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Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia

Play trailer Poster for Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia Released May 23, 2014 1h 29m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Filmmaker Nicholas Wrathall examines the life and career of the late author with numerous TV clips and interviews with Vidal's contemporaries, such as journalist Robert Scheer.

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Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia

Critics Reviews

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J. R. Jones Chicago Reader [Filmmaker Nicholas D. Wrathall] couldn't have asked for a more striking scene than the one in which the writer shows him the grave he plans to occupy (beside his longtime companion, Howard Austen, who died in 2003). Jul 7, 2014 Full Review Ty Burr Boston Globe Vidal was our last great Roman senator, mourning the republic as he gazed at a corrupt empire. "Whenever I want to know what the United States is up to," he said, "I look into my own black heart." Rated: 3/4 Jun 26, 2014 Full Review Mick LaSalle San Francisco Chronicle We watch before our eyes as Vidal goes from an impossibly handsome young man to a broken-down old one, and age does nothing for his mood. Rated: 3/4 Jun 12, 2014 Full Review David Lamble Bay Area Reporter Vidal is America's mid-century gay gadfly, lacing his Ben-Hur script with a queer subplot. Jun 19, 2020 Full Review John Fink The Film Stage Engaging and challenging in moments, it stumbles to the challenge. Rated: C+ Jun 6, 2016 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault It seems to exist only because Wrathall had the footage. Rated: C- Jul 14, 2015 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I wish I knew him sooner. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/22/18 Full Review Audience Member "Here's my prediction: the republican party is as terminated as the whigs were in 1846." Sigh. Watching this in the age of Trump is something else - everything he says about Bush is x20, his prediction of Obama were correct, but the above quote unfortunately was a rare miss. This documentary isn't terribly insightful - quite frankly it's more of a 101, Best of Enemies almost felt more thorough. But it was fun at least. I just like to watch Vidal talk. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review dave d Gore Vidal: An establishment baby, who grew up to think on his own hate the establishment and the country. It's rare a documentary shows the flaws of the man they are trying to make immortal. Vidal at his core is an idealist, but at the end he was a bitter person. While Vidal wanted to be anti-establishment he was a snob, he surrounded himself with rich celebrities in his homes in Italy and Beverly Hills and was a uniquely flawed man. Vidal didn't believe in love, but had a partner who was his best friend and whom he wasn't sexually active with. That sentence in and of itself should get you to watch this. This is autobiographical in a large mass in that despite not being finished until two years after Vidal's death, Vidal takes up a large amount of the viewers screen. In the end this is a good taste of Vidal his flaws, his shortcomings, and his character traits that are becoming. It's an important picture that should be seen by young and old that chronicles an important man that may in 50 years be forgotten. While Vidal makes it perfectly clear he doesn't care about his legacy, he's an important figure that should not be respected. Whether you like him or not. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member there are some interesting footage & interviews but by and large those who knew about Vidal's life will have known most of the film; the ending was a bit odd, as if all of this was for naught and we are left with nothing but a cynical Vidal, but of course we know he was much more than that. A valiant first effort from Wrathall but we know the man was more much than whats presented. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member I knew some about Gore Vidal before watching this, particularly the debates between Buckley. Those clips never get old. The more I do learn about this man the more you want to know, an extremely interesting mind that will definitely make you think. His way with words is pretty perfect and his life overall was a very interesting one. One man that should be on your list to learn about. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Fascinating from start to finish. A beautiful documentary about a man that never was afraid to think outside the box and lead the way to a different kind of thinking. An amazing human being filled with passion and a unique fighting spirit like they don't make'em no more. Definitely a must see for anyone out there willing to question the establishment of the world we live in. Accept the laws of nature but never forget to question the laws of man(kind). Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker Nicholas Wrathall examines the life and career of the late author with numerous TV clips and interviews with Vidal's contemporaries, such as journalist Robert Scheer.
Director
Nicholas D. Wrathall
Producer
Theodore James, Burr Steers, Nicholas D. Wrathall
Screenwriter
Nicholas D. Wrathall
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Audax Films, End Cue
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 23, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$127.7K
Runtime
1h 29m
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