Enemies of the State

Just a bizarre hours long journey of crazy from a delusional family that dove into wild conspiracy to not face reality.

Honestly incredible this guys parents are as insane or maybe more than he is. If you want to watch a family deal with their own conspiracies in a circular firing squad manor that ropes in multiple hangers on for publicity this is the doc for you.

The documentary was overall interesting but heavily laden with actor recreating scenes that were wholly unneeded. In an age where everything is a conspiracy and there are 'heroes' everywhere against a 'shadowy government' this is an interesting look at someone who made such claims to distract from what the government was really trying to charge and prosecute. Beside the dramatic recreations the lack of an interview with the main subject is really to the detriment of the overall documentary. Over produced, over long, could have been edited down to an hour or an hour and a quarter and it may have been bumped up the rating.

Director Sonia Kennebeck did a pretty decent job with 2017's "National Bird" and this examination of Matt DeHart was proceeding pretty well till the end, with no discernible conclusion to his story. It's like she just gave up before informing us of his current circumstances. He got released from prison in Oct 3rd 2019 and he missed an interview with her on the 12th and no more about him, but she could get something from doing basic investigatory reporting, where he's working, schooling, traveling, etc. You'll feel cheated in the end.

TIFF 2020 01

Enemies of the State

The truth is never pure and rarely simple- Oscar Wilde This documentary film was about the case of Matt Dehart and his family against multiple accusations he faced such as child pornography, national security charges and dark-web allegations. This film, I believe, started as a passionate and zealous search for the truth about Matt's case through almost 15 years and the result is that in today's world, the truth is not a definite, absolute, certain object we can achieve, but rather a complex, between the webs of lies set of stories, manipulated facts with various groups interests integrated and intervened to try to shape and form them benefitting those interests. The film feels more like a story of an investigation with great use of cinematic techniques not unlike those of previous Errol Morris works, who also produced this documentary. It's a thought-provoking, intelligent film with lots to offer.

This is honestly how's news should be done. CNN Fox News MSNBC they need you! Presented both sides of the story no spin!