Erik Moe: Critic at Large

By far the best of the few films I caught during my busy evenings at SXSW was Michael Tucker’s How to Fold a Flag. Without being heavy handed or preachy the film gives a glimpse of social issues across America through the eyes of soldiers he had previously covered in Gunner Palace. These veterans’ experiences in returning to the country they fought for vary wildly. Some have trouble with the Veteran’s Administration and fight for acknowledgment and treatment of post-traumatic shock disorder (PTSD). Another struggles to pay for family medical expenses while working long shifts at the notorious Smithfield hog plant in North Carolina. Finally, all of these issues point nicely to the Congressional run by the Captain of their unit, former Social Studies teacher Jon Powers. Highly recommended.

• 11/4/08 = Not recommended. Tunnel vision view of election night in America.
• American: The Bill Hicks Story = Fine. It was late on a travel day, so it might be unfair to tell you that I fell asleep and didn’t laugh much during this doc on a the legendary comedian.