Some things in life simply make no earthly
sense. The sexting scandal of disgraced former
Congressman Anthony Weiner, and the very
existence of this riveting, entertaining, and compulsively
watchable doc about it, equally fit that
bill. The story of Weiner’s comeback New York
City mayoral campaign is so cringe-inducing,
so mind-boggingly bonkers, it begs the unanswerable
questions, what could he possibly
have been thinking? And why would
anyone have agreed to let this be filmed?
Weiner’s Shakespearean downfall is an infuriating
look at modern politics, masculinity, and
narcissism that makes us root for a flawed man
surrounded by a media circus. Filled with laughout-loud
moments that you just have to see
to believe, “Weiner” leaves you wondering why
these particular flaws derailed him, when other
politicians with arguably more troublesome issues
freely run for office.
In Person: Directors
Elyse Steinberg and Josh Kreigman.