#28 We just watched this on Netflix streaming.

You should too!: The Rise and Fall of Elliot Spitzer

The Film: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer

What a great little movie. It is a less important than Inside Job and comparable documentaries, but this might be the most candid political documentary I’ve seen in a long time. Eliot Spitzer stares at the camera and speaks honestly about how he went from being the hottest democratic politician in the country, to a disgraced husband, father, and governor.

The movie is long, coming in around two hours, but manages to be quite entertaining despite revolving around a short career and a transgression that is widely known about. I’ve had my criticisms of Alex Gibney’s style in the past, but this time he seems to have toned down his cheesier documentary elements and gone with just straight content. There are some clips and music that I think are a little over-the-top, but hey, it was better than his crap in Freakanomics or his Enron movie.

Why to watch it: It isn’t just about politics. Spitzer’s analogy as a tragic Greek figure is accurate.

Spitzer is well-spoken, honest, and patient when he speaks. The movie backs itself into a corner by attempting to compare Spitzer’s transgressions with that of other politicians’ transgressions . There is, of course, a huge difference between these acts. Spitzer did not shy away from considering himself the human and political embodiment of justice. Even going as far as executing criminal indictments against similar prostitution rings that he was patronizing.

What makes it so powerful is it is an example of the power of human beings to do the wrong thing, even when they know in their hearts it is wrong. Spitzer compares himself to a tragic Greek figure at the start of the film. A bit grandiose, but it is so true.

Pay attention to this: Spitzer himself

Without Spitzer’s central role in this film, it wouldn’t have been a fraction as effective. But Spitzer is so honest with himself and speaks to the audience with such grace, that he ends up being sympathetic. He says himself that he has no excuse for his behavior. It was wrong and he failed as a father, husband, and, especially, as a symbol of justice. He could just as easily kept on being governor – it is likely he could have held onto his position. However, he knew that it would bring more pain to his family and that his ability to govern properly would not be possible.

Moreover, the movie builds a fairly convincing portrait of Spitzer’s enemies being partially responsible for his transgressions being revealed to the general public. Sure, solid evidence towards these theories aren’t really there, but the whole thing seems pretty fishy. That Client 9 was revealed to the press as Spitzer and how this information was discovered is truly bizarre.

Spitzer even admits that is hard to imagine how he convinced himself he wouldn’t be caught and that he can’t explain how this was possible. This explanation is 100% genuine.  Infidelity and transgressions are, indeed, natural. For almost anyone but Spitzer, these are forgivable mistakes. Many of the greatest men and women in history broke the law or slept around. However, Spitzer’s position as the symbol of passionate justice will be almost impossible to rebuild.

-Collin.