Where's My Roy Cohn?

This is a fascinating documentary of Roy Cohn, a New York power broker and uber lawyer, whose adversary, legal or otherwise, you didn't want to be. We see some of the history of the 20th century as Cohn was involved in the Rosenberg's trial ("I would have pulled the switch if they'd let me"), the Army-McCarthy hearings which ushered the downfall of McCarthyism (Cohn was chief Counsel to Senator McCarthy), and numerous mob trials, including the notorious John Gotti, where - no surprise - Cohn pleaded for the mobsters. The film shows an earlier interview with Cohn where this legal barracuda says: "in our adversary system, the lawyer's job is to win, and to win he should try anything that works" (paraphrase). Accordingly, when a certain landlord and his son were sued by the Justice department for racial discrimination, they hired Cohn who promptly counter-sued the Feds for $100 M. This was the lesson Cohn gave the landlord's young son: you never give in, you never admit you're wrong, you go on the offensive and attack your adversaries in any way you can.

I happened to remember seeing "Citizen Cohn," a docudrama (HBO - 1992), where Cohn's confrontational manner was fostered by his wealthy, hard-bitten mother who dominated her weaker husband. This documentary, on the other hand, seems to emphasize Cohn's mother doting on him as well as his affection for her. I'm no psychologist but perhaps Cohn's aggressive manner was fostered by his absurd attempts to hide his homosexuality, when everyone knew it, up to his death from AIDs (which he called liver cancer). Another fascinating item from this doc was how this aggressive, seemingly unlikable man had scores of friends among New York society. I guess power is a seductive agent.

I have to mention before my closing paragraph in this review that the editing and research in this film were outstanding.

Cohn cloaked himself as a great American patriot which is hard to square with his famous comment (also depicted in the film) that: "my goal is to die with no money and owing the IRS millions." Another self-styled patriot, who's a friend neither of taxes or revealing how much he pays, gave us the title of this film, since when this political "personality" was confronted with the Mueller probe and was displeased with the aggressiveness of his lawyers (Rudy Giuliani!), he is supposed to have said: "where's my Roy Cohn?" Obviously, this individual mentored by the notorious Roy Cohn, resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

This is a smartly made and entertaining portrait of a narcissistic sociopath ala our current idiot-in-chief. It's good to be informed about how awful men can be. And aspire to be better.

Lots of information to take in and explains more than I expected not just about Roy Cohn but other people that he has been associated with.

Explains the belief system that he basically followed as well. I will leave it at that and leave it to the viewer to watch it unscathed.

"Where Is My Roy Cohn?" is a documentary about (in)famous lawyer and fixer Roy Cohn. As the movie opens, we get a general introduction to Cohn: "His contempt for the law was clear", and then "I don't car what the law is, I want to know who the judge is". We then go to "1951", when as a 23 yr. lawyer, Cohn becomes Chief Counsel for the (jn)famous McCarthy Committee and its relentless chasing of communists (real or perceived)... At this point we are 10 min. into the movie, but to tell you more of the 'plot' would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from director Matt Tyrnauer, whi in the last couple of years gave us excellent documentaries like "Citizen Jane" and "Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood". Here the director examines a well-know public figure, Roy Cohn, who became a much feared lawyer (fist in public service, then in private practice). Along the way he becomes a larger than life "fixer" of everything and anyone. "No matter what, always claim victory, and never apologize", was Cohn's favorite mantra. Sounds familiar? A young Donald Trump eagerly learns from Cohn and in fact Trump is featured extensively in the film. This movie is not a flattering or admiring portrait of Cohn (on the contrary, Cohn comes across as a stone cold sleezebag, albeit a very samr one). But I must admit that the documentary is well crafted and the time just flew by. Incidentally, the movie's title is of course a quote from Trump, when the Russia investgation exploded and Trump mutters to no-one in particular but himself "Where is my Roy Cohn?", as apparently Trump wishes he had a fixer of the caliber of Cohn, never mind the ethics or legality of it all. (And Giuliani only wishes he could be a fixer at the level of Cohn.)

The documentary recently opened, and I couldn't wait to see it. The Saturday matinee screening where I saw this at was not attended well (exactly 6 people, including myself). That's a shame. Hopefully this will find a larger audience as it expands onto other platforms. Meaning, if you have any interest in politics, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.

Humans like all animals try to save energy, for us we call it laziness. Ignorance is one manifestation. Cohn was the opposite - intelligent, relentless, and he knew how to take advantage of that human condition, "It is the use of the big lie ... accusation ... in the name of Americanism ... political value of wrapping yourself in the flag ... and always when meeting with reporters say 'God bless America'". Cohn stoked fear from McCarthy & the communists to N.Y. mobsters then eventually to N.Y. real money - real estate & the Trump family. Even when the Justice Dept. went after the aforementioned he still won by taking advantage of ignorance & as he taught Trump - change the discussion by attacking your opponents.