The story of the rise and fall of Jack Abramoff — “the number one lobbyist in Washington” — ranges far and wide (the Republican Revolution, the Mariana Islands, Angola, Hollywood, Indian casinos, Tom DeLay, John McCain), but the message stays single-track: the sellout of democracy, with clips of James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington for instant nostalgia. It’s a lot of talk (narration, interviews, TV broadcasts), and it takes a lot of effort to follow. Directed by Alex Gibney. (2010) — Duncan Shepherd
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