to fight the liberal ones.
Aug '11
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
I thought it was well done, especially the way the film initially highlighted the similarities in background between the narrator and Obama. This helped defuse potential accusations of racism and xenophobia and made the film seem less threatening, thereby focusing the audience's attention on the factors that have shaped Obama's ideals and world view.
Although a few areas seemed a bit over the top, overall it was persuasively argued. I personally know at least one former Obama voter who was strongly affected by it (although in the interest of full disclosure, I must admit he was already in the process of changing his mind before seeing the film.)
Aug '10
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
I had trouble staying awake on a Sunday afternoon, but then most of today's fare puts me to sleep. There are very good production values and Dinesh is a very good guide. The angle is a postcolonial settling of scores.
There was no new information for me, but then I have admittedly read too much about this guy. They could have been a little harder on people like Frank Marshall Davis ( aka Bob Green).
But you need to go, here's why. 1-This is a well crafted political tool, ala Michael Moore's Farenheit 911, though predictably nowhere as childish or shrill. 2-The people in the theater are the classic silent majority and they need to be observed so they can be accessed . That or go to Chick Fil A. 3- You need to be able to convince someone who needs to see this and be converted to our side, without seeing it that wouldn't be possible.
As you probably know Dinesh, you know he is the world's least threatening man. He uses his research and heritage as a rapier though and it's impressive.
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
This is encouraging, Versed. But what areas, if I may ask, seemed over the top?
Sep '11
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
As mentioned above, if you are a political junkie, you may already know most of these facts. Friends I have talked to, who don't keep up with politics, were astounded to learn more about Obama. Several even said it was scary. Lots of new info to them that they don't read about in the media.
Dec '10
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
I thought it was produced with excellence and the theatre was pached. You don't have to buy all of the theories to enjoy it.
I liked the background information on the President and his family. I felt like I could tell the difference between theory and pure documentary while watching the film.
May '10
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
I thought it was well done, although it didn't have a big finish. I was looking for more of a payoff.
Actually, near the end Dinesh talked about Obama's "founding fathers" including Rev. Wright, Frank Marshall Davis, Bill Ayers, etc. I wish he had used them as the focus of the film instead of structuring it the way he did.
Jul '12
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
Haven't seen it yet, but have read both of Dinesh's books about Obama, and they're both must reads. He's a tremendous writer. As far as the movie goes, I'm inclined to go with the Great Thomas Sowell's review over all others, until such time that I can render my own judgement. "Hackery" and Dinesh D'Souza don't fit, for me.
Apr '11
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
Peter, you've already exhaustively contemplated every issue the movie addresses. The interview with his half brother and the belief that it was his half brother's failure to worship at the ideological feet of Barack Obama Sr. caused the President to disassociate him was over the top. With all the problems the President has with captialism, American exceptionalism, etc., why try to dogpile on his relationship with his half brother. He just doesn't care much for his extended family. (Or anyone else who can't help him get ahead.)
Jul '12
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
I saw it and thought it was fair.
I learned about a few connections I wasn't aware of:
And learned a lot more about figures I hadn't researched:
I watched the film especially to determine its usefulness as an informational tool.
I have a pessimistic view of the ability of facts to persuade, so I don't think it would persuade a die-hard.
It might be useful for an undecided, but it's hard to guess whether they might be turned off by the reality that Dinesh D'Souza is making a case against The President.
The film felt only a little emotionally manipulative, with the majority of the conclusions following the facts closely.
Do I think conservatives should support the film? Yes.
Do I think it will changes minds? Some, but I'm not optimistic.
If anything, it should motivate the base.
It reinforced my view that we need a new President.
Jul '11
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
Mr. Robinson, your post can be seen as questioning Dr. Sowell’s review and good judgment. For this transgression please feel free to stand in the corner for the duration of the comments.
Jul '11
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
We enjoyed it; at least as much as our 1-year old let us. Our theater was packed, and the audience solidarity was fun. Very little information was new if you've paid attention, but I think that this film can be a very effective tool in opening fence-sitters eyes about Obama. As another commenter said, Dinesh is very non-threatening, and the fact that he shares a similar background to Obama lends credibility to his message.
One part that did hit me was in the middle of the movie when it plays the audio of one of Obama's speeches touting fundamental change. It was downright spooky in light of his anti-colonial philosophical underpinnings. A well-crafted moment. There were other similar moments throughout the film, but that one was particularly effective.
-E
Aug '12
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
Would have to agree with most comments. Not too much new information if you have been paying attention, although the idea of anti-colonialism was a new twist to me. The conservative audience definitely made the experience that much more entertaining.
I am doubtful that many swing voters that voted for Obama in 2008 would see this movie, although I think they really should be the ones to go watch it.
May '11
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
I dissent.
I thought it was a poor film.
First, the whole thesis going back to the D'Sousa book was defective.
Second, the 2016 aspect (what Obama would do in a second term) seemed tacked on to add hype and really was skimpy (limited to some graphics about nuclear disarmament).
D'Sousa's flawed thesis was that Obama's world view was framed by his father's anti-colonial views.
I have never believed the theory that Obama owed any of his ideology to his absentee father. D'Sousa grudgingly acknowledges this with evidence that the real influence on Obama was his very communist white grandparents and mom supplemented by characters such as Frank Davis and Bill Ayers. Mom was pre-equipped with a third world obsession as evidenced by her choice of husbands and denunciation of husband 2's going to work in the corporate world. D'Sousa admits that much of Obama's views on dad was mom's propaganda. This should have been expanded to become the entire movie. Instead we see nothing on his mom's background (and her parents'). That would not have provided D'Sousa the opportunity to go to Kenya.
Edited on August 29, 2012 at 11:10pmApr '11
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
Wasn't there a whole thread on this movie already?
May '10
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
Going tonight with husband and boys.
Aug '11
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
Peter Robinson
This is encouraging, Versed. But what areas, if I may ask, seemed over the top? · 59 minutes ago
The projections of what to expect from a second term seemed discordant with the tone of the rest of the film and somewhat over the top.
For example, the graphic with the barbed wire boundary around the United States of Islam (or something to that effect) with the somber music and the preceding ominous storm clouds filling the screen felt heavy handed to me, and broke away from the more factually oriented approach of the rest of the film.
Mar '11
Re: Has Anybody Here Seen "2016: Obama's America"?
Von Snrub: However, it did do a pretty decent job framing Obama's philosophy around anti-colonialism.
A good 7 out of 10. · 1 hour ago
I agree. It believably portrayed his world view as having been developed from his time with Frank Davis and others, as well as the image he had of his father. Mitt Romney's comment that Obama's philosophy is foreign to the American experience hits pretty close to the theme of the movie.
I think etlaw's comments above about his mother's propagandizing about Obama Senior were pretty accurate, and I too would have liked to see more discussion of her and her parents, but I think Obama was profoundly influenced by the image his mother painted. D'Souza pointed out early in the film that it's important to note that his book was titled "Dreams From My Father", not "Dreams Of My Father".
It's an important film, and it's definitely worth seeing. Also, when George Obama told D'Souza that he was an adult and could take care of himself, one thing became obvious: we elected the wrong Obama.