Do Not Resist (2016) User Reviews

Chilling, moody documentary

[runamokprods · 8/10 · 9 January 2017]

A documentary with the creepy mood of a horror film, this un-narrated collection of 'on the scene' footage everywhere from the streets of Ferguson during the protests after the police killing of Michael Brown, to US Senate hearings about the selling (or giving) of high end military equipment to the police forces of small cities and even small towns. (One town got 2 armored vehicles from the US Government, even though the whole department is only one cop!).

The film looks at how the militarizing of smaller police forces, far from reducing danger, not only wastes tons of taxpayer money, but more importantly helps foster and conform an atmosphere of fear and suspicion between the police and the citizens they serve. The government gives no training in the use of the equipment, and despite the statement that the tanks and high powered automatic rifles aren't supposed to be used for riot control or the suppression of citizens, that seems to be exactly what it does get used for (since terrorism is basically a non reality in these towns, as, mostly, are murders).

There's also exploration of ever growing police surveillance of public spaces (facial recognition software meaning you really are never alone), and predictive technology that seems to be heading us right towards the 'pre-crime' dystopia of 'Minority Report' (most chilling line of the film "How do you tell a mother that her unborn child has a 50% chance of committing a murder by age 18? What is she supposed to do with that?' asks a developer of this technology. (Not to mention – what if you're wrong?!?)

Generally, the film is low on facts and figures (although there are some real jaw droppers), but that's OK. Other films have focused on the hard details. This film focuses on what having these weapons and abilities as part of day-to-day policing does to us all --not only citizens but even the police themselves. (I appreciated that the film doesn't feel 'anti-cop', and even showed empathy for officers receiving mixed signals from their superiors and the US government as to how they're supposed to do their jobs). I liked that it was clear that these trends trouble people on both the left and the right. Having an over-equipped literal 'army' watching our every move seems to trouble citizens and even politicians of many stripes.

A chilling and important film about how law enforcement has been evolving in the US, and where it could easily go in the future if we're not all very careful.

Not for the Insensitive of Heart

[domoaudigier · 7/10 · 1 March 2017]

What Atkinson sought out to do, he delivers on. Do Not Resist presents a fantastic look at a world many of us may not know about: the world of police militarization. Undoubtedly a magnet for criticism from those in political opposition, the film features recorded hearings and comments from politicians we know well, and it is impossible to proclaim bias as a simple fact check yields truth. You may gasp, you may cry, you may rise to anger or frustration...and that's the point. To evoke a response and demand attention to a disturbing issue taking place in the U.S. This film is by no means anti-cop. It is anti-militarization, and Atkinson tries to express that through the voices of former police officers who voice their concerns and discomfort with the use of armored vehicles and heavy artillery to address peaceful protests.Some of the shots are pretty impressive and the cinematography is wonderfully inventive for clips taken from the streets and chambers. Check the film out before making any premature assumptions, you just might learn something...I know I did.

Strong message diluted by indirect narrative and unimpactful editing

[nascentt · 7/10 · 22 December 2016]

My introduction to this documentary was the trailer "Official trailer 1" on Youtube. Prior to seeing that I had no knowledge of this film

I feel like the pace, and editing of the trailer is far more direct and purposeful than that of the film itself. I found the introduction of this film a very slow start and through the first 15-20 minutes of this I questioned if I wanted to continue watching the movie.

I found that lack of any narrative and general laid-back approach to introducing the movie within the first 15-20 minutes off-putting and weak. It isn't until after first 20 minutes that we get to the message of the documentary aside from "riots are bad". I found the lack of any direct interview footage for the first 25 minutes of the film a poor choice, as as the film nears it's end some of the interviews are the strongest asset of the movie.

It's clear that there was a intentional and conscious decision to try to balance and intercut all informational footage with action scenes/task force and protest footage, which is fine for keeping things interesting, but it gets repetitive and uninteresting as it loses it's punch of the message. I feel like just a simple re-edit of this movie would really deliver a much stronger punch of "yes the army are actually giving away for free their mostly unused military equipment to the police force without any training" and yes "these novice officers are mostly misusing this military equipment for riots suppression and fear tactics where they are not actually allowed to do so."

I found the interviews and court-room footage, far more powerful than the constant need to keep standing around and watching the black lives matters protests. I absolutely understand that the Missouri and Mike Brown riots/protests are a big deal, but really I found most of it lacked any real purpose or direction in terms of storytelling.

I do recommend this documentary as it really does have something to say, especially towards the end, and there's lots of factual and informational footage buried in this movie, sadly I feel that it loses it's place as a must see documentary just because of how haphazardly it tries to find it's footing as a documentary with a message, especially for the first half.

A chilling glimpse

[mongand2000 · 9/10 · 5 December 2016]

Do Not Resist is actually several films, as the narrative unwinds on the truth of police militarization, training, and the future of policing with 24 hour aerial surveillance and the ability to track movements. It is surprising how much is contained in barely over an hour. From Ferguson, where a line of armored vehicles approaches a protest line, to the deep south, and preparations for a SWAT raid. A dealer is confirmed at the house, and "we" expect a serious haul. But no, afterward we are told that such raids are "50-50;" a thorough search only a little personal use pot is discovered in a book bag. To small town New England, where the city council debates a "free" armored vehicle from surplus military stockpiles, and then to the surplus vehicle boneyard. A Senate Hearing room. A SWAT "convention" in Florida, and a training seminar with Dave Grossman. He promises a crowded room of police that the best sex they'll ever have is on their most violent days on the job. An airplane over Baltimore, tracking every vehicle and pedestrian in real time downloads to police. There's so much, ultimately too much, to easily process it all; the ultimate lesson is that the venue of a particular police action doesn't matter. This is how modern American police train and act.

Surprisingly, filmmaker Craig Atkinson does not provide any narrative. The real people on the screen are the entire narration. The transitions are not particularly smooth, and the film packs so much into 72 minutes that I wonder how complete it is. There is no judgment, just reporting in their own words. It turns into a compelling story. It is easy to see why it won Best Documentary at Tribeca.

Rather chilling

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 8 June 2020]

"Do Not Resist" is a documentary about the militarization of the police around the United States. And, like all good documentaries, it doesn't tell you what to think...there is no narration. Instead, it just shows video of the police and military hardware salesmen--in training, in riot control and in interviews. Then, it leads you to question why these cops need this sort of hardware...which is something which should concern us all.

Overall, this is a very good film that makes you think...and it does so without preaching or hyperbole. Instead, it just shows what is and asks folks to explain why and what they are doing.

By the way, I noticed that some reviews were NOT reviewing the quality of this film or its message. Instead, they were critiquing the police or making political statements or statements about race. Remember this before you simply accept their criticism of the film.

Excellent Shocking and food for thought

[matthijsalexander · 8/10 · 18 February 2017]

Being Dutch I am not really used to violence of inner cities. I think SWAT Teams and tactical teams are for Hollywood movies and series. I am mistaken.

This documentary show how ridiculous Americans are and how they are now militarizing their police. How some think its a good idea to rule the masses with armored vehicles and war-materials. It is already ridiculous what types of weapons police are using, but to go this far can only mean that there is some sort of master plan for the USA, that they foresee rebellion and uprising.

The documentary is a real jaw-dropper and gives good insight in the mindset of politicians and civilians.

Takes an important topic and goes sensationalist route

[random-70778 · 12 February 2020]

Militarization of law enforcement is certainly an issue. It is more of an issue at the the federal and state level it is at the local level. BUT I do not understand the inclusion of Ferguson and other violent RIOTS. In those cases police having headgear, batons and riot shields is perfectly appropriate and not "militarization" out of nowhere. the riots against the police in Ferguson, after Michael Brown, who was fleeing a violent felony he had just committed and assaulted a cop and grabbed his gun, were not in any way a justified violent riots. The Washington post, hardly right wing, gave four out of our Pinocchio to Elizabeth Warren and Kamilia Harris or lying about the Brown episode. Even the Obama DOJ, adter initially supporting the BLMs lies, concluded later the shooting was completely justified and that Brown had viciously attacked the police, was NOT shot in the back and did not have his hands up when he was shot.

Who watches the watchmen?

[tudorpsih · 4/10 · 30 June 2018]

How can you expect people of color from that area to be kind to you, when you have drones watching over them, raid their homes with the slightest of evidence and have a dozen cops with military arsenal walking around them all the time?

You don't see doctors with syringes up in your face, just in case you'll need them or a firefighter with a hose pointed at you, in the eventuality that you'll be set on fire.

The government. should calm down from its obsession towards weapons if they want the citizens to give up theirs. I have a feeling that soon we'll watch another documentary from Ferguson called "Winter on Fire part 2".

The U.S. forfeited a long time ago from the race of 'the greatest country in the world', but won the 'we have a lot of weapons, though' race and this weird fetish will cost them in the long run.