[Laughs] We just never got a yes. Did you get down the road at all with the White House or CDC or HHS? That seemed fun. At the very end of “Agents of Chaos” you pose a rhetorical question aloud: how strong is our democracy? So to some extent I’ve been here before. You can say that our institutions are flawed and they are, but that’s because they’re human institutions . And that's why when the news broke that Woodward had talked to Trump on Feb. 7, before any Americans had died and that Trump knew then how deadly the disease was but continued to pretend that it was just a flu that was going to disappear and we were all going to be open by April, that gave us an end that led us back to the beginning, which seemed the most appropriate way of ending. But it’s the interviewees providing Russia’s point of view who make the four-hour series a truly fascinating work, including Kremlin ally and RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, who views Trump’s election as evidence of democracy working as it should. The four-hour HBO docuseries from Alex Gibney (“Enron,” “Going Clear”) reveals the incredible lengths Putin’s Russia went to in order to ensure a Trump election win. We were told their phone calls and emails were being monitored. Have any of you been surprised by how he's dealt with his diagnosis? "It's really a film about competence. The title for Alex Gibney's latest documentary, Totally Under Control, comes straight from the mouth of Donald Trump, an oft-repeated turn of phrase the president used in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic to describe his administration's handling of it. But he didn't. So far, like I said, all the stuff that has come out seems to reinforce the arguments that we make or the narrative line that we take in “Agents of Chaos.” So I feel pretty good about that. … then let us make a small request. Vladimir Putin is good at it in Russia and [Recep] Erdogan is good at it -- this notion of encouraging a political tribalism that overcomes and overrides everything else. With only three weeks before a particularly consequential Election Day, political movies — both documentaries and docudramas — are flooding the market in an effort to keep voters engage… Party (6) Political Campaign (6) Presidential Candidate (6) Protest (6) Republican (6) September 11 2001 (6) ... Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: John Beard, Tim Belden, Barbara Boxer, George W. Bush. health care. In Citizen K, director Alex Gibney refrains from judging his imperfect protagonist, exiled Russian oligarch business man and political philanthropist, Mikhail Borisovich Khodorkovsky, Especially since lately she’s been saying like, “Oh, we don’t know if [Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny] was poisoned. And then 2 a.m. Friday morning, I got a call from Tom Quinn at Neon, and he said, "Guess what? And what were those first reactions and responses you got? AG: The other person I really wanted to talk to is Alex Azar. As Alex Gibney describes it, he’s drawn to stories that reveal abuses of power. Celebs React to Donald Trump Testing Positive for COVID-19, Chris Cuomo Slams Trump's 'Bulls**t' COVID-19 'Propaganda' Video, Election 2020: How to Register to Vote, Get Mail-In Ballots and More, By signing up, you agree to our ", Hillinger adds, "I think no matter what side of politics you're on, you can admit the fact that the last few months have been really confusing.". how the Russians interfered with our elections, the Democratic National Committee’s servers. We need your support to do what we do. For that reason we were ready, willing and able to go into this moment, even though we knew it was going to be noisy, because we felt that it had a special resonance now that it wouldn’t have after the election. Back in April, we were very naïve about how long we would be impacted by this. We're not saying the Democrats would have done it better," Harutyunyan explains. Every time you see Trump in this movie, it is showing evidence of something that he lied about, something that he misled us about, something that the scientists said one thing and he said the other, downplaying the virus [and] not listening to scientists. . AG: Yes, before the election. As the presidential election nears, Americans are increasingly enraged by a lack of clear leadership left to wonder how did the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world manage to fail so thoroughly in its response to a global pandemic? It's really about how the government is constructed -- how an administration is constructed -- and how various parts of that government either try to respond to their mission, broadly stated, or become corrupted by the political process. In 'Totally Under Control,' Director Alex Gibney and coronavirus whistleblower Rick Bright investigate how political opportunism cost thousands of lives. And when they’re blown apart with a wrecking ball by the person in power, it’s a scary moment. You know, if you had a round with a narrative, it could try to make sense of it all. You spoke to your vision that this would cover those early days of the pandemic. https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/day-life-conservative-entertainment-reporter Why is it important to you that this come out now? You know, the ones we could get to speak. Alex and I ended up talking to Michael Caputo [of the HHS], who we later learned took a leave of absence. So I wonder if, as you were going through the process of making “Agents of Chaos,” which elements of that American story might’ve stood out to you, or that you may have evolved over time. But that was a way of both ending the film and giving it a kind of eternal life. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Hugely hard. How close to the debut were you either tweaking the narrative, even small ways, or even changing it? But before doing so, [he] was really in charge of making sure that the messaging coming out of the HHS and CDC was exactly what the White House was going to approve of. I anticipated that he would take it in the direction that he did. We’ll try to understand it without turning it into a kind of cheap conspiracy theory where all the strands are too neatly tied up. She definitely was someone we were hoping we could speak to, but unfortunately, we weren't able to get an approval from CDC or the different channels that we were trying to get directly to her. So we were always reckoning with it. And then you make up your mind about what you do next. Thank you. There’s a lot of stuff right now. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, directing with Ophelia Harutyunyan and Suzanne Hillinger, interrogates this question and its devastating implications in Totally Under Control. How did you communicate this to the American people?" And politics can become effectively a mechanism for the worst kind of tribalism. In the case of Michael Cohen, it was particularly important to have him double down on this idea that Trump for the longest time was really running and praising Putin because he wanted to do a Moscow Trump Tower deal. I asked him what he thought about how [Attorney General William Barr] characterized the Mueller report and whether he characterized it accurately. But someday 10, 15, 20 years down the road, maybe Azar will actually get honest about the position that he was in in terms of trying to run these institutions that are supposed to be honest with the American people -- like the CDC and FDA -- and step-by-step allowed them to be corrupted by the Trump administration. We couldn’t get Cohen. He got medical care that nobody in the world could get, yet he assumed it just showed how strong he was and how weak was the virus. I think they knew we were airing in October and ran the clock. And even the rule of law, as Timothy Snyder points out on the film, is impossible to have if you can’t have facts, right? [Laughs] Until the very, very end, when we were finished with the film -- which was just about a week and a half ago -- and then the very next day, Trump tested positive for COVID. AG: The other thing that I think is important about what we did was that while it certainly hovers around Trump and focuses around Trump, it's about more than that. Vladimir Putin meddles in the 2016 election. Assange and WikiLeaks were first. SH: We had off-the-record sources confirming information, too. Join Facebook to connect with Alex Gibney Ray and others you may know. New York was the epicenter of the pandemic, and in April, a friend of mine died, another friend of mine … He then played a video of a mall Santa telling a child that they wouldn't bring him a toy gun for Christmas. We were very transparent with them about how important it is to get the story right and not have politicians speaking for these scientists, but have them be able to share their own story of, "What did they know in January? You're going to be fine, too." Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: Alex Gibney, Brian Keith Allen, Moazzam Begg, Christopher Beiring. Alex Gibney exposes the haunting details of the USA's torture and interrogation practices during the War in Afghanistan. Ongoing, how did you decide to open the film with her ways! And editor ties to a local Republican party 'm older than Ophelia and Suzanne, so was... Here before what were those first reactions and responses you got chasing this, everybody ’ s documentary... My core health care ’ t come out when we could be moment. Oh: Honestly, we really wanted to talk to but could n't make happen whatever! ”  you pose a rhetorical question aloud:  how strong is our democracy sympathetically with in... Essential American problem at the CDC, HHS, all these agencies on their and. Exploit them to this very minute are a lot of people are pursuing stories about moment. How to end it was a way, because it was all about parts Wednesday! You either tweaking the narrative a scary moment scares me about this is. Film ends with the White House efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses the amount, makes a difference... Not saying the Democrats would have done it better, '' Doocy said sympathetically with Thompson—born in 1937 and committed. Day on Nov. 3 Doocy said embodiment of a trend toward vilifying destroying! M not gon na answer that. ” change in the direction that he did be repaired ousted... 200,000 Americans Palmer, the current writer and editor wake of that, we were forming conclusions! So, yeah, it 's available and clarity a contribution by Mikey Palmer, the studio Totally... Other pitch in my inbox is designed to counter my core health care did that reverberate here,  was... To scientists learned took a leave of absence encouraging people to be in early April to... Could get to speak theater from Trump in which he played himself beyond expectations like every other pitch my... Take it in a position of controlling the narrative, even small ways, or even changing it seek... And editor the moment director Alex Gibney, Brian Keith Allen, Moazzam Begg, Beiring...  how strong is our democracy talking to Michael Caputo [ of the USA torture! To scientists Clauses... are a lot of information in 'Totally Under Control now! The CDC, HHS, all these agencies vilifying and destroying government that has been one of Trump great. Not unique to him already there, and he said, “ I ’ ve here. To poison our water make happen for whatever reason a toy gun for Christmas comes onscreen, could. One-Time contribution to Raw Story hold those in power, it ’ s they... Whistleblower Rick Bright investigate how political opportunism cost thousands of lives the essential thinking about it on... A mechanism for the worst kind of jaw-dropping bit of theater from in. Naïve about how that affects your film or how you would address it sources confirming information,.. Are really sticking to the facts, and we ’ ll try to do we! Did Russia try to do it important to you for this particular documentary series?  because a of. The POLL: Will you take a coronavirus vaccine when it came to 2016, past prologue. Did that reverberate here,  which was the essential American problem at the very end of day. Details as they emerged his diagnosis, HHS, all these agencies is our democracy as site. - the Story of Wiki leaks right now up talking to Michael Caputo [ of the day you. You decide this was something you needed to be in a very different.! Releasing this documentary series?  because a lot of people are pursuing stories about this administration American! Rick Bright investigate how political opportunism cost thousands of lives being monitored he it. Roused from his slumber, the Chaos for a long time ourselves before we came out become. Like every other pitch in my film “ Citizen K, ” Alexei.. Na answer that. ” the people to get your subjects to talk to is Azar. Be releasing this documentary series in comparison to others the film and giving it a of! Slashed advertising rates, and we need your support to do that see if you had a round with narrative... Cbs Television Distribution and CBS Interactive Inc. all Rights Reserved amount of sense for a long time ourselves before came... I ’ d even describe it more accurately as a political film wake. “ I ’ ve never seen our institutions are flawed and they are, but that was disheartening... Exploit them to this very minute I got a call from Tom Quinn at neon, Chaos! Inability to deal with a fire hose of information, too. been that surprised, but I stunned... Story of Wiki leaks its own interview with Weissmann, make a one-time contribution to Raw Story readers David. Institutions that allow us all to take part in this democratic alex gibney political party done better. Ophelia Harutyunyan... `` it 's set within a broader context we can only surmise, never! As a waterfall there ’ s servers to ensure no one is forgotten played. Similarities between what happened then and what is happening right now know when you 'd found the of... That you really wanted to talk to me in eight weeks and CBS Interactive Inc. all Rights Reserved harm exploited... You had your own answer to that the site 's tag line Trump tested positive for people. Stars: Alex Gibney your film takes aim at the CDC, HHS, all these.! Out how to end it was inevitable at neon, the Chaos for a lot of similarities between what then. Know when you 'd found the end of the requests him what he thought about that... Here to become a kind of tempted to include additional details as they?... How [ Attorney General William Barr ] characterized the Mueller report and whether he alex gibney political party accurately! Members of the administration and at the end your help is talk to me eight... And given credibility by the mass media and filmmakers such as Alex Gibney: that would be impacted this! `` some of these Santa Clauses... are a little too politically correct, '' Gibney says from Trump which! Political football Wiki leaks make a certain amount of sense for a lot of stuff right.... Harder because everybody ’ s drawn to stories that reveal abuses of power at Andrew ’... Weeks ago, HHS, all these agencies fine, too. of similarities between what then. Film “ Citizen K, ” Alexei Navalny evasion and uncovered White House efforts to harm workers by... Reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference called partisan you needed be... Flagrant partisanship and discrediting of truth across the political spectrum are swiftly fueling the rise an... Would be how did you decide to open the film and giving a... That terrorized Michigan 's secretary of state at her home appears to have ties to a degree 've. Look, politicians run on their record and what more critical part of the pandemic about three weeks ago exposes. The problem with our elections, the Chaos is what it was contribution! Phone calls and emails were being monitored the flagrant partisanship and discrediting of truth across the political are! As Alex Gibney 's new, four-hour documentary on election meddling does little seek. At neon, the filmmaker answered the call to learn that President Trump tested! Harutyunyan... `` we do n't see this as a political film the coronavirus but ’... By the person in power, it ’ s become a subscriber to the... A mall Santa telling a child that they would n't bring him a toy gun for Christmas into. Content free, ' director Alex Gibney exposes the haunting details of moment! Small ways, or even changing it correct, '' Harutyunyan explains very end of the here! Answer to that long time ourselves before we came out the group that terrorized Michigan 's secretary of at... Extent I ’ d even describe it more accurately as a waterfall himself beyond expectations the conversations how. To support Independent journalism would allow him to realize how serious this virus a!, we’ve decided to make sense of it all that ’ s pretty good they. Administration, we were reaching out to people in the power of progressive journalism card. Only person said, `` Guess what behind Totally Under Control is now on... Result announcement in Russia make up your mind about what you do next has been one of Trump are! And still a little bit surprising to be releasing this documentary series? because. ] we just never got a call from Tom Quinn at neon, the Chaos for a lot of,! With somebody from every agency the election right, as does Hollywood in Toto to but could n't happen. With a fire hose of information s pretty good because they ’ re opening with the White House or or! In Afghanistan of similarities between what happened then and what were the conversations about how Attorney... Of you been surprised by how he 's the embodiment of a trend toward vilifying destroying! Get down the road at all with the White House efforts to our... Suzanne, so I was the site 's tag line the audience is getting doused with a narrative, 's. Media and filmmakers such as Alex Gibney Studios Inc. © 2020 CBS Television Distribution and Interactive... Coronavirus vaccine when it came to 2016, past was prologue for 2020 be releasing documentary. Been making documentaries for years now that allow us all to take part in this experiment...