Weiner (2016) MIFF Movie Review: Weiner, pls
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ4FIGnJknk&w=560&h=315]
Oh Weiner, Weiner, Weiner. What are we going to do with you?
Anthony Weiner is an American politician and seven term congressman for the state of New York. He also had a rather fast and hard fall from grace when it was discovered that he was sexting numerous women (no precise number is disclosed throughout the film, although we’re lead to believe it was around six) while married to the intelligent and gorgeous Huma Abedin (a long time personal aide to Hillary Clinton). A photo of a bulging weiner (referred to as the “dick pic”) was posted from Weiner’s Twitter account (how?!) and the rest is history.
We follow Weiner around a few years later, when he decides to run for the 2013 Democratic mayoral primary of New York City. His campaign is a long and hard slog. It doesn’t matter how many wonderful things you may do in your life, you do one shitty thing and it’s what people remember you for, right? Okay, to be fair, in Weiner’s words he said he did “very regrettable things over an extended period of time with more than one person”. But it’s hard to distinguish the line as to whether this should impact his professional affairs or not?
“I did the things, but I did a lot of other things too,’ says Weiner. And he’s right!
Lots of Weiner is uncomfortable. Some is sad, particularly when reflecting on the impact of everything on Huma. Part of you is screaming at Weiner to walk away and pack it all in, but the other part of you secretly wants him to succeed. Adultery aside he seems like a good guy. He’s a democrat and supports worthy causes. This is some good cringe comedy and by the end of it you just don’t know why Weiner would put himself through all of it. If Huma can forgive him then why can’t a voter? But on the other hand, he lied a LOT. A whole lot. And surely someone that lies so profusely isn’t the kind of person you want in office, right? But then again, people lie every day; he just got caught. He didn’t physically harm anyone?The prominent line from Miley Cyrus’ We Can’t Stop; “remember only God can judge ya, forget the haters, cause somebody loves ya” very much seems like an apt mantra for Weiner. It’s a little unfortunate for him that the haters are the ones who hold the power. You be the judge.
Score: 3/5
Chloe Sesta Jacobs is a people and culture geek who loves writing about film and usually does so with her two miniature sausage dogs lying all over her. Chloe really enjoys world cinema and has been heard to say “if it doesn’t have subtitles, don’t talk to me”. She also tweets a LOT at @csestajacobs.
