GEORGE WALLACE

GEORGE WALLACE - 1997 (TV)

RATED - NR but probably PG-13/R for a scene of sexuality (passionate embracing on the bed clothed), violence in scenes of racial protest, various foul language of all sorts and cigar and cigarette smoking and drinking by almost all major characters. No nudity or sexual scenes except above. Mature teens and above.

RATINGS - 12 Amazon (4/5), 2,801 Netflix (3.5/5), 601 IMDB (7.5/10).

STARRING - Gary Sinise (Wallace), Mare Winningham (1st Mrs. Wallace), Angelina Jolie (2nd Mrs. Wallace), Clarence Williams III, directed by John Frankenheimer.

AWARDS - Three EMMY'S for OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR, OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR, OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS (Winningham). Jolie was nominated for an Emmy and won a Golden Globe for her supporting role and there were many other nominations and wins in various categories.

THEMES - Racial prejudice, hatred, reconciliation, forgiveness, justice.

STORY - The film begins with Wallace and second wife, Cornelia (Jolie), passionately embracing on the bed. It seems an odd beginning but as we learn later, this would be the last or one of the last times George Wallace experienced any physical pleasure. The movie then begins a series of flashbacks and flash forwards of the life of this man who become such a lightning rod for the civil rights movement in America. He came to represent what so many saw as what was wrong with the South and their policies of segregation. Wallace's campaign slogan became 'segregation now, segreation tomorrow, segregation forever'. Was he a true racist or a populist who played the cards he thought would get him elected. He ran for governor of Alabama four times and for president four times. Many thought he had a serious chance to be elected President before the assassination attempt. This would have been the reverse of what happened in 2008, only 36 years earlier. Is this a summary of how far our country has come in the last four decades or was Wallace simply a political aberration? This is an outstanding film, the acting (especially Sinise) is terrific and it gives a balanced picture of this unusual politician. George Wallace is a very real part of American history and anyone under 40, especially, should watch this to understand why the subject of racism, while different than the 60's, has not gone away. There are actual archival scenes of civil rights protest mixed in the film. It is a three hour mini-series, not the 370 minutes it says on Netflix. Well worth watching to get a fair picture of this man and the period of civil rights struggles in our country. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 07/12/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB