The Good Lieutenant (Going Upriver review)

[Octafish]

John F. Kerry is a War Hero.
John F. Kerry is a Peace Hero.
A good review on a movie about the guy...



The good lieutenant

Americans on the left bank of our divided society have enjoyed a visual feast in political film this election year; highlights include Uncovered: The War in Iraq, The Control Room, Silver City, Bush’s Brain and Michael Moore’s potentially vote-grabbing Farenheit 9/11. Now add to the list Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry, a documentary that follows the Democratic presidential hopeful from his days at Yale to his heroic four months in the Vietnam War — in which he was wounded three times and for which he received three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star — to his equally noble protest of the war when he came back to America. Relying mostly on actual footage and interviews with friends and war comrades, it’s a must-see for anyone with questions about the character or service of John Kerry; no matter what your views, it’s hard to argue with the actions, words and disposition of Kerry during a time of chaos and fear.

Though the film appears to be a direct response to the attacks on Kerry’s war record made in John O’Neill’s best seller, Unfit for Command, the moviemaker, George T. Butler, has been quoted as saying his film was in the works before the book came out. Among Butler’s documentation is an audiotape of a conversation involving President Nixon revealing that O’Neill, leader of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, was recruited by the Nixon administration to discredit Kerry. Thirty years later, O’Neill is still at it.

Released nationally the day after the first presidential debate, Going Upriver is clearly meant to bolster public opinion for the man Republicans have painted as a “waffler” who changes his mind as the political wind blows; if nothing else the movie illustrates a man who risked everything — twice — to fight for his beliefs.

Going Upriver paints an exuberant Yale student who didn’t have a lot of money. (Kerry worked at a bottling plant and a friend is quoted saying the senator “still owes me money.”) The diplomat’s son jumped from one student leadership activity to the next before volunteering to go to Vietnam. There, he volunteered to command a swift boat on the Mekong Delta.

Coming home after one too many injuries, he became an unlikely leader and spokesman for thousands of vets demanding an end to the war. Kerry was clean-cut and well-spoken, unlike his more raggedy comrades; but like them, he threw his ribbons over a fence in protest.

CONTINUED...

http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/review.asp?id=91688

[SammyWinstonJack]

1. Thank you for the link

:-) John Kerry is one amazing man! And this is the movie that Americans should be shown!

[Octafish]

3. You're welcome, texasblueeyes! IF the media did their work...

...Americans would know what kind of character the guy has. He volunteers to do the hard job - the REAL hard work. John Kerry has always done the right thing.

In combat, he headed INTO the fire and busted up ambushes. In doing his duty as he saw it, Kerry accomplished his missions and protected the lives of all those serving under him.

When he came home, Kerry realized that the nation's political leaders weren't interested in protecting lives of the men and women in the armed forces as much as maintaining political power. He called them out for it and is hated by many of the very same criminals today.

Being a hero is hard work. What it takes is someone who is willing to put his or her own life on the line for the good of the country, mission and colleagues. John Kerry has what it takes.

[goclark]

2. Run right now to see this movie

It is really that good.

I saw it twice and loved it even more the second time.

[Octafish]

4. Hey, goclark! Thanks for the heads-up! Wish the Freeper crowd...

... would put down their gunrags long enough to see what a real man is about. Instead, they spend their time online flooding the web with bogus sites, acting at the behest of billionaire bedwetting bastards like Scaife who so love their tax cuts they'll do anything - especially letting others go to war in Vietnam or Iraq, just as long as they can make more and more and more money. Gee. The reason for their hatred is so obvious -- jealousy of a good man.

[goclark]

5. Hey back Octafish!

You said it all in your post!

John Kerry was a fine man , IMO, before I saw "going Up River."

Now, I believe he will be one of the greatest Presidents America has ever known!

The picture goes right into the soul of John Kerry.