"Crawford" at SXSW

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HE correspondent Moises Chiullan is raving about David Modigliani's Crawford, which screened last night at Austin's South by Southwest. It's "about much more than the major change felt initially in this small Texas town when George W. Bush first moved there in 2000 a few months before the election," he writes, "and it's more than you get out of a trailer or a quote from a friend. In fact, the municipality of Crawford, Texas itself is a lot more than it may seem like at first.

"This movie is more than a chronicle of events and humorous anecdotes, or an examination of what directionsmall-town America went in during these last eight long Bush years. This is a movie about the future, and the film's relevance is even greater considering the pivotal role of the recent Texas primary and the still-uncertain picture regarding the Democratic nominee.

"The intellectual elite (high-thread-counters, in Hollywood Elsewhere parlance) may have it stuck in their heads that small towns across the country are full of ignorant, tobacco-chewing pro-Bush morons, a complacent idiocracy. Many saw the 2004 election map as straight up red and blue thanks to the arcane effect of the Electoral College on our voting system. But Modigliani's Crawford presents it as definitely a purple town, and make the case that we'd all be surprised how often this is true in what are considered 'rural' communities.

"The Crawford locals portrayed in the film include a woman who owns a Bush merchandise shop and a Baptist preacher who prays for the day Bush will visit his church, expected types you'd see in 'Bush Country.' They also count among them anti-war activists who founded a Peace House and kids who completely defy the stereotype of their small town by not 'chewing grass and wearing boots.'

"There are good ol' boys who as 'good ole' as they come but don't fall in line with the crap others buy on Fox News each night. They know Bush only gets outside with a chainsaw to get at some cedar trees when there are cameras on him and they wish he'd pick up more of his trash.

"A more important examination is the town's rise and fall, evinced in the 74 minutes that the film runs.

"The beginning of the Bush years in Crawford begins a local economic boom. Every storefront on the main street is rented, and the town's former glory many recall comes back. As the years wear on, we approach the point where the country began to implode, and once it does, it's kind of surprising how bad things turn out until you remind yourself that George W. Bush invaded Crawford before Afghanistan or Iraq.

"For me, the most pivotal story and relationship present in the film is shared by Misti Turbeville (a progressive, liberal history teacher), and a young man who became one of her pupils during those years named Tom Warlick. Tom went from believing everything he was told to searching out his own truth and standing up for it.

"Tom goes through years of being picked on and emotionally crucified just for having his beliefs. One day he went to school wearing a homemade t-shirt that read 'America, Your Hands Are Bloody' listing the military casualties of most of the U.S.'s major wars. I grew up in north Texas. I didn't make one of those shirts, but I know what just having that opinion is like, and it isn't pleasant.

"In the film, Warlick leads what I consider to be the epitome of the young 'examined life': the kid who does like Walk Whitman urged and tore the pages out of the book of life that offended logic, reason, and decency and blazed his own path. Teachers like Mrs. Turbeville are the reason guys like him make it through the bullying and the intimidation.

"During a post-screening q & a, Misti remarked she thought Crawford 'has matured like the nation has matured,' which I took to mean that whether or not everyone is more open to the idea of thinking about and doing things differently, they know it's time for the new direction toward progress that Tom represents.

"I'll say that you should take care reading other reviews that may ruin seeing the movie yourself. This is a movie that should not be spoiled for anyone."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on March 9, 2008 at 8:50 AM

comment #1

christian says ...

When I went back to Texas in 2004 before the election, the folks with BDS I met turned out to be truckers, receptionists, store clerks, etc. None of whom could be pigeon-holed as Bush loyalists.

Posted by christian at March 9, 2008 9:13 AM

comment #2

le corbeau says ...

So the answer to the HE stereotype of flyover country as dumb hicks is a movie which chronicles the progress of dumb hicks toward correct coastal attitudes?

Posted by le corbeau at March 9, 2008 9:20 AM

comment #3

Dave says ...

Coming up next: "Rural Republicans. . . do they REALLY have lizard feet?"

Call me when we get a documentary on "Red State" attitudes in Berkeley and Cambridge.

Seriously, Blue State vs. Red State, urban vs. rural, Jeff's friends vs. rubes. . . these tired tropes of taxonomic shorthand are shields behind which the lazy and ignorant hide their elitist prejudice.

Not to mention, they just ain't that useful a shorthand.

Except for Jeff-- every time he uses them, he guarantees 30+ comments ;-)

Posted by Dave at March 9, 2008 10:44 AM

comment #4

christian says ...

And with the Bush Legacy blooming:

A report obtained by The Associated Press said soldiers experienced skin abscesses, cellulitis, skin infections, diarrhea and other illnesses after using discolored, smelly water for personal hygiene and laundry at five U.S. military sites in Iraq.

The Defense Department's inspector general's report, which could be released as early as Monday, found water quality problems between March 2004 and February 2006 at three sites run by contractor KBR Inc., and between January 2004 and December 2006 at two military-operated locations.

It was impossible to link the dirty water definitively to all the illnesses, according to the report. But it said KBR's water quality "was not maintained in accordance with field water sanitary standards" and the military-run sites "were not performing all required quality control tests."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080309/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/iraq_contaminated_water

Posted by christian at March 9, 2008 11:29 AM

comment #5

le corbeau says ...

Christian, you're being D.Z. with links.

Try to post with some higher degree of relevance than "Item about Bush-- post about something that happened during his term in office."

Posted by le corbeau at March 9, 2008 11:33 AM

comment #6

George Prager says ...

My favorite Huckabee quote:

"We'll probably end up borrowing this $150 billion from the Chinese, and when we get those rebate checks, most people are going to go out and buy stuff that's been imported from China."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqvVd2XMqnw

Posted by George Prager at March 9, 2008 11:49 AM

comment #7

christian says ...

It's very apropos to remind people of the continued failures of Team Bush and the GOP to take care of our soldiers. The story popped up today. It's relevant if you support the troops.

Posted by christian at March 9, 2008 12:18 PM

comment #8

le corbeau says ...

No, it really isn't. I understand that you hate Bush and want to slam him every chance you get, but what you say is paid attention to to the degree that it has anything to do with the specific subject at hand. The subject of this thread is Crawford, Texas, extending perhaps as far afield as Bush's media image, support for him in red states, etc. But malfeasance by a military contractor, if it is that, does not touch on any of those subjects. Dragging in anything anti-Bush out of any left field is the D.Z. approach, and generally chuckled at.

Posted by le corbeau at March 9, 2008 12:32 PM

comment #9

le corbeau says ...

Also please note this sentence:

"It was impossible to link the dirty water definitively to all the illnesses, according to the report. But it said KBR's water quality "was not maintained in accordance with field water sanitary standards" and the military-run sites "were not performing all required quality control tests.""

Translated, that's journalese for "we have no proof whatsoever that any part of this story has any validity, but we have linked two phenomena as if they were cause and effect anyway."

Posted by le corbeau at March 9, 2008 12:34 PM

comment #10

Reedyb says ...

The movie is excellent. Not the best doc I've seen at SXSW, though.

That would be Wild Blue Yonder by David Mayles daughter.

Posted by Reedyb at March 9, 2008 12:59 PM

comment #11

christian says ...

Mgmax, considering the documentary is about the effects of Bush on Crawford, your claim is not valid. KBR is Halliburton is Cheney is Bush writ large. It's all connected.

Posted by christian at March 9, 2008 1:49 PM

comment #12

le corbeau says ...

So water in Iraq from a company that's been a military supplier since the 1920s is one of Bush's effects on Crawford, Texas.

Uh huh.

Posted by le corbeau at March 9, 2008 2:02 PM

comment #13

christian says ...

And there's no connection from Halliburton to Bush.

Uh huh.

Posted by christian at March 9, 2008 2:09 PM

comment #14

le corbeau says ...

Yeah, they both made movies with Kevin Bacon.

Also, did you know that Halliburton sold off its entire stake in Kellogg, Brown & Root? About a year ago.

Just to make your vague yet sinister connection between something and something that much more vaporous.

Posted by le corbeau at March 9, 2008 2:16 PM

comment #15

christian says ...

As if you've ever acknowledged any connection between Bush and his Houston cronies. Enron had nothing to do with Bush either, right? And Crawford has nothing to do with Bush...

Posted by christian at March 9, 2008 2:34 PM

comment #16

le corbeau says ...

Now you're starting responses with "as if" and using Enron as the ultimate answer to all questions. It's a short step from there to "At least they didn't..." Don't do it, Christian! There's still hope-- resist the D.Z. Side!

Posted by le corbeau at March 9, 2008 2:44 PM

comment #17

George Prager says ...

"Also, did you know that Halliburton sold off its entire stake in Kellogg, Brown & Root? About a year ago."

This is splitting hairs. Being a killjoy can't be that satifying, Mgmax. You need a blog. Here's the college freshman version: Bush sucks. Cheney sucks. Iraq is just another way the corporate culture in Washington that these two personify can do some business, pretend to be patriotic and inspire young American men and women to go die in a war so their buddies can make billions. Childish statement? Yes. Simplistic statement? Yes. True? Absolutely.

Posted by George Prager at March 9, 2008 2:51 PM

comment #18

le corbeau says ...

Here's the adult version. The world runs on oil and that isn't going to change any time soon, and anyone who gets all high and mighty about it and doesn't live in an unheated hut is a hypocrite. Oil wealth has facilitated some nasty pathologies in the middle east which kill Jews on a regular basis, Muslims on an even more regular basis, and us on an occasional basis. During the Cold War we favored some of those pathologies, now we're trying to break that habit and get some portion of that society into civilized modernity. As a result of that we need a base in the middle east and we're going to keep one for decades to come, and no president is going to pull that base out and constrain his/her own options. Those bases need to be serviced by military contractors, who get blamed for everything, often justly, often absurdly, by people who don't get the contradiction between their suspicion of government contractors in one area and their advocacy of government control of other parts of life, such as health care. In other words, hope you enjoy the Brown & Root water during your Hillarycare hospital stay.

And yes, that was more fun than the work I should be doing this Sunday afternoon.

Posted by le corbeau at March 9, 2008 3:08 PM

comment #19

George Prager says ...

You sound like Cliff Robertson at the end of THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR. But, if that's your idea of fun...well, try telling it to this guy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ty_Ziegel

Posted by George Prager at March 9, 2008 3:22 PM

comment #20

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

Thank God there are people like Mgmax lurking on this movie site to explain how the real adult world "works." Hallelujah!

Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum at March 9, 2008 3:27 PM

comment #21

diagf.com says ...

or the simple version: Imperialism.

"...get some portion of that society into civilized modernity"

How many atrocities throughout history have used this excuse?

Stick to movies Mgmax.

Posted by diagf.com at March 9, 2008 3:35 PM

comment #22

SpinDozer says ...

'or the simple version: Imperialism.

"...get some portion of that society into civilized modernity"'

I think he meant post-modernity. In the future, we'll all only have 2 hours of electricity per day.

Posted by SpinDozer at March 9, 2008 6:41 PM

comment #23

le corbeau says ...

Gee, George, between using the maimed to score cheap points and throwing around words like "sand n----rs" you're really on a roll today. You should get a blog!

Yes, we do need to defend our interests around the world sometime. If you feel otherwise, try telling it to this guy:

http://www.baltimorereporter.com/falling2.jpg

But will they print it?

Posted by le corbeau at March 9, 2008 6:55 PM

comment #24

Walter Sobchak says ...

Poor christian. Only 316 more hatin' days left!

Posted by Walter Sobchak at March 9, 2008 8:24 PM

comment #25

christian says ...

Poor America is more like it.

Posted by christian at March 9, 2008 10:06 PM

comment #26

Nate West says ...

"Here's the adult version. The world runs on oil and that isn't going to change any time soon... As a result of that we need a base in the middle east and we're going to keep one for decades to come..."

If this is indeed the "adult version," why hasn't the Bush regime been plain about it?

Bush Manifesto: "In contravention of international law, we intend to invade and occupy a sovereign nation in order to secure oil supplies for the vital needs of our empire. We are fully aware that such long term occupation of a Muslim nation will inevitably breed hatred, resistance. violence and an increased likelihood of terrorist acts against our own homeland.

"But in exchange for a few thousand of us getting killed in massive explosions or aerial poisonings now and then, millions of us will have continued access to plastic bags, fertilizers, incredibly sweet SUVs and a military-industrial complex second to none. Of course, should the terrorist acts our occupation engenders result in acts of mass destruction, it would be prudent to park your Range Rovers inside for the night. That is all."

Posted by Nate West at March 10, 2008 12:57 AM

comment #27

George Prager says ...

Having watched it unfold, heard it, breathed in, got it on my clothes, gave blood and went back to work in Manhattan the next day and worked and lived the aftermath of 9/11, I don't need to be reminded of it by someone who watched it on Fox News, Mgmax. You still haven't porved to me that the Iraq War defends our interests around the world. I'm right and your cynical and detached and smug.

Posted by George Prager at March 10, 2008 4:53 AM

comment #28

George Prager says ...

Correction: enjoyed it on Fox News. Admit it, Mgmax, 9/11 was the happiest day of your life.

Posted by George Prager at March 10, 2008 5:32 AM

comment #29

George Prager says ...

There are two Mgmaxs on HE. The film historian and the Maturity Troll. So watch out. Any sophomoric reveries about American foreign policy will be dealt with severely.

Posted by George Prager at March 10, 2008 5:55 AM

comment #30

George Prager says ...

This says it all:

http://www.ravenstower.com/?p=162

Posted by George Prager at March 10, 2008 6:48 AM

comment #31

le corbeau says ...

Oddly enough, George, it was. My newborn son, who we were about to shortlist for a heart transplant due to the heart damage he had sustained as the result of a virus called Cox-Sackie (probably caught on an earlier hospital visit-- do everything you can to stay out of hospitals, kids), had an EEG on 9/10 which showed that, thanks to the incredible resilience of the very young, the damage had repaired itself. We had gone from the depths of despair to absolute euphoria, and I went to the hospital blood bank the next morning to give a pint by way of karmic thanks. There were TVs there to keep you occupied while they took the blood and that was where I first saw the images of the towers burning. At that point the estimated death total was horrifically high-- 20,000? 50,000? who knew? And of course, no one knew what else might happen-- the Pentagon had been hit, soon after we heard that another plane had gone down in Pennsylvania, rumors were flying and there was no telling what else might happen over the next few days.

So I had the very odd experience of walking around on air because my little baby boy had been saved, almost miraculously, while all those around me went around heads down and in a dark cloud, convinced that the world was ending. So no, detached is the last thing I am from 9/11, or cynical or smug, since every year the TV networks bring back memories of the darkest, yet most hopeful time in my life. He's six and a half now, perfectly healthy, and unbelievably precious to me.

In other words, George, you and your sanctimony about 9/11 can go to hell. Either we can talk about these things like citizens of a democracy, or we can play 9/11-victimhood oneupsmanship games on each other, in which case fine, you win, congratulations and have a nice day.

Posted by le corbeau at March 10, 2008 6:53 AM

comment #32