Althouse: Trump ≈ Richard Jewell.

December 16, 2019

Trump ≈ Richard Jewell.

Wow! https://t.co/gYGUEKpGac
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 16, 2019

58 comments:

Dave Begley said...: The movie only did $5m at the box office over the weekend. Very disappointing. It is a good movie. I think it should have been released in October and November.

Clint Eastwood is a very experienced and successful producer. To see how badly he misjudged this only proves the Hollywood maxim, "In this business, nobody knows anything."; 12/16/19, 10:17 AM
Michael K said...: Good movie. The lefties like Howard will not see it but a lot of people will.; 12/16/19, 10:19 AM
Michael K said...: The movie only did $5m at the box office over the weekend.

The boycott kept some away but the world of mouth will help. The theater in Oro Valley was full.; 12/16/19, 10:21 AM
Michael said...: Mike Flynn would make a good FBI director, as soon as the judge throws out his bogus prosecution. Trump and Barr would only have to tell him: "It's your show. Fix it."; 12/16/19, 10:34 AM
traditionalguy said...: Jewell was an authentic citizen of Atlanta, Georgia. So the fake media knew they had 2 strikes against him and could sell him as their next fictional southern monster. The real story is that despite the FBI and DOJ's best efforts, Richard was exonerated.; 12/16/19, 10:38 AM
Bay Area Guy said...: I want to see the movie. At the time, I bought the FBI/media propaganda that Jewell either did it or was hiding something. That was 1996, so I wasn't a young naif, but that shows you how powerful the narratives and media once were.; 12/16/19, 10:49 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: If the FBI wants to target and smear you -they will. Lazy like Schitt-Strozk Soviet types.; 12/16/19, 10:49 AM
Danno said...: Somewhere this morning I saw a quip by Comey that indicated this behavior happened seven layers below him. The first thing Trump should do is eliminate the first three layers of staff which would likely be officed in Washington DC. You don't even have to fire them if this is too hard. Just take away their government offices, phones, emails and record access. Send them to the rubber room.; 12/16/19, 10:54 AM
Achilles said...: The FBI no longer has a reason to exist.; 12/16/19, 10:56 AM
Francisco D said...: The theater in Oro Valley was full.

My (life long Democrat) wife wants to see it, but we are waiting for the relatives to leave after the holidays.

We are also thinking that the theaters will be less crowded in January.

Clint Eastwood movies don't usually have big openings, but they have staying power.; 12/16/19, 10:58 AM
Lloyd W. Robertson said...: There needs to be more discussion of senior Justice/FBI officials, including Mueller and Comey, and how they rose to the top not despite disgraceful episodes of incompetence and going after the wrong person, but apparently because of these episodes as long as they involved "toeing the party line."; 12/16/19, 11:01 AM
tommyesq said...: Notice that the controversy surrounding the film is not related to the actions of the FBI in wrongfully smearing Jewell, but only relate to whether the reporter, who (uncontestedly) smeared Jewell as well, slept with the FBI agent to get the mis-information or merely implied that she would sleep with him.; 12/16/19, 11:05 AM
Rance Fasoldt said...: A 90-mile round trip to Bozeman, but I’m going to see it tonight.; 12/16/19, 11:24 AM
Chuck said...: So in response to Trump’s enthusiastic retweet of a claim that the FBI is a criminal organization, Trump will soon be asked directly by reporters if indeed he believes that the FBI is s criminal organization. No one should let up until Trump answers “yes” or “no.” And when Trump tries to deflect by saying that he loves hard-working law-abiding FBI agents, and instead it is leadership that is failing the FBI, Trump and Barr need to be asked, who is going to be fired and when and why.

Personally I have a lot concerns, criticisms and questions about the FBI. And most often it is with some of their field agents. (Never, ever speak to an FBI agent without a lawyer. Ask any inquiring agent if you can record the interview that he or she wants to do with you. That will end their inquiry.

But the FBI as a criminal organization? Then fix it, Mr. President. Do it directly and don’t Tweet about it. Make it clear what you are doing. And you’d best not ask for Giuliani’s help if he will soon be under indictment himself.; 12/16/19, 11:30 AM
SeanF said...: Chuck: But the FBI as a criminal organization? Then fix it, Mr. President. Do it directly and don’t Tweet about it.

Absolutely. He should start firing FBI people, because there's no question that he has the authority to do that.; 12/16/19, 11:34 AM
Expat(ish) said...: @SeanF - Someone will find a court that puts a nationwide block on Trump firing peeps at the FBI. Or this will become "evidence" that he is covering up something even more horrible.

FWIW, at the time I thought Jewell probably did it because (a) he was clearly weird and (b) "where there is smoke..."

I have very different opinions developed over the last few decades.

_XC; 12/16/19, 11:40 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "The movie only did $5m at the box office over the weekend. Very disappointing. It is a good movie."

It seems like one of those good-for-you medicinal stories. If there's a way to get off the hook, people are going to take it.

In this case, the movie has a physically unattractive male central character, and the main female character is a reporter who uses her sexuality to get the story. What woman wants that? If you add that it's not good-for-you (according to the good people you want to seem good to) then that's it. What woman would go? There's no benefit and no pleasure.; 12/16/19, 11:58 AM
readering said...: They're both fat and say the first thing that pops into their head. Other than that?; 12/16/19, 12:02 PM
rehajm said...: What woman wants that?

Do women pick the movie now? Back before I turned my back on movies I recall being told most movies had male oriented plots because guys picked the movie...

I'll likely skip Jewel, too...; 12/16/19, 12:12 PM
Michael K said...: It seems like one of those good-for-you medicinal stories. If there's a way to get off the hook, people are going to take it.

The Jewell character is frustrating but becomes more sympathetic as the film goes on.

His lawyer is the best character. I liked him and had never seen him before.

The FBI guy was arrogant and unlikable but that was the plot.

The reporter was also very good and portrayed the reporter as she probably was. The Sally Fields character in "Absence of Malice," a similar movie, was played as a naif.; 12/16/19, 12:15 PM
Michael K said...: I did not go to Eastwoods's movie "The Mule," or "Million Dollar Baby." Both sounded like real downers. This one was more like "Unplanned" which was also excellent.

I doubt you would go to any of them. Probably did not go to "They Shall Not Grow Old," which was terrific. We saw it twice.; 12/16/19, 12:18 PM
narciso said...: sam Rockwell he's had part in smaller rolls in larger films like iron man 3, and he was the protagonist in the chuck barris biopic drama,; 12/16/19, 12:21 PM
buwaya said...: "There's no benefit and no pleasure"

There isn't any either in "Twelve Angry Men"; 12/16/19, 12:26 PM
Leland said...: the FBI as a criminal organization? Then fix it, Mr. President.

Did you miss when Trump fired Comey? Oh right, you couldn't miss it, because you spent 2 years claiming he couldn't do it because he was under investigation. Since then, Trump has fired Sztrok and McCabe. Wray isn't look too good right now either. You are welcome.; 12/16/19, 12:28 PM
NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...: tommyesq said...

Notice that the controversy surrounding the film is not related to the actions of the FBI in wrongfully smearing Jewell, but only relate to whether the reporter, who (uncontestedly) smeared Jewell as well, slept with the FBI agent to get the mis-information or merely implied that she would sleep with him.

The FBI didn't smear Jewell. They helped cause the smear when someone leaked and it got to Kathy Scruggs, but they didn't smear him. It was mostly Tom Brokaw at NBC and the NY Post that smeared Jewell after the AJC reported it.; 12/16/19, 1:00 PM
Dave Begley said...: Ann:

Go see it but take off your feminist glasses. Of course, the script is not as good as "Frankenstein, Part II" retitled "Bride of Frankenstein." In my script, Frankenstein's wife is the hero. And innkeeper Frau Althouse plays a minor, but important, role.; 12/16/19, 1:12 PM
readering said...: I'll see it eventually. But I'm a Clint fan and have seen about two-thirds of his movies from this millennium. I doubt the boycott issue kept people away. They just picked Jumanji and Frozen. And things won't get better with the holiday pictures coming. Don't see it turning into a sleeper hit like American Sniper (great film).; 12/16/19, 1:28 PM
Drago said...: LLR-lefty Chuck: "Personally I have a lot concerns, criticisms and questions about the FBI."

LOLOLOLOLOLOL

It's adorable how LLR-lefty Chuck believes he can hedge his bets ever so slightly to try and retain his already hilariously discredited FakeCon online persona!!

Not to worry LLR-lefty Chuck! Inga and readering and Freder and ARM and Ritmo/HoaxPPT and purplepenguin are solidly in your corner!; 12/16/19, 1:47 PM
Drago said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 12/16/19, 2:33 PM
Drago said...: From Ace of Spades:

"Charles Schumer: The House Totally Made a Convincing Case for Impeachment But Also We Totally Need to Call New Witnesses to Make the Case for Impeachment

But oh, by the way, we also don't want to hear from certain witnesses, like Hunter Biden."; 12/16/19, 2:33 PM
narciso said...: well the rise of skywalker is going to lay a pterodactyl sized egg, the contention about Kathy Scruggs is not merely that she was ali Watkins 1.0, but her information was wrong,; 12/16/19, 2:35 PM
Christy said...: I survived a lengthy interrogation by the FBI. I was young, incredibly arrogant, and angry over the entire affair. Some whistleblower reported a problem with equipment we were in the process of installing to hold high level nuclear waste. It is hard being interrogated about a subject on which one is an expert and the interrogator is not even close. I'm sure the practicing lawyers here cringe at the thought of a know-it-all being asked leading questions. It is all to easy to speculate and open all new cans of worms. (One of the reasons I had strong doubts about the FBI accusation of Irvins in the anthrax attacks was this experience.) Lucky for me I'd discovered the problem myself on a routine visit to the manufacturer months earlier. I stopped production, informed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and started redesign of the equipment. The regulator guy in charge and I had serious disagreements and the lengthy path to getting the new design approved was all laid out in the federal court docket. BTW, turns out the whistleblower had a labor beef and just wanted to cause trouble.; 12/16/19, 2:36 PM
JMW Turner said...: Sam Rockwell is a solid, under the radar type of character actor. You can always count on his characters to be interesting. I bet that a considerable chunk of Eastwood's perennial movie audience will see this, and like me, prefers to watch it on their big screen TV with a premium sound at home. I bet this movie will do well in the long haul.; 12/16/19, 3:51 PM
JMW Turner said...: Sorry. Changed tense at "prefers", should be "will prefer". Impulsive of me.; 12/16/19, 3:55 PM
TerriW said...: Rockwell was fantastic in Moon and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, but was also in one of my very favorite little movies: Galaxy Quest.

(I don't know if that's "little" anymore since it seems to have eventually found love over time.); 12/16/19, 4:28 PM
rcocean said...: I want to go see it, but it might be gone before i have time. usually these kind of movies to good business because the critics tell everyone its something all Upright, good citizens (particularly lefties) should go see. They didn't this time. And you got:

No explosions, fights, or car chases
No comic book super-heroes
No Black or Brown leading men
No sexy babes or romance.
No music or laughs

Had Jewell been black and railroaded out of RACISM, then white women might have shown up.; 12/16/19, 4:30 PM
JaimeRoberto said...: Is the FBI a criminal organization? Yes, parts of it are.; 12/16/19, 4:31 PM
rcocean said...: I don't think the Althouse crowd, which tends to be on the older side, realizes how much Hollywood's target audience is (A) Foreigners and (B) teenagers who are non-white.

Its not 1968 anymore. Its not even 1998.; 12/16/19, 4:34 PM
Mr. O. Possum said...: Saw it last night. Great movie.

When was the last time you saw a movie whose hero was a terribly obese fairly simple-minded man? The furthest person imaginable
from the characters Eastwood used to play.

Go see it. Solid entertainment. And disturbing.; 12/16/19, 4:35 PM
rcocean said...: Amazing how when you talk about a movie or a novel some Jackass will show up & try to derail the conversation. We need to talk about SERIOUS THINGS. Insert LINK.; 12/16/19, 4:36 PM
Mr. O. Possum said...: Ann...you ask, "What woman would go to this movie?" because the central female character is manipulative trash.

If you're a woman, you go to see Kathy Bates as Jewell's devoted mother. She loves her son...flaws and all, and in the movie's most emotional scene defends him in a press conference.; 12/16/19, 4:38 PM
Amadeus 48 said...: I went to see Richard Jewell today. It is powerful and understated, that is, you have to think about it a bit to see its true impact. Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde, Kathy Bates, Jon Hamm (BOO! Hiss!) are great, as is the chap playing the eponymous hero.

One oddity is that the previews included one for the Fox News movie "Bombshell". By the time the credits rolled in Jewell, I lost interest in a Fox News exposé. NBCCBSABCCNN needs someone to keep them honest, or at least flood the zone the other way.

Here in Chicago, you are more likely to get the truth from the Fox broadcast affiliate than from any of the other broadcast stations. They are hungrier, I think. Fox 32 together with abc7 both provided careful, well-informed pieces that let you follow the investigation where it led. CBS2 and NBC5 went with the PR spit out by Jussie's Hollywood handlers and were consistently surprised by developments.; 12/16/19, 5:08 PM
Amadeus 48 said...: The way the movie hit me, it is too much like what we live with every day. In fact, after seeing Comey's ridiculous performance with Chris Wallace, the movie has more and more impact.

SPOILER ALERT

The FBI knew within three days that Jewell could not have physically done what he was suspected of. The investigation went on for another 85 days, with the FBI trying the Bed of Procrustes routine to try to fit Jewell into the physical facts.

Well, they have spent three years on Trump, haven't they? When the agent in charge finally gives Jewell and his lawyer a no target letter, he hisses to Jewell that he still thinks Richard is guilty as hell. I immediately flashed to Comey and Wallace yesterday.; 12/16/19, 5:20 PM
Amadeus 48 said...: Oops. Left out a reference to Jussie Smollett in the 5:08 comment.; 12/16/19, 5:22 PM
David Begley said...: Unknown: Kathy Bates was great.

Ann: For Kathy Bates’ performance alone, you should see the movie.

Rcocean: I was at AFM and I know about the foreign sales; especially China.; 12/16/19, 6:50 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: The critics have a point: Eastwood will need a lot of money to fund his next project, which is what anyone in Hollywood understands.

Some of you flyover fucks might not get it: We own this town. Clint is a baby.

If Eastwood ever wants another to be a part film in some way, well then by God he will learn his lesson and start adhering to codes we imparted back in the early days of that fat Artie Arbuckle??? or something, who raped and murdered without consequence because, HEY DIPSHITS, we rule your world.

And sociopath (secular) Jews cannot be mentioned by respectible peopjle so I won't.

But I won't forget the Rabbi's who have called out the fellow (secular) Jews otherwise Oh My God people might add 2 and 2 and conclude maybe Hitler was rightly human. As far short of God as any man, but not an unman. So punishing many decades later anyone or group that might have some "sins of the father" we can profit from ought never to be spoken, not even once.

Sounds wrong to me but I'm just an undereducated white who should kill himself, I guess.

Hitler said way, way worse things than that I'm sure.

Oh wait, what was the question?

Oh yeah we hate because they hated so much more effectively.; 12/16/19, 6:54 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: "Left" or "right" or deriviations are cunt words that should no longer be used.; 12/16/19, 7:12 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: I told, here at the Althouse blog, years ago the problem with "Left" and it is the same with the "Right" in that: Hitler.

Althouse voters like proggies like Wilson's words of greatness.

Trump voters like winning.; 12/16/19, 7:29 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Ultimately, based on the evidence, it's not too early to conclude some folks prefer other-than-winning.; 12/16/19, 7:30 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Ingrained is the ethos: we've been given so much whilst others have nothing ergo we must keep everything we were given, and really rape the help, just in case there was actually some reason we had so much given (to us).

Fair enough says the director of Rushmore, and gets the great Bill M. to say: "Take aim on the rich boys...."

Certainly it wasn't "at" but on I pressume.; 12/16/19, 8:20 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: I won't forget the Rabbi's mentioning.

I should have specified, instead of emoted, that point.

But it's tough to know moment to moment what to do here at the Althouse blog.; 12/16/19, 8:25 PM
Marcus Bressler said...: I may or may not go to see it in the theatre. It is a movie that I can wait to see on Prime. My problem is that I am afraid it will make me angry (likening it to the Trump Affair) and I don't need any of that this Christmas.

THEOLDMAN; 12/16/19, 8:26 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?

ad nauseum.

Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?Hey, Didn't Narciso Say?; 12/16/19, 8:31 PM
narciso said...: You rang, mnuchin financed projects like amwrican sniper and apollo 13 through rat dune; 12/16/19, 8:37 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: It was probably 'round 2003 the last time I saw the Pacific.

Secenod time, Bueways leavea nd whales say to me "hey bro, keep broing bro."

God Bless again the Pacific. Especially those who don't leave.

But God bless the leaver's too.

Fine men.; 12/16/19, 10:06 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: The brilliance is: derp derp it associates Hitler with the right!!!

The genius is: do you see who they react thinking they might actually score, and get a dumb bloke to make them a bunch of money via a dorky quip?

So where are the dumb dorky quips you fools?

Head em off at the pass.; 12/16/19, 10:22 PM
Amadeus 48 said...: This thread has descended to a hell where Guildof...appears to be drinking heavily and narciso is he one making sense even without
the corrections.; 12/16/19, 10:49 PM
Sebastian said...: "In this case, the movie has a physically unattractive male central character, and the main female character is a reporter who uses her sexuality to get the story. What woman wants that?"

Any woman enlightened enough not to care about superficial things like a man's looks and to want to see how their sisters abuse their femininity. Not a large audience, I know. But a few? None, you say? Huh.; 12/16/19, 11:21 PM