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Can liberals and conservatives enjoy the same movie?
Our film adaptation of Thomas Frank’s “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” raises eyebrows with some fans of the book, because it does not set out to explain the whole argument Frank makes about why social conservatives overwhelmingly vote Republican (even last fall, in the face of economic disaster.)
A refreshing breeze
The Oklahoman shows some appreciation for the evenhanded tone of our movie:
Joe Winston’s “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” explores how real people live, work, think and vote in Oklahoma’s neighbor to the north. While it addresses clearly the fractures in Kansas’ body politic, it is the rare political documentary in which no one is labeled [...]
Early reactions from Oklahoma
The OK Gazette has weighed in on “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” in advance of our screenings and appearances in Tulsa on Friday and Oklahoma City on Saturday. After playing to big-city crowds in Washington, D.C., New York and Chicago, we’re eager to hear from audiences in the heartland. This reviewer clearly takes the idea [...]
They love us in Alabama
Left in Alabama has taken a look at “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” and they like what they see:
At the outset, the film presents a broad spectrum of Kansans; there’s the former Republican farmer who fights for small farmers and against global warming, the migrant workers from Mexico who come to Kansas hoping to earn a better life in [...]
3 1/2 Stars from Roger Ebert!
“I’ve rarely seen a documentary quite like it. It has a point to make but no ax to grind…What’s the Matter with Kansas? doesn’t connect the dots, nor does it need to. It takes no cheap shots. It is all there to see. These good people are voting against themselves.”
Why Kansas Matters
John K. Wilson’s review of “What’s the matter with Kansas?” appears in the current issue of In These Times, an unapologetically leftist Chicago-based newsweekly.
John brings up the always volatile issue of whether the movie respects its subjects.
Frank’s book and this movie are both vulnerable to accusations of condescending elitism, Frank for his thesis and [...]
Chicago Reader profile
In this week’s issue, the Chicago Reader named Laura and Joe as “People to Watch” among Chicago filmmakers. We’re still blushing. A brief excerpt:
Sitting in his dining room in Lincoln Square with his son, Milo, on his knee, director Joe Winston only vaguely resembles the tousled host of This Week in Joe’s Basement, the Chicago [...]
Bella Online weighs in
Bella Online, “The Voice of Women” attended our New York premiere screening, and has filed a dispatch praising the movie and reflecting on the conversation it generated that night at Lincoln Center.
Here’s an excerpt:
I saw the film at its Lincoln Center Film Society screening in New York. The filmmakers were there, and they reported that [...]
Rave Review For NYC Premiere
Joe and Laura had an interview in NYC with TrustMovies on the eve of the 8/6/09 premiere of “What’s The Matter With Kansas” at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
Salon.com takes notice
Salon.com’s Broadsheet just posted a rumination on our coverage of Tiller’s clinic, the abortion issue, and its consequences in Kansas. You can find it here. In sum, Judy Berman writes, “each part of the clip is upsetting in its own way.” Certainly what we saw in Kansas will provide a big wake-up call for liberals, [...]
Great review in Variety
OK, so were’ just a little excited to see a very kind review of our movie by Variety Managing Editor Ted Johnson. Here’s an excerpt:
One of the highlights of the Politics on Film festival in D.C. this weekend will be the docu version of Thomas Frank’s book,“What’s the Matter with Kansas?” ….What makes “What’s the [...]