From Freedom to Fascism

In the end, Russo concludes that America, instead of being by the people and for the people is, in truth, an oppressive, exploitative Big Brother where government and corporations reign supreme. A thought-provoking clarion call for the masses to wake up before it’s too late.

(Willingly surrendering rights? Watch this film and decide)

Aaron Russo enjoyed a successful career as a movie producer (Trading Places and The Rose) before taking a serious interest in politics about 10 years ago. He ran for governor of Nevada in 1998, garnering almost 30% of the vote in a hotly contested election.

With America: From Freedom to Fascism, Russo directs his attention to the question of whether or not the U.S. is turning into a police state. He serves as narrator of this intriguing expose’ and makes his case by interviewing a variety of experts and ordinary citizens who provide a combination of anecdotal, historical and statistical evidence of the steady erosion of civil liberties.

Aaron appears angriest at the IRS which he indicts as an agency illegal created as a means of redistributing wealth. He adroitly points out its long legacy of abuse of power, such as how it unfairly destroyed the life of Joe Louis, after the heavyweight boxing champ enlisted in the then segregated Army and donated all his winnings to Uncle Sam while in the service during World War II. And how did his racist country reward this act of selfless patriotism? By taxing him for the full amount of his prize fight purses, even though he had never enjoyed a penny of it.

Other eye-opening ground covered here includes discussions of the Federal Reserve Bank, which some might be surprise to learn is actually a private not a federal institution. The movie also touches on issues involving rigged elections, the upcoming national ID card and the impending implementation of radio frequency identification technology to keep track of citizens.

In the end, Russo concludes that America, instead of being by the people and for the people is, in truth, an oppressive, exploitative Big Brother where government and corporations reign supreme. A thought-provoking clarion call for the masses to wake up before it’s too late.

Excellent (4 stars).  Unrated.  Running time: 95 minutes.  Studio: Cinema Libre


In New York City, the film opens July 28th, 2006, at:

1. City Cinemas Village East
181 2nd Avenue
New York, NY 10003
(212) 529-6998
Purchase tickets at:
www.moviefone.com

2. Loews 72nd Street
1230 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10021
212-472-0153
Purchase tickets at:
www.amctheatres.com

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