Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home (2003) (TV)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

John Moffitt

Writer:

Bill Maher (writer)

Release Date:

19 July 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Bill Maher stars in his sixth HBO stand-up special, premiering LIVE from the Hudson Theater in New York!

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Bill Maher

...

Himself

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Hudson Theatre - 141 W. 44th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Moffitt-Lee Productions

Movie Connections:

Featured in Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008)

Watch for the political commentary, suggest ffwding thru gender commentary

I am torn. I LOVE the political commentary. I thought his mockup of "patriotic" posters was brilliant & inspired.

Unfortunately, he does fall into the same trap he accuses others of -- "lumping".

He lumps Muslims together. And granted this probably came out before we found out soldiers were torturing detainees or that some of them had nothing to do with anything related to Iraq-- but still -- his dismissal of the treatment in Guantanamo came off as altogether insensitive.

And when it comes to his views on gender... he lumps ALL women together! I HATE and completely disagree with him on nearly everything he says about women! He does nothing but perpetuate and reiterate tired old stereotypes. Women love shiny rocks and don't care if children in Africa are losing limbs? Really? Does he know any women or is he just too busy getting "pu$$y" as he always talks about - to actually talk to women? He believes that ALL men are incapable of fidelity? That ALL men would prefer "new" over commitment? (or that he doesn't think some women could feel/act that way too?) ALL women's fantasies are not ever sexual, only romantic? (and even if that were true- he doesn't seem to believe/understand the socialization component or that it could change). He dismisses some woman trying to explain to him about having been given nothing but romance novels & books would affect you-- and he refuses to entertain the notion of some middle ground... where men and women individually (not biologically) could how much of sexuality and fantasy they wanted (some, all, none, etc.)

His insistence on the seeing BIOLOGICAL differences in women's/men's behavior, thoughts and lifestyles is so tired and old I can't believe he can't see through the bullshit on this issue as he can on so many others (religion, government, etc.)

So, first half was fantastic, second half made me angry.