FDR

The content is of course fascinating and overall the documentary is fine but the re-enacted parts leave a lot to be desired, with stilted, leaden acting, especially, in the lead role. Possibly this was a directing problem? Or perhaps McKay feels overly reverential towards his subject? Or perhaps the History Channel does? I don't know. But with each line ploddingly measured, and with facial expressions also delivered in seeming slow motion to the exclusion of anything like spontaneity, this viewer was relieved each time the film returned to the much more dynamic documentary footage, interviews and VO. There is a similar problem with History Channel's Washington where there's even a line about his being more of a monument than a person, so perhaps this turning of these huge figures into lifeless icons, comes from higher up at the channel itself?

The actors just feel so far removed, both in looks and movements, from their suject characters. They just don't really look anything like any of the real people, and the acting feels so forced, it's hard to believe and get through. The FDR character, especially, looks absolutely nothing like Franklin Roosevelt. He doesn't sound out move like him. I'm sure he's a good actor, that's not it, it's just the wrong role for him. The same is true of Elanore and Teddy Roosevelt. It's a distraction to try to force believing it could be them.

Still, I finished it and enjoyed the actual documentary parts.

This documentary is super well made..I've always thought the Roosevelts were the best presidents of all time. Unmentioned..Once Teddy Roosevelt was shot while giving a speech. He endured the shot without falling and shot the man who shot him. Then finished his speech. Later he went and had the bullet removed. The guy was a bad ass..

FDR faced the greatest challenges of any president. While being immobilized before the age of 40. He pressed on through real problems. Unlike the cartoon characters we've had for presidents the past decade..even the last half of century.. I lost my ability to just run or jump after nearly loosing my leg at 31. And broken spine at 18 that still bothers me 18 years later..I can somewhat concur with pain he must of felt. In crisis he still rose to the occasion. Which I really find motivating. Partially paralyzed, he had the entire country and it's allies depending on him and he never gave up. Without him the entire world could possibly be under nazi or Japanese regime..

Teddy Roosevelt's daughter grew to be just as valuable as her 5th cousin who she married. FDR(I don't condone royalty marriages to relatives but it's still more distant than the long line of insest that exist in England and other royal families throughout history. Anyways.) Elenor was invaluable not only to FDR but the country itself. In the end she may have been more righteous than her father. With more wisdom and empathy than both men..

A must watch for anyone with half a brain. Learn why. You won't be disappointed.

What a great documentary series. I always think of the driving force behind this as executive producer Doris Kearns Goodwin. This is the third such series that has aired on the History Channel in the States. Its predecessors were Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.

They've been able to blend historical film footage, actors recreating scenes that we know happened, but away from cameras, and some very sharp historians giving us commentary along the way.

When I see an historical film I frequently grow frustrated. How much of that actually occurred and how much was simply to build an audience? With this kind of series you can feel confident that you're witnessing historical facts without the fiction.

This is a pleasure to watch. I hope that we get to see more from Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Well done! Very well crafted. Great selection of events. Learned so much about an amazing individual. Acting was superb. Archive footage was a great asset and highlighted those crucial moments in his career and life. The historians such as Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meachman as well as other commentators were wonderful and added so much depth to the story.

The History channel has always done an amazing job at bringing these stories together and they certainly did not disappoint with FDR. My family truly enjoyed.

Would have been an absolute pleasure to watch if not for the damn commercials.