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Reviews
Maria Full of Grace (2004)
Interesting entertainment, but happy ending?
It is easy to see this film and Maria the way the filmmakers want you to, but if one steps back and thinks about it this way, it's not such a happy ending for American society: Maria dislikes hard work, so turns to easy cash as a drug mule. After smuggling illegal drugs into the USA, she remains in the USA as an illegal immigrant, to have her anchor baby here. She is shown paying cash from a 'straight' (non-drug) job she has illegally obtained here for medical appointments, but only a fool would think she will have enough to pay for the birthing, even if all goes well, or that both she and her new fatherless baby will not quickly become a burden to American taxpayers.
When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006)
Lots of good stuff, but politically and socially biased
Spike Lee presents lots of great footage and interesting interviews, but the critique that is presents overwhelmingly the black experience of Katrina, with little interest in white takes on New Orleans and little interest in non-New Orleans Katrina. The interviews are from one side of the political spectrum only, predictably casting blame primarily on Bush, generally down-playing the looting and the responsibility those in need of help had for not attempting to evacuate, and not noting that New Orleans had the same federal government and response as did Mississipi, Florida, Alabama, etc., areas that dealt with the hurricane much more ably than did New Orleans. Mayor Nagin is criticized, but also supported by others and allowed to defend himself. Bush is just attacked. No one is interviewed who doesn't think it was his fault, and neither Bush nor his representatives are interviewed, either. Spike omits the buses Nagin left unused to flood, the delay in requesting federal aid by Blanco, etc. (more balanced looks at Katrina in books have pointed the finger of blame first at Nagin and Blanco, who after all are on the ground in New Orleans for years, and should be most familiar with their city, its needs, and emergency preparedness - the federal government is a last resort in a large-scale tragedy situation). So we get what might at first glance appear to be a balanced look, until you step back and think about these things, and note that the primary 'expert' commentators, such as Eric Dyson and Harry Belafonte, are all rabidly anti-Bush. Not fair, not balanced, Spike.