Product Details

• Actors: Al Franken, Franni Bryson, Katherine Lanpher, Billy Kimball, Ben Wikler
• Directors: Chris Hegedus, Nick Doob
• Producers: D.A. Pennebaker, Frazer Pennebaker, Nick Fraser, Rebecca Marshall, Walker Lamond
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Docurama
• DVD Release Date: April 24, 2007
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000NDIAP6
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #186,558 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Al Franken - God Spoke" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In God Spoke, Nick Doob and Chris Hegedus (The War Room) shine a light on political satirist Al Franken. The "flaming sword of justice" explains his left-leaning career like this, "They [right-wing pundits] say something ridiculous, and then I subject them to scorn and ridicule." The filmmakers, longtime associates of cinéma verité pioneer DA Pennebaker, take a fly-on-the-wall approach towards Franken's activities around the time of the 2004 presidential election and afterwards as he explores a run for the US Senate in 2008. They look at the (unsuccessful) lawsuit Fox News filed against him for swiping their tagline, his involvement in the upstart Air America network, and his dust-ups with Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Michael Medved, and Bill O'Reilly, who describes him as "a vile human being." Along the way, they follow the Minnesota-born comedian on book tours and speaking engagements, occasionally flashing back to his two-decade long stint on Saturday Night Live. God Spoke is an expansion of the Sundance Channel short The First Amendment Project: Fox vs. Franken and covers some of the same ground as HBO's America Undercover: Left of the Dial. In other words, there isn't a ton of new material here, but this "fair and balanced" profile represents an entertaining introduction to a multi-talented individual. Without Franken, it's hard to imagine a place in the world for The Daily Show and other media designed to expose "lies and the lying liars who tell them," as his 2003 bestseller would have it. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Product Description

An intimate & hilarious behind-the-scenes look at the life of the former saturday night live comedian turned author radio host & political satirist. Studio: New Video Group Release Date: 04/24/2007 Run time: 84 minutes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Al Franken's On a Mission, May 9, 2007

By 

Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix 01 (Starship Voyager, Gamma Quadrant) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Al Franken - God Spoke (DVD)

This was very funny; it begins with a whole bit at the front about how God spoke to him. Although it is really a documentary about the evolution of Al Franken specifically the why and how of his journey from writer and sketch comedian on SNL to humorous political pundit and satirist.

It shows his mission to give the voice of liberal dissent an outlet via Air America Radio and his contemplation of running for the senate in '04 after the death of Paul Wellstone. What was interesting for me was the glimpse into conservative radio and TV personalities and by that I do mean personalities not broadcast journalists including Hannity, O'Reilly, Michael Medvid (former movie critic) and Neal Boortz (contender for the title of Right Wing Megalomaniac). Then there is Ann Coulter, the Heidi Fleiss of the right; too bad All Franken did not know at the time she plagerized her columns and book or it would have been a more intense encounter.

This was fun and revealing because you get a glimpse in to Franken's private life and meet his wife and get to see him in his off time. If you are a Franken fan and want a humorous glimpse in to his life this is for you.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great look into Al Franken's life., April 27, 2007

By 

Keith Dow "Keith Dow" (Folsom, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Al Franken - God Spoke (DVD)

This movie captures Al Franken during some of his more interesting moments; for example:

1. Fighting with Bill O'Reilly.
2. Arguing with Sean Hannity.
3. Helping to start Air America.
4. Entertaining the troops in Iraq.
5. Arguing with Michael Medved.
6. Talking with Ann Coulter.
7. Covering the Republican convention while being blocked by goons.
8. Meeting enemies at a conservative party.

It is well made and gives an interesting insight.

Enjoy!

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I wish I could give it more stars, May 2, 2007

By 

s001 "s001" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Al Franken - God Spoke (DVD)

I feel as though I must start this review by saying that I am not American. I am Australian, a Democrat supporter (or should that be, a Bush basher?), and love reading or watching evidence which shows your current Administration in their true light. That is, liars, self serving, incompetant, embarrassing and arrogant.

I am a fan of Franken, and as we also receive the Fox News channel down here, I have come to despise O'Reilly, Hannity, Coulter, and company. This is why I was hoping I could highly rate this DVD.

I found it extremelly slow and at times, simply boring. I have laughed with delight at Franken's books, together with an array of his TV and audio commentaries.

The official Amazon review states, "The filmmakers, longtime associates of cinéma verité pioneer DA Pennebaker, take a fly-on-the-wall approach towards Franken's activities around the time of the 2004 presidential election and afterwards as he explores a run for the US Senate in 2008."

True. However, when I think "fly on the wall" approach, I usually think about interesting items which the public don't usually get to see, and which help to show the true nature of a person or situation. It seems their version of this simply means following Al around with a camera and recording nothing of any great value.

One of the main selling points of this DVD for me, was this line. "They look at the (unsuccessful) lawsuit Fox News filed against him for swiping their tagline." I would have loved to have seen the true story behind this, however it was simply mentioned, not discussed at length.

Also, "and his dust-ups with Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Michael Medved, and Bill O'Reilly, who describes him as a vile human being." Disappointed again. Anyone who is a fan of Al, or indeed a fan of the other players mentioned, would already know about the fueding. Although I learnt nothing new, it confirmed to me that O'Reilly and Hannity are annoying, insignificant pests, and that Coulter indeed belongs in an institution. I was reminded a couple of times during this film how disturbed Coulter is. If she was not a 'long legged blonde', would anyone even listen to her?

Although warned in the review, "... there isn't a ton of new material here, but this "fair and balanced" profile represents an entertaining introduction to a multi-talented individual." I was still disappointed. Not so much at the lack of new material, but really at the lack of anything.

24 hours later and I am still waiting for a light bulb to shine over my head, and to realise what I have missed. So far, nothing.

Keep up the great work Al, I'll forgive you for this one.