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The Final Year

Play trailer 1:00 Poster for The Final Year Released Jan 19, 2018 1h 29m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 105 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
An account of President Barack Obama's foreign policy team during their last year in office.
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The Final Year

The Final Year

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Critics Consensus

The Final Year uses director Greg Barker's wide-ranging access to take a detailed inside look at the closing months of the Obama administration.

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Critics Reviews

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J. R. Jones Chicago Reader The arbitrary time frame forces [Greg] Barker into a ceaseless chronology of foreign trips that frustrates any serious consideration of the team's successes (in Cuba and Iran) or failures (in Syria). Mar 10, 2020 Full Review Tara Brady Irish Times Unhappily, the "unprecedented access" afforded Greg Barker's often rudderless documentary largely consists of spin, pillow shots and political humblebragging. If you're hoping for Obama's very own West Wing spin-off, you'll soon be disappointed. Rated: 2/5 Jan 25, 2018 Full Review Richard Whittaker Austin Chronicle The deepest frustration is that Barker had seemingly unrestricted access to one of the most revolutionary and skilled White House offices of the postwar era, yet the end result is like condensing an entire season of The West Wing. Rated: 3/5 Jan 25, 2018 Full Review Brian T. Carney Washington Blade While these vignettes are fascinating, “The Final Year” lacks framework and context. The fly-on-the-wall perspective offers incredible details, but not the big picture. Dec 15, 2022 Full Review David Lamble Bay Area Reporter I marveled at how director Greg Barker sliced and diced a tumultuous period. Jun 3, 2020 Full Review Matthew Anderson CineVue The Final Year is a parting gift, a sermon that teaches without preaching to the converted, worthy of its charismatic leader. Rated: 4/5 May 24, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Vera A Not sure who these persons are who are spamming this movie with falseness that has nothing to do with what he did or didn't do in his last year didn't watch the movie at all. Obama was an upfront President who I didn't always agree with his policies, liked his personality. He didn't do anything to stop anyone from winning he was a man of ethics. Watch the movie instead of posting BS. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/27/22 Full Review Audience Member A well crafted documentary that shows the inner workings of the state department during Obama's last year. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review dave d It's hard to imagine we've improved our standing around the world since the change in the presidency, and it feels like decades ago that Obama was in office, but 'The Final Year' takes a look at the (at the time) lame duck President and a few members of his cabinet. There's nothing earth shattering here nor is there any real controversy, but it is nonetheless interesting. Final Score:7.1/10 Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Obama's final year on foreign policy seen and spoken by his major staff -- Kerry, Rhodes, Power. Especially significant are his trips to Hiroshima & Laos, demonstrating that this is a POTUS that doesn't just believe in force/strength as power, but realizing one's past mistake as a nation & man enough to step up and apologize for it. That is mensch. Something Trump will never ever understand. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member Informative, never enthralling. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member somehow manages to be very dull despite the subject matter and potential for insight. Samantha power are some others are preening for the camera. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Final Year

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis An account of President Barack Obama's foreign policy team during their last year in office.
Director
Greg Barker
Producer
Julie Goldman, John Battsek, Greg Barker
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Production Co
Passion Pictures, Prettybird, Motto Pictures
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 19, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 19, 2018
Runtime
1h 29m
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