Spike Lee - When the Levees Broke - reviews?

I'm very interested in this one too, bethie. Unfortunately I don't have HBO, so I'll have to wait for the DVD.

I'm interested, have read and maybe saved a review, which if I have the link, I'll give. I won't see it myself, tvless person that I am.

I have my own sadness aforethought in that I don't think much of N.O. should have been built there in the first place, and I don't trust any billions spent on new shoring up. I think the city should rebuild, but in a new location, restoring the delta as best we can.

At the time of Katrina, I followed all this closely and saved scads of articles, scads of planners/engineers'/many others articles.. and just gave up, as all the emotional interest was in rebuilding there. Which I get. I surely might think so too.

There are some controversial segments, I gather, re some deliberate levee breaking, and I read about Lee's saying that that had been done before, and true or not this time, the concerns needed voicing - that's paraphrasing by me.

I've read at length about the dismal situation on the bridge, and at some point read an understandable defense of the standoff, though I don't agree with it. Don't think that got tucked into the movie - but then I haven't seen it.

But... I can only assume the photographs and interviews really add up to desolation row, themselves an many layered indictment.

I heard it was going to be on PBS. Is it PBS or HBO?

The reviews have been great. I heard a discussion of it on NPR and all the people who saw it said it is a brilliant portrait of an American tragedy. I think it's going to be Spike Lee's masterpeice.

I think they should change the name of New Orleans to Bushville.

Slate: Flood Story



Wonder if it;ll make it here..

I haven't seen it listed on anything I have access to.

It's an HBO documentary.

http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/whentheleveesbroke/index.html

I don't get HBO. Very interested in seeing it -- hope it will be available on DVD before too long.

It was shown on HBO. I taped it and watched it over a period of two nights, as it is 4 hours long! I found it riveting, and truly horrible. If you can see it, don't miss it.

I would dearly love to see it.

NWIslander, was there anything in particular that you found riveting about this?

I watched it - all 4 hours. Certain interviews really stand out.

The one with Soledad Obrien of CNN asking "Brownie" how her 21 year old assistant could have better intel than the head of FEMA, is priceless. Her assistant knew about the people dying of thirst on the roof of the Superdome before Brown did.

It is impossible for me to think about the federal reaction to this disaster without feeling rage.

Me too, Snood.

Ehbeth, sorry it took so long to get back to answer your question.

I guess what I found riveting was the inexorable onslaught of the storm. At least the first half hour was devoted to the gathering of storm clouds and the gradual realization that this was "a big one." Seeing it with the knowledge of hindsight made it particularly eerie.

The devastation was horrible, and as usual the people were fascinating. Some of them had terrific personalities as Spike Lee followed them through the months following the storm, registering their frustration, anger, and at times humor at getting their homes rebuilt or any help at all. Even the shelter provided was minimal. It sounded like a third world country. And of course, Bush couldn't care less.

In a way, it was like being rivetied to a horrible traffic accident, but it was much more. Even the fact that the movie was long and slow-moving made you feel that you were truly watching reality, not a fast paced TV drama.