The alt-right movement is a worthy subject of a documentary as the rise of hate crimes and hate group activity thanks to a President that supports them tacitly or at least has worked with advisors that support them like Bannon. (Look at all the 1 star reviews from people who clearly haven't watched this film). Unfortunately, this documentary is not the documentary I was looking for to help me learn more about them and efforts to push back against their raciest speech and actions. It mostly consists of going between various alt-right spokesman like Spencer and Mciness as well as anti-facists like Daryle Lamont Jenkins. As other reviewers have suggested, some background information would be useful for context. Are there any groups in the middle The closest is Southern Poverty Law center, Mark Potok, who I found the most reasonable in this film. I would have liked some person or even a voice to help tie everything together. Occasional text transitions to time and place don't quite do enough. As a 99 cent rental from iTunes, I don't regret watching it. I just wish it had been a little more cohesive and useful. This documentary is a place holder until something better comes along.
25 Reviews
Strong start deteriorates to repeated preaching
jesper-125 March 2018
A strong start with high production value deteriorates into repeated political messaging. After the first hour I was just waiting for this one to end.
I am no expert in the Alt Right movement or Richard Spenser, so I was pleasantly surprised with the opening of the movie, as it looked like I would get some new insights. As the documentary progresses it turns out to be more of a collage of monologues made by Antifa activist Daryl Lamont Jenkins.
The messaging will be completely clear to the viewers once the movie ends: Alt-Right is "kind of" neo-Nazi or outright neo-Nazi, while Antifa are a democratic opposition which violent acts are never questioned.
My frustration grew as I watched how facts were distorted and the double standard of the makers became more and more clear. Let me point to some examples:
My criticism should in no way be confused with support for the Alt Right movement, but I am on the other hand left with the clear impression, that the documentary lacks credibility in its portrayal of the movement.
For me it is absolutely absurd, that assault rifle armed private militia shows up to provide security to a demonstration, but contrary to the documentary's narrative I found myself thinking that it was properly good they appeared, as the director seamed apologetic to violent Antifa protesters.
The first half an hour is definitely the strongest part in regards to insight and production value. The last part of the documentary is week. Half an hour could easily been edited out.
I am no expert in the Alt Right movement or Richard Spenser, so I was pleasantly surprised with the opening of the movie, as it looked like I would get some new insights. As the documentary progresses it turns out to be more of a collage of monologues made by Antifa activist Daryl Lamont Jenkins.
The messaging will be completely clear to the viewers once the movie ends: Alt-Right is "kind of" neo-Nazi or outright neo-Nazi, while Antifa are a democratic opposition which violent acts are never questioned.
My frustration grew as I watched how facts were distorted and the double standard of the makers became more and more clear. Let me point to some examples:
- Richard Cohen of the Southern Poverty Law Center talks about threats to his life (victim) while doxing (revealing private information publicly) about his opponents and Lamont Jenkins thinks it is good that people in Alt Right lose their job, when he exposes them.
- Antifa activist is doxed by Alt Right (victim) and he dresses up in protective combat gear when going to a protest against a completely peaceful closed Alt Right conference. He is in a fight, that he most likely started himself, and is then saluted by Antifa including Daryl Lamont Jenkins when released by police while his victim is in the hospital.
- Antifa activist does not want to speak about what she knows about which masked Antifa thug who violently attacked Spenser while he was being interviewed. This violence is somehow justified, okay or even funny.
- The failure of the Charlottesville police to stop violence is somehow manipulated into being a police support for Alt Right, while in fact it is clear from the documentary, that anti-Alt Right protesters instigated the violence. Focus then turns to the 20-year-old Alt Right supporter who rammed into a crowd with his car leaving a woman dead. Trump is then portrayed as a "kind of" neo-Nazi supporter for condemning violence "on many sides".
- Dangerous and scary background music are played when Alt Right speaks. When Lamont Jenkins incites the crowd with his chanting that they repeat, heroic music is played.
- Daryl Lamont Jenkins are the hero of the movie presenting one up close and personal monologue after another for the audience. In the end of the movie, this constant preaching was almost unbearable to watch. Richard Spenser, on the other hand, is shot from a distance and without the same coherent point of view.
My criticism should in no way be confused with support for the Alt Right movement, but I am on the other hand left with the clear impression, that the documentary lacks credibility in its portrayal of the movement.
For me it is absolutely absurd, that assault rifle armed private militia shows up to provide security to a demonstration, but contrary to the documentary's narrative I found myself thinking that it was properly good they appeared, as the director seamed apologetic to violent Antifa protesters.
The first half an hour is definitely the strongest part in regards to insight and production value. The last part of the documentary is week. Half an hour could easily been edited out.
Worth watching
ajs-864929 January 2019
I find it interesting that the negative reviews of this movie are from both sides of the political spectrum. Some are angry that anyone would give someone like Richard Spencer this much face time, and others are angry that Antifa isn't shown in more of a negative light. The film does portray the new alt right as tantamount to Neo-Nazism, but I found it interesting to learn that this is something Spencer and his followers refute. Ultimately this film presents us with the argument of if the rise of white supremacy in the United States is something to be seriously worried about, or is something to ignore and not give attention to. I wasn't bored watching this movie. It was well edited, interesting enough, and overall worth watching.
Pure garbage
The-Sovereign8 July 2020
meandering but good as an overview
MunkyMovie2 August 2021
The narrative line in this documentary takes and long time to emerge, and remains thin and often recedes. But it covers the broad ground such an overview-style doc should -- one appropriate to newcomers to the subject. Richard Spencer certainly embraces the "give 'em enough rope and they'll hang themselves" chance he was given, though that impression may result from deceptively careful editing. The comments from balaclava-wearing Antifa members are understated but worth a rewind.
Geez, these reviews are biased
heymrjackwhereyaat2 February 2019
I watched Alt-Right: Age of Rage to get a neutral look at both sides of alt-right movement and they did not disappoint. You will hear close up interviews with both Antifa and Alt-right leaders without biased assertions that are sometimes prevalent in other documentaries. Watch this and receive some insight into Antifa and the Alt-Right actions and motives leading up to and during during the Charlotesville riots. Its a good documentary that seeks to understand and inform.
Fresh air does not cleanse filth
ghigau17 January 2022
Any publicity for these human disgraces is ill-advised. Weak minds miss the social danger displayed by the bigots. Antifa is no paragon of virtue, and they err in self-describing themselves and their interests. If you personally know any of the right-wingers (as I do), you know they are repressed, ignorant, misogynistic losers; the type who could not get a date in high school, so tried to make their hate notorious. In fact, they are simply deranged sociopaths. I know it is hard to sit back and watch stupidity go unchallenged, but that would be the best course of action for the likes of the racists.
Super biased
marshallwhitley31 January 2019
Important but not surprising
rmoniz-1154912 July 2020
I can see where someone on the right anywhere would not like this documentary since it truthfully calls them out. There are good interviews and the makers even make a solid effort to allow alt-right figures to speak for themselves. There may be degrees of hate on the right but this program shows how its all tied together. The only justification that the right puts forth that makes any sense is free speech but it doesn't take away from their ugliness or the right of decent people everywhere to oppose their bigotry and white supremacist views.
I only rated it so high for it's message, not it's quality.
therskybznuiss23 April 2021
The filmmakers are saying some very important thing's in this, and outting some very dangerous ideology that has become mainstream again in the US. On the "Alt-righ"' there are no heroes and how Donald Trump the collapse of traditional liberal (and denocratic-lowercase d) institution's has lead to a major crisis in political relation's in that country.
The film itself could have been half as long, and twice as impactful in that very fact.
The film itself could have been half as long, and twice as impactful in that very fact.
Complete and total propaganda.
eqrangerst2 February 2019
This movie is just another reason I am learning to loathe Netflix. The sheer number of Leftist propaganda pieces they produce/endorse is getting ridiculous.
This excuse for a 'documentary' is just another example of that trash. The reporting is extraordinarily dishonest and biased. Antifa and SPLC are human rights advocates and victims? Please, they're both terrorist organizations with different play books.
This excuse for a 'documentary' is just another example of that trash. The reporting is extraordinarily dishonest and biased. Antifa and SPLC are human rights advocates and victims? Please, they're both terrorist organizations with different play books.
Clearly people here didn't actually watch the film
pugofthewug18 March 2019
This documentary mainly covers both antifa and the alt-right without bias. They gave up close and personal interviews with leaders from both groups and was extremely intriguing. I understand the controversy about the Southern Poverty Law Center but I don't really believe that their part in this film diminishes the impact that the documentary.
Misleading, Superficial Shock Piece
zurd-856856 February 2019
This is a shock piece to scare people. While implying to present from all sides, the video montage presents nearly every segment out of context to cast the right in the worst possible light. Anyone who is on the street at Antifa / Proud Boy rallys knows much of the violence comes from left. In the film, Mark Potoc of the SPLC has a chart on his wall that tracks white decline over the decades. Ask yourself why a civil rights group is so interested in the dramatic decline of whites in the US? Let's be real, the SPLC is an ant-white group acting as a neutral civil rights organization. They have multiple defamation lawsuits pending for this behavior.
At one point, the film implies hypocrisy when it cuts from Richard Spencer saying there was no violence to Antifa smashing windows because the viewer will think they were alt-right. So dishonest. The film does not address many of the actual issues facing those on the right. Rather, it sets up strawmans to appeal to and scare outsiders. These strawman arguments are easily dismantled without providing an honest take from the right. 98% of the so called alt-right is not hateful, they're more about having an identity and not becoming a minority in their own homelands.
At one point, the film implies hypocrisy when it cuts from Richard Spencer saying there was no violence to Antifa smashing windows because the viewer will think they were alt-right. So dishonest. The film does not address many of the actual issues facing those on the right. Rather, it sets up strawmans to appeal to and scare outsiders. These strawman arguments are easily dismantled without providing an honest take from the right. 98% of the so called alt-right is not hateful, they're more about having an identity and not becoming a minority in their own homelands.
A pamplhet at best
francois-paquette2 February 2019
You guys are hurt, huh?
tinypple17 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The documentary isn't perfect and in a lot of ways I think they could have elaborated further on certain things but the critiques you guys are giving makes you sound like dummies incapable of having a debate ngl. Therefore I'm treating you like dummies incapable of having a debate and rating 10/10 to be petty.
You clearly came in feeling some type of way from the beginning because the title is condemning the alt-right entirely. In actuality, there were a lot of interviews with alt right people and the film makers clearly made them feel comfortable because they started spouting ignorant stuff right away.
You Missed the Point, because people are so obsessed with seeing things from "both sides" you think that that means that both sides have equally rational and cohesive points and should be treated with the same amount of respect. But you Don't have to treat NAZIS with the same amount of respect, and if you really wanna argue that point, take a step back and ask yourself where you went wrong in life.
Like I did not wanna come in here and be bitter I thought everyone was going to talk fairly about critiques of the film but you actual idiots really came on here and said "antifas just as bad!! This is suppression of free speech!! Wah" like pls grow up, pleeeeease! They let them speak, they just pointed out all the contradictions in what they were saying, if it offended you it's probably because you've been spouting some ignorant stuff too I don't know what to tell you
You clearly came in feeling some type of way from the beginning because the title is condemning the alt-right entirely. In actuality, there were a lot of interviews with alt right people and the film makers clearly made them feel comfortable because they started spouting ignorant stuff right away.
You Missed the Point, because people are so obsessed with seeing things from "both sides" you think that that means that both sides have equally rational and cohesive points and should be treated with the same amount of respect. But you Don't have to treat NAZIS with the same amount of respect, and if you really wanna argue that point, take a step back and ask yourself where you went wrong in life.
Like I did not wanna come in here and be bitter I thought everyone was going to talk fairly about critiques of the film but you actual idiots really came on here and said "antifas just as bad!! This is suppression of free speech!! Wah" like pls grow up, pleeeeease! They let them speak, they just pointed out all the contradictions in what they were saying, if it offended you it's probably because you've been spouting some ignorant stuff too I don't know what to tell you
Strange spin on history
merciless-625423 April 2022
Strangely this documentary fails to show that the Klu Klux Klan was founded by white southern democrats to stop black people from voting and gaining rights. David Duke is portrayed as "alt right" in this documentary when he's a registered Democrat who publicly voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 elections. Duke also put the support of his organization behind the democrat candidate who had also supported her husband for his two terms in office. This lacks facts.
Could be more unbiased
jpierce2-103-9016403 December 2019
Mediocre, monotonous and overly edited.
skyhardesty18 February 2019
Right between 4 minutes and 4 minutes 10 seconds, this documentary is using sound effects (a common scream sound effect used in a plethora of video games and films was used 3 or 4 times). Just going to give this single example. Unless footage is muted (wasn't), it is highly unorthodox to use these types of sound effects in a documentary.
The film, I felt took an excessively bias stance by using white supremacists and antifa in their primary comparison. Antifa is a larger group that is very loosely held together. White supremacists are much smaller in numbers but are close-knit groups that aren't necessarily affiliated with one another.
I was surprised that this film was fairly balanced, considering.the title lead me to believe it was going to be a film bashing the right.
Nonetheless in my.ooinion this was a poorly thought out and executed documentary. There isn't much you will find new in this film if you keep up with the news. I do give the film some credit for decent interviews and shining a light on activities of white supremacists. As for antifa makes the news much more frequently, it was interrsting to see some updated things about white supremacists and how they are behaving in our current social and political climate.
Just dont use crappy sound effects in a documentary! Especially in footage that already has sound and is showing a traumatic incident recorded live. Imagine a 9/11 docmomentary adding sound effects to tragedies filmed that day. For example..the same scream as aforementioned added to the footage of those poor brave folks who chose to jump to avoid the fire.
The film, I felt took an excessively bias stance by using white supremacists and antifa in their primary comparison. Antifa is a larger group that is very loosely held together. White supremacists are much smaller in numbers but are close-knit groups that aren't necessarily affiliated with one another.
I was surprised that this film was fairly balanced, considering.the title lead me to believe it was going to be a film bashing the right.
Nonetheless in my.ooinion this was a poorly thought out and executed documentary. There isn't much you will find new in this film if you keep up with the news. I do give the film some credit for decent interviews and shining a light on activities of white supremacists. As for antifa makes the news much more frequently, it was interrsting to see some updated things about white supremacists and how they are behaving in our current social and political climate.
Just dont use crappy sound effects in a documentary! Especially in footage that already has sound and is showing a traumatic incident recorded live. Imagine a 9/11 docmomentary adding sound effects to tragedies filmed that day. For example..the same scream as aforementioned added to the footage of those poor brave folks who chose to jump to avoid the fire.
An Important Look at a Dangerous Movement
JustCuriosity10 March 2018
Alt-Right: Age of Rage was well-received at its world premiere at Austin's SXSW Film Festival. It provides a detailed examination of the ideology of Richard Spencer, Jared Taylor, David Duke and several of the other so-called "alt-right" leaders. What it really reveals is that this movement is just a rebranding of the same old KKK white supremacists who are wearing suits instead of hoods. Director Adam Lough spent time with these cretins and let them do much of the talking so that showed much of their true colors. (It actually reminds me of the film Jesus Camp where the directors let a nasty ugly group of individuals reveal themselves before the cameras.)
Still at 112 minutes the film was really too long and showed too much coverage of these individuals in a way that became slow and repetitive at times. By focusing on the coverage of their most recent events such as Charlottesville, they failed to really provide historical context for these movements and connect them back to the long history of white supremacy. They could have benefited from including historical interviews with academics who have studied the history of the far rigtht. They also could have done more to linked the alt-right much more directly to the coded language of Trump's 2016 campaign and to the writings of Steve Bannon and Breitbart. This movement gained credibility through its rebranding which allowed it to promote the Trump movement.
The heart of the film was the powerful voices of Richard Cohen of the SPLC and activist Daryl Lamont Jenkins who each in their own way are fighting back against the alt-right. Daryl is a truly heroic figure. Still there were often ideas that were raised and not followed through on. At one point, Cohen appears to critique Antifa tactics for opposing the alt-right, but instead of exploring this insight, the director just moves on. While the film is revealing as a starting point for exploring the alt-right it lacks direction and scholarly exploration of this important subject matter which should concern all of us. Good start, but it could have been a lot better.
Totally Full of Sh***T
autumnthms16 February 2019
This film gave more depth to something we already know.
castoirebenjamin17 July 2019
Great great documentary, this film will one day be a historical document for us to remember the importance of voting. This all stems from the top down. Let's gain control again with our votes. Let us really make America great again, diverse as it should be.
Total waist of time
gemtech27 January 2019
Fascinating. Good Vs Evil.
michael_gibbon-868701 December 2019
Fascinating. You learn both sides of the argument in this. The alt-right leader Richard Spencer and a black liberal campaigner. Some shocking revelations about what the Alt-Right want to do and how they want to shape the U.S. and they're gaining numbers but their will always be good people to stop them. Awesome documentary.
This documentary clearly shows who the real domestic terrorist's are...
brandic-193953 January 2021
First off, the alt right clearly doesn't like this documentary and most likely didn't even bother watching it. They went on their little 4chan account and told other alt-righters to downvote this documentary. It's pretty obvious. They know that it portrays them for what they are. They want to go around saying that they are the real 'Patriots' and real 'Americans' and that couldn't be further from the truth. This documentary takes you inside the ideology and psyche of the players of the far right. Shows how divided this nation has become. Use as a warning of what we are up against by these backward thinkers. These hateful and violent people should be called for what they are: Domestic Terrorists
Excellent Documentary
DavoZed3 December 2021
Excellent documentary showing the behind the scenes words and actions of the left / antifa and the alt right.
Richard Spencer and the people on the right are shown to be liars and haters that they are. It's comical to see Spencer talking about how they won the day in Charlottesville and how the movement is going to explode. With the recent verdict in the Charlottesville trial, every right organizer of that event, including Spencer, is going to be bankrupt.
It's also deeply disturbing to see the leaders of the right split hairs on race and promote nonsensical solutions / options like splitting the US down the middle, so they can have half.
The documentary is very even handed and unbiased, as virtually everything said in it, is coming out of the mouths of the leaders of the left and the right, on camera.
The best and most thorough treatment of Charlottesville and the leadup, up to it, that I have seen.
Well worth a watch for anyone who wants to understand the right and who despairs for the mess that they and Trump have made of the country.
Richard Spencer and the people on the right are shown to be liars and haters that they are. It's comical to see Spencer talking about how they won the day in Charlottesville and how the movement is going to explode. With the recent verdict in the Charlottesville trial, every right organizer of that event, including Spencer, is going to be bankrupt.
It's also deeply disturbing to see the leaders of the right split hairs on race and promote nonsensical solutions / options like splitting the US down the middle, so they can have half.
The documentary is very even handed and unbiased, as virtually everything said in it, is coming out of the mouths of the leaders of the left and the right, on camera.
The best and most thorough treatment of Charlottesville and the leadup, up to it, that I have seen.
Well worth a watch for anyone who wants to understand the right and who despairs for the mess that they and Trump have made of the country.
See also
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