Out of all the journalists, none have been as witty as one Molly Ivins. The story of one of America’s most outspoken and humorous journalists has been brought to the screen in “Raise Hell: The Life & Times Of Molly Ivins.”
Director and co-writer Janice Engel (“Ted Hawkins: Amazing Grace” and “Addicted” gives audiences a documentary based on the life of the former Texan columnist, who sadly passed away in 2007 at the age of 62 from cancer.
Engel spoke to Women and Hollywood before the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year about the film and the inspiration she took from the stage play ‘Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit Of Molly Ivins’. She said, “I was knocked out by who Molly Ivins was, how she spoke, and who she so brilliantly skewered.” She continued, “Both James [Egan] (producer) and I could not believe there had never been anything done on Molly Ivins, so we jumped in.”
She also spoke of what she wants her film to inspire people to do, saying, “How important it is to vote! To learn and take their civic responsibility with pride and action.
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, and was met with high praise. Our review of Engel’s witty documentary about the six feet of Texas trouble said: “‘Raise Hell’ preaches to the small choir that adored Ivins, but this documentary sings a beautiful new psalm that will reach new disciples and renew the follower faith like a tent revival.”
The documentary film stars some of the people who were close to Ivins, including Betsy Moon (Ivins Chief-of-Staff), Alan Ivins (Brother) and Sara Ivins Maley (Sister).
Here is the synopsis:
RAISE HELL: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins tells the story of media firebrand Molly Ivins, six feet of Texas trouble who took on the Good Old Boy corruption wherever she found it. Her razor-sharp wit left both sides of the aisle laughing, and craving ink in her columns. She knew the Bill of Rights was in peril, and said: “Polarizing people is a good way to win an election and a good way to wreck a country.” Molly’s words have proved prescient. Now it’s up to us to raise hell!
The film will hit Texas theaters August 30th and then New York/Los Angeles on September 6th, watch the new trailer below.