The Supreme Court has always fascinated me. I was the only person I've known who took days off of work to stay glued to the Thomas confirmation hearings; to watch the conservatives steam-roll through the nomination of, perhaps, the least qualified nominee of the 20th century.
This film pulled me in for the first 20 minutes, but then ruined itself by overdramatising what should already be a horrifying story. There was no need to show both Justice Thomas and Ms Hill exploding during the committee hearings, though I think that the director was trying to be sympathetic to their outrage. Both actors did a fine job, they were just poorly directed.
The "behind-the-scenes" actions of the aides were refreshing, and true to my knowledge of the workings of Washington. But over-all the film left me (someone who stayed home to see it all live) cold.
I'd recommend it to anyone who doesn't remember the hearings, with the understanding that their guard needs to be up for the strange direction. Not to mention the fact that Justice Thomas and Ms Hill, in reality, handled themselves very well (with far less display of emotion) during the committee hearings. We also lose sense of the actual hearings; the demeaning behavior of the Republicans, the silence of Sen Kennedy, the exemplary leadership of Sen Biden, the cutting wit of Sen Heflin, etc.
This film pulled me in for the first 20 minutes, but then ruined itself by overdramatising what should already be a horrifying story. There was no need to show both Justice Thomas and Ms Hill exploding during the committee hearings, though I think that the director was trying to be sympathetic to their outrage. Both actors did a fine job, they were just poorly directed.
The "behind-the-scenes" actions of the aides were refreshing, and true to my knowledge of the workings of Washington. But over-all the film left me (someone who stayed home to see it all live) cold.
I'd recommend it to anyone who doesn't remember the hearings, with the understanding that their guard needs to be up for the strange direction. Not to mention the fact that Justice Thomas and Ms Hill, in reality, handled themselves very well (with far less display of emotion) during the committee hearings. We also lose sense of the actual hearings; the demeaning behavior of the Republicans, the silence of Sen Kennedy, the exemplary leadership of Sen Biden, the cutting wit of Sen Heflin, etc.