No matter what subject documentarian Errol Morris chooses to explore, it’s always a big deal. And this is most certainly the case with his new documentary, “American Dharma,” where Morris casts his inquisitive gaze towards controversial former Donald Trump advisor, Stephen K. Bannon. Morris attempts to bridge the partisan divide as he investigates what drives a man like Bannon, one of the alt-right movement’s leaders.
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The bulk of the doc takes place in a Quonset hut, with the two men sitting down across the table from each other having a conversation. The media portrays Bannon as the boogeyman, a caricature of everything they despise about extreme conservative politics. He’s a populist with strong anti-immigrant views who uses his media platform to combat liberal ideals. “American Dharma” dives into Bannon’s origin story and encompasses everything from his childhood love of movies to his days working with the Trump administration. Morris doesn’t hold back during their conversation, and Bannon shows up ready to speak his mind.
The best movie villains don’t believe they’re the bad guy. While ‘Dharma’ gives Bannon the chance to explain his views, make no mistake, the film doesn’t frame him as a good person. Morris is an old pro and knows what to say to crack even the toughest nuts, and he gets some juicy info out of his subject. The two have an easy back and forth despite their opposing viewpoints, and the conversation remains cordial as the two men respectfully disagree with each other.
Morris wants to figure out whether Bannon believes his own bullshit, and if so, why? The filmmaker frames his subject’s work, particularly with the Trump administration as an exercise in hypocrisy; there’s something fishy about a billionaire who hides his taxes claiming he’s a man of the people. And the only time Bannon seems caught off guard is when he’s pressed on this issue. The film gives the impression that Bannon believes some of his own rhetoric, but he mixes those beliefs in with blatant lies and the lies he talked himself into.
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Morris goes the extra mile to make a talking heads doc visually dynamic, and he packs “American Dharma” full of cinematic flourishes. Even when the two men sit face to face, the director frequently cuts between different perspectives. He captures Bannon from imbalanced and unflattering angles where he looks small in the frame, his green jacket blending into the walls behind him. As the conversation heats up, Morris zooms in, making him larger and more imposing while the score switches from rousing to a sinister. The musical ebbs and flows match the conversation, giving the back and forth a grim intensity.
The filmmaker also jazzes the movie up with plenty of clips. He takes imagery from the most recent Presidential campaign and slaps it onscreen alongside headlines and social media comments as though they’re being seen on a computer screen. The film incorporates scenes from classic movies that inspired Bannon such as “Bridge on the River Kwai” and “Paths of Glory.” They bring a hit of energy to the doc’s steady tone and keep the 95-minute runtime from ever feeling like a slog.
There’s a point in “American Dharma” when Bannon embraces a comparison to Lucifer. That about says it all, doesn’t it? It’s not that Bannon can identify with history’s biggest villain, but instead, how easily he warps perception to suit his own narrative. Why not make the devil an underdog? Bannon possesses a level of delusion that only comes from someone at the height of privilege. He exists in self-aggrandizement bubble, and Morris sits across the table, picking and prodding at him.
Does this film say anything liberals and conservatives didn’t already know? Probably not. It does offer a candid, civil, and up-close look at a man championing hard-right (some might say racist) ideals, which is more than viewers get from watching CNN-panel screaming matches and Fox News hagiographies. Morris and Bannon meet somewhere closer to the middle, which is a solid starting place for any “us versus them” conversation. Morris doesn’t agree with his subject, but he’s willing to hear Bannon out. At least for the sake of making a more compelling doc. Considering how much of the political divide stems from dismissing the opposition, perhaps hearing the other side out isn’t such a bad idea, after all. And in some cases, the opposing side will compare themselves to Satan on their own. [B-]
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