Henrick Vartanian
This month IFC Films released a documentary we jumped on.
“Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia” is a straight forward, light-hearted tribute to an unforgettable American giant. Unforgettable, in the sense that if you had seen or heard, read his words, you would have not forgotten the tone or the man.
After all, it was Vidal who had famously said: “I never miss a chance to have sex or appear on television.” Reality TV stardom is based on this nowadays. Is it not?
Gore Vidal was a man with a relentless presence, a unique singular voice, rarely seen in today’s personalities, political, or otherwise. His gift to reinvent himself and re-enter the widening public arena was as amazing as the previous times, and as attention-worthy as the next words leaving his mouth.
When exploring 20th century personalities and historical figures, Gore Vidal, singlehandedly has had more effect on the worlds of literature, film, politics, and the historical debate than anyone in his rank.
As a novelist, and a politico, riding the tall waves of fame in the late 1960s, Vidal became the toe-to-toe left-wing challenger of William F. Buckley Jr., in a series of entertaining and heated ABC News debates that set the bar for all future encounters. One of the most famous moments in TV history happened when the two exchanged blows over the 1968 Democratic convention, in Chicago. Vidal used the words “crypto-Nazi” to describe Buckley, and an irritated Buckley called Vidal a “queer” and continued by threatening him: “sock you in the goddamn face,” he added. Those moments are featured in this film.
Through one-on-one interviews with Vidal, we hear the stories and the opinions effectively, on camera, “from the horse’s mouth,” so to speak. With additional commentary by those who knew him best, from filmmaker/nephew Burr Steers and the late Christopher Hitchens, we the viewers, get a fuller impression of this liberal powerhouse.
The new documentary (directed by Nicholas D. Wrathall) paints the controversial, outspoken, and playful Vidal in a humorous and kind light. It also touches on that sexy, gay novel that nearly ended his literary career if it wasn’t for Vidal’s constant voice, and re-entry into the spotlight through other doors.
The film is an immensely entertaining, warm and informative look at the man the newer generations have heard of, but have yet to know, on their own terms. Vidal was one of a kind, a cat with nine lives, and a few sides of him are on display in “United States of Amnesia.”
Gore Vidal: “The United States of Amnesia” is available on iTunes, Amazon Prime and YouTube.
CLICK HERE for the film’s official website.