By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Deb Ellis | Denis Meuller
Country: united_states
Year: 2004
Running time: 78
IMDB: http://www.firstrunfeatures.com/howardzinn
Beth says: “Next up was the documentary HOWARD ZINN: YOU CAN’T BE NEUTRAL ON A MOVING TRAIN, narrated by Matt Damon (who famously included a reference to Zinn’s A History of the United States in GOOD WILL HUNTING). He’s a now-retired BU history professor who’s been this amazing voice for progressives all his life. I knew Zinn had been involved in the civil rights movement, but didn’t know it was to that extent, and I also had no idea how large a figure he was in the anti-war movement during Vietnam. I found this film to be engrossing, enlightening, and ultimately uplifting. I particularly appreciate how, in watching the parts of his story unfold, one is shown how truly to live locally while thinking globally. 4 cats fomenting for change.”
Diane says: “Like BUKOWSKI, I give the person 5 cats and the film 3 cats. HOWARD ZINN: YOU CAN’T BE NEUTRAL ON A MOVING TRAIN is a hagiography of this WWII bombadier, historian, and radical activist. I didn’t learn an awful lot. The film could have benefitted from some detractors. Good use of docu footage from demonstrations in the 1930s, ’50s and ’70s.
“P.S. ‘I will vote for Nader because Massachusetts [where I live] is a safe state. And voters in ‘safe states’ should not vote for
Kerry. …’ -Howard Zinn”