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America: From Freedom
to Fascism
Directed by: Aaron Russo
Starring: Aaron Russo
Genre:
Documentary
Run Time: 95
min.
Release Date:
July 2006
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Although interesting
information is contained within the first 30 minutes of AMERICA: FROM
FREEDOM TO FASCISM, the latter half falls into chaotic paranoia. It’s
also noteworthy to point out that director Aaron Russo hasn’t directed
or produced a film since 1991 (the tremendously bad OFF AND RUNNING). I
say this because if someone produces/directs poor fiction, their
nonfiction might be questionable also, and this is undeniably the case
here.
Taking on the American Income Tax code, director Aaron Russo spotlights
the lack of legal verbiage surrounding tax collection on the working
man’s income. That there isn’t a legal precedence set up to prove that
Income Tax is legitimately collectable is now pretty well known, and
Russo’s focus on this will likely send goose-bumps up your arms. Why are
we paying taxes on working people’s money? The simple answer is to help
finance the government. And although our government has its flaws (some
of them quite large), it is revered and mimicked by many. This still
doesn’t excuse our government’s lack of legal responsibility when it
comes to Income Tax collection, but most American’s understand the need.
Probably the most telling portion of the film was the videotaped audit
of one man by the IRS, and when he asks the IRS agent to show him the
law that allows him to be audited, the agent simply says that “his badge
gives him the right.” Hmm. That’s pretty disconcerting. Intimidation by
the IRS is probably their best strong arm method for collecting taxes
(you don’t pay, the government sends you to jail, just like Irwin Schiff).
That’s a pretty strong incentive. Rightly or wrongly, this is why most
Americans pay their taxes, and Russo focuses prominently on these
questionable tactics. But after this the film starts falling apart.
Never does Russo tell or show us what to do about not paying income tax
(aside from not doing so and risking jail time and confiscation of
everything you own, or voting for political leaders who want to repeal
the income tax ...which you’ll have a hard time finding, I might add.)
From here the documentary sinks even further. Flailing about like a
child in a temper-tantrum, Russo then beleaguers us with information on
National ID cards and implantable microchips. The story wanders well
into conspiracy theory territory rather than sticking to the point of
Income Tax collection and our legal rights regarding them.
There’s also the problem with the fact that documentaries (like
fictional films) are a visual medium, and Russo’s documentary constantly
puts up black-and-white screens filled with reading material for the
viewer to laboriously trudge through. What Russo should have done was to
find experts on these items and filmed them. But we never see that
because ...well ...my assumption is that either there aren’t any
experts, or those that were felt Russo to be so whacked out they refused
to be filmed.
At any rate, the beginning of the film is pretty fascinating, but after
that you need to be anti-government enough to live in a box while
clutching a copy of the U.S. Constitution and The Bill of Rights.
(back to top) |
Image from America: From
Freedom to Fascism
DVD cost: $5.99
Purchase:
Amazon.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
Several of those purported
in the film to not have paid income taxes were recently jailed for doing
so.
Movie Quote: "We
will be carrying papers and there will be checkpoints throughout the
country."
Other Actors/Actresses
from From Freedom to Fascism
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