User reviews

"MLK/FBI" is a decent overview of the FBI's surveillance and efforts to ruin Martin Luther King and, by extension, also does a fair job of summarizing some of the civil rights leader's achievements. Although some of the archival footage employed for the documentary's expository mode looks newfound and, reportedly, is based on some recently declassified documents, there isn't much if anything new discussed here.

I'm not an expert on King, but I've read about him over the years, seen other documentaries, visited the hotel-turned-museum where he was assassinated, and it's a challenge to point to one new thing in this doc that I learned. Generally, it's what anyone with even a passing recreational interest in 1950s-1960s American history would already know. Maybe there aren't any other documentaries that focus primarily on this angle, though, so I'll rate it positively for that. One may check out "King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis" (1970), for instance, if they want a grander overview of King's activities, and there've been many others, along with documentaries about Hoover and the FBI. We even have biopics such as "J. Edgar" (2011) and "Selma" (2014). In the end, the desire is palpable to release the FBI tapes already that are scheduled to be unsealed in 2027 (which talk about arbitrary), as at least then there'd be new material for the historians and documentarians to work with.

Otherwise, as it is, too much time is wasted here musing over King's sex life. Yes, he had extramarital relations; move on. I read about that and mentioned it in a biographical speech I delivered back in secondary school; it's not a revelation. The most scandalous "new" item, I suppose, is the FBI's rape accusation, but there's nothing really to say about such a claim from the racist organization that was out to ruin the man if there's no evidence available to substantiate it. The filmmakers could've used the same tact here that they offered J. Edgar Hoover, for whom they only hint photographically of his rumored homosexuality and never mention the more dubious claims of transvestism.

The commentary on the FBI's actions against the civil rights movement is better, including contextualizing it as part of mainstream American white supremacism of the era. Perhaps, not enough credence is given to the fact that the FBI, however, was part of a federal government where administrations were offering support for civil rights out of one side of their mouth and eventually legislatively at the same time as they were approving Hoover's surveillance and intimidation campaign. Conspiracy theories regarding the FBI's involvement (or at least willful negligence) in King's murder are largely glossed over, too.

As an introduction or overview, "MLK/FBI" does well enough, as I said, though. Plus, I like the archival footage approach with the voiceover exposition as opposed to talking-head interviews. Fortunately, I recognized some of the film clips shown, for which the identification here was inconsistent. "The FBI Story" (1959), for example, gets a caption, but not, as far as I noticed at least, "The Birth of a Nation" (1915) or "The March" (1963). Even if I saw the narrators' faces, however, I wouldn't really know who most of them are, although hearing James Comey remark on what he considers the most shameful aspect of the agency's history (the letter basically attempting to blackmail King into suicide) is interesting, to say the least. But, that's a whole other doc on bureau shenanigans.

The film is tightly structured and narrated over archive footage of king, with some other contemporary footage mixed in. In terms of visual material, the film does not bring any new unforseen archive films to the table and a lot of the images used in the film are used several times. With the original sound bites however, the film does a great job in opening the context to the audiences. What the film lacks in new visual material, it gains in its content as it is based on new research of the FBI archives. Great learning material for history or social studies classes.

IN BRIEF: A well made documentary about this great leader but flawed man and the FBI 's vicious attempt to discredit him.

JIM'S REVIEW: (RECOMMENDED) Sam Pollard's gripping documentary, MLK/FBI, chronicles the Civil Rights movement and the FBI's shameful discrediting of one of its leaders, the Rev. Martin Luther King, which was orchestrated by its bureau chief, J. Edgar Hoover. Having the FBI conduct surveillance of MLK with the sole purpose to humiliate and destroy his image with the public, the film uses declassified documents, archival footage, and Hollywood propaganda film to state its case. (The entire FBI tapes are slated to be available to the public in 2027, so only some documentation, photographs, and interviews are the film's basis.)

The documentary is fascinating in its thorough researching of those turbulent times during the 50's and 60's from the start of the Civil Rights protests until MLK assassination, with comments from historians about his legacy. The filmmakers try to encapsulate the unrest in our nation during those polarizing times and it confirms the governmental tactics used to wiretap its citizenry and lump MLK with the evils of communism while labeling MLK with other more military-minded Black protest groups as subversives. Call them "domestic terrorists" before that term was commonplace, but the film resonants with today's racist climate.

The documentary is not totally successful in its narrative structure and one wishes their scope was narrowed down and more concise in its storytelling and also focused more on Hoover's backstory and obsessive mission to destroy another man. Granted there is too much to comprehend as the film covers nearly two decades and most history buff would savor this retelling. But this is an important film for all to experience and its lingering message is truly thought-provoking. Most telling is the turnaround by a supportive President Lyndon Johnson and the FBI Bureau after MLK is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Indeed, politics does have strange bedfellow.

The director's sense of irony is also at play as he begins his documentary with this quote from a film clip of former President Ronald Reagan:

"In most stories, villains are usually defeated and the ending is a happy one. I can make no such promise with this picture you are about to watch. The story isn't over..."

MLK/ FBI is a noble effort by Mr. Pollard and his crew. Their film is very well constructed and edited with skill by Laura Tomaselli, making this history lesson a cautionary tale for all Americans to heed. And yes, the story isn't over! (GRADE: B)

MLK/FBI could have put forth 3 main issues with more power. That leaves it open to still hear extremists on the partisan left or partisan right continue justifying only part of imperfect MLK's world. While they ignore so many the great and thoughtful insights he stood for.

1) The FBI under misguided ruler-ship (Hoover & Sullivan) taking advantage of findings on surveillance (authoritarianism+) or manufacturing items if hard facts aren't found. This is the worst, and it shows how a monied public agency doesn't always serve truth and who pays for it.

2) Communist party involvement disproven by MLK's own stated beliefs, including his outing of more than one person involved in communism. The Alt-R and some voices in the post 1990 pay-triot movement, John Birchers, etc, hold onto this notion though apparently false.

3) MLK's adulterous activities weren't clarified until the end of the film, though much of that may have been beyond its scope. No matter, this should have been better explained during the FBI's tapping of his hotel rooms. That would serve we who try to do well, to be vigilant that our private and public lives are on the same high ground.

Regardless, it's a film documentary worth seeing, though it lacked details that could have been covered.

This is a documentary about the FBI investigation into MLK. It's a fairly straight forward recounting of the issues. I do know the general points of the story. J. Edgar Hoover's obsession is well known. His relationships and work with the political leaders are not that hard to work out but it is good to lay them all down. Of course, there is a pro-MLK point of view but it's not unreasonably slanted. It's actually very telling that the documentary paints JEH's investigation as something very mainstream at the time. That may be the most surprising point coming out of this. Even if the investigation wasn't hidden, it would be likely supported by the majority of the people. The polling on JEH and MLK is the one big factual hit. It puts numbers into a sense of the times. Mostly, this is not that eye-opening of a documentary but it does put everything into context.

A very thorough documenting of MLK's political activism and attempts by the FBI and others to shut him down for political and ideological reasons.

Using the latest info available on him, it connects all of the dots and reveals his work to bring about equality and his frustrations with the forces who were preventing that.

Very thorough and incredibly detailed account of what we do not know... Infuriating and educational. It saddened me and taught me a lot. I hope everyone will get the chance to see this. How sad that this icon and hero was taken away from this world at such a young age. The world would have been so different had he been able to have lived his full life.

I guess because it's about MLK, we're all supposed to genuflect down to this documentary. The fact of the matter is that this film was a bore. I'm not even remotely an expert on MLK, and there was nothing new in this documentary. I guess if you really don't know much about MLK's life, and/or if you didn't know anything about the FBI discovering his infidelities and trying to exploit them, then maybe you'll think this documentary was great.

In addition, there was a very curious choice made by the director, whereby there are voiceovers by numerous people throughout the film that I had never heard of before (e.g., Beverly Gage, Donna Murch, Marc Perrusquia), and they never tell you why they are important to this story until right before the credits roll. Why?

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." MLK

It's shocking to hear in the eye-opening documentary MLK/FBI William Sullivan, the FBI's director of domestic intelligence, encourage Martin Luther King, Jr. to commit suicide. The theme of the doc is that the agency, under J Edgar Hoover's direction, from 1955.was dedicated to bringing down King and the Civil Rights Movement.

Although the animosity was known even in the 60's, the doc does a credible job showing this aggressiveness was a part of the mid-century paranoia dominated by the fear of communism and perhaps mirrored it. In this case, the agency, like Joe McCarthy, had little evidence of the subjects' undemocratic tactics but probably was motivated more by the fear of losing influence to liberal protestors or lonely anarchists.

Mixing archival footage of King parading and snippets from his famous speeches, director Sam Pollard gives a fluid narrative to otherwise discursive material. To his credit, talking heads are at a minimum as he emphasizes the growing concern that King was being targeted to go down.

That plot was notoriously supported by ample evidence of King's philandering, mainly in hours of tapes with his women, not his wife, from wiretapping to photos. The actual auditory evidence will be released in 2027, and the ballyhoo will probably be disappointing because he did his good while he was doing his bad, and the good he did for civil rights and Black people far outweighs infidelities to his estimable wife and puritanical white folk.

MLK/FBI could have profited from discussion of his influence and flaws and how the latter might have been better served by expert analysis about their importance. That he was an appetitive man, at least in regards to women, was known before this documentary; that he was a powerful player in the freedom of his own people and other repressed minorities, will redound through history.

MLK/FBI will remind you in important evidence that like JFK, MLK was destined to change a nation and lose a young life in return. I never tire of remembering true heroes.

This is a must see documentary which chronicles a vital period in American history. Don't miss it!

It could not be more timely to learn how much the fight for racial justice was always considered a threat to the default American power structure. What a brilliant and powerful film!

Excellent and compelling film. It was chilling to see just how far the FBI's campaign of hatred went. I loved the use of audio-only interviews until revealed at the very end. The interviewees served as our trusted narrator as opposed to characters. Really beautifully done and highly recommend the watch.

This had the potential to be a good movie, the story is fascinating but unfortunately it couldn't have been told in a more bland fashion. There is nothing visual about this movie, it might as well have been a podcast.

I was enthralled by this documentary! So much of my African American/Black History is distorted or not even told at all. I learned so much and will watch it with my 11 year old twin grandsons.

Very good documentary that goes depth inside USA undemocratic and racist state, far away from widespread shallow speech and self-image of a country of freedom and democracy. As usual in dictatorahips, FBI not only inbestigated but also harassed Martin Luther King in order to dampen anti-racist struggle in the country. Lots of good information, footage and interviews are found in this important documentary on the Black question and on the serious discussion of what democracy is.

The FBI begins spying on MLK on suspicion of communist activities and ends up spying on his sex life. It is the disease of the moral watchers. The documentary accurately narrates these espionage activities that move against the defense of human rights. Through well selected archival material, it is a necessary film to show the moral baseness of those who considered themselves protectors of moral integrity. It is the danger of a policy based on constant suspicion.

I know very little about King and I hoped I would get to understand his mission and his struggles better after watching this documentary. But I feel like I didn't learn anything new. The documentary fails to provide a closer look into his life. The timeline and the order of the events and what the events even are, is depicted poorly. It's rather a farther look at MLK than a closer look. At some points I even felt like the documentary is actually trying to undermine him, a continuation of what FBI was trying then! You don't know who is commentating or being interviewed in the narration which gives a sense of dishonesty from the producers.

This is quite a comprehensive and elaborate documentary - with a nice academic touch to it :) So this film focuses on civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Martin Luther King, and his relation to the FBI and J. Edgar Hoover; ending with King's assassination in 1968.

So hopefully the FBI has learned something from that; namely that harassment of civil rights leaders - in particular black and colored folks - is unacceptable, and that freedom of speech, assembly and association must be upheld and honored by law enforcement officers in the United States of America.

What stands out in this film, I think, is that Martin Luther King successfully combated racial inequality and discrimination through nonviolent resistance. It should be noted though, that racial equality and social harmony remain elusive in America to this very day - with an increasing incidence of police violence against minority groups. Although quite a complex topic, I think it is imperative that the US Senate and Congress - in particular President Joe Biden - finally take the necessary steps to implement a Basic Income Guarantee (BIG) in the US; to effectively counteract racial inequality as well as socioeconomic inequalities - so that all folks in America have the opportunity to get a good education and be able to provide for their children.

It should also be noted, that US teachers say school shootings and mental health struggles have made this year their hardest yet - with many teachers struggling to preserve their mental health. Teachers in Germany can out-earn an entry-level doctor or web developer. But in the United States, too many teachers have to work second jobs to make ends meet.

Many teachers told CNN they fear they've already reached a point of mental burnout. And it's not just teachers - pediatricians in the pandemic are seeing record numbers of children with mental health problems.

Hence the US government - as well as the US judiciary - must make a greater effort to empower US teachers and counter health problems among young persons; such as increasing salaries for school teachers, so that they can make ends meet, prevent mental burnout, and are not taken advantage of.

So hopefully the US Senate and Congress - in particular President Joe Biden - can improve salaries for US teachers and properly fund public schools; by implementing the necessary laws to make it mandatory for US states to provide a functional school system and appropriate salaries for teachers in the USA.

This documentary tackles a very interesting part of history. It is a story I don't often see taught in school. It features a lot of big figures is U. S. History. It is the 1960's, we have J. Edgar Hoover, Lydon Johnson and of course, Martin Luther King Jr. Take those characters and put them in the U. S. 1960's setting, with the Civil Rights, Cold and Red Scare. Put all these ingredients together and you have your self a fascinating recipie.

Looking at the situation from the lense of today, it is easy to see that Hoover is acting selfishly and irrationally, but this documentary does a good job of rationalizing his actions, without justifying them.

It is also quaint to remember a time when the FBI needed wiretaps in order to listen in to American's phone calls.

Not much to say, the film does its job well. It informs its audience of an interesting story in an interesting matter.