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America: Freedom to Fascism
Metascore
43 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 11
  3. Negative: 3 out of 11
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  1. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    75
    Law-abiding Americans who hand off a solid chunk of their salaries to the IRS might be interested in what filmmaker Aaron Russo has to say on the subject of income tax.
  2. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Marc Mohan
    75
    Mostly it's about taxes -- namely, the argument that the Federal Income Tax, enacted in 1913, is unconstitutional and has been ruled as such by the Supreme Court, and that no law exists today requiring Americans to pay it.
  3. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Rosenbaum
    70
    Provocative but also infuriating, this alarmist documentary argues that the levying of a federal income tax in 1913 was unconstitutional and set America on the road to fascism.
  4. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Frank Scheck
    50
    Unfortunately, while the film has some fascinating and compelling arguments, it quickly assumes the tone of an angry diatribe rather than a well-reasoned political discussion.
  5. Variety
    Reviewed by: Leslie Felperin
    50
    The strong case built in pic's first half is weakened by the vaguely argued contention in the second that the land of the free is becoming anything but. Attack focuses on the Federal Reserve, the Patriot Act, the abolition of the gold standard, and not-yet-ratified plans to introduce identity chips on currency and in citizens in the future.
  6. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marjorie Baumgarten
    40
    It's good to see that passionate cinematic rabble-rousing does not rest solely in the hands of the left.
  7. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Luke Y. Thompson
    40
    From the tax debate, the documentary suddenly gets scattershot, going after the Patriot Act, laws against vitamin sales, election fraud, and Hurricane Katrina response (apparently a plot to grab people's guns), building to the standard New World Order line, which discredits any valid points Russo may have.
  8. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Mark Olsen
    40
    The film raises more questions than it could possibly hope to answer fully, devolving from an intriguing look at an enticingly obscure issue into a more broadly based mess.
  9. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    38
    Aaron Russo's America: Freedom to Fascism can't even think straight, it's so mad.
  10. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Nathan Lee
    30
    The mess we're in never looked so messy.
  11. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    25
    Gives the Michael Moore muckraking-underdog treatment to the kind of delirious conspiracy theories generally associated with mentally ill homeless people screaming at passersby to stop stealing their brainwaves.
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User Reviews

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User Score
8.7 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 34 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. JohnH.
    10
    This film shows the way America is headed. I knew that eventually the anti-christ will come, and eventually enforce the mark of the beast. (in the right arm of forehead) that will be the only means to buy,sell, and trade things. I realized that with National ID cards about to come out (May of This year), it would only be a matter of time before the anti-christ begins to untie the world under one government. This movie points out evidence that even I didn't know existed, (I am always well researched on current times) Soon, the end will begin... after a large group of people disappear from the face of the earth. (the rapture) I had no idea our time was so short...… Full Review »
  2. BethO
    10
    This movie is the BEST EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every American should see this film and if they think that it is okay that the IRS / World Bank should be doing any of this stuff after they have watched the entire movie, they need to go right away to get a micro chip in their body so that the IRS can stalk them all of their life and make sure that they don't hurt themselves because obviously, that person has no brains. Jesus is coming back soon for us all be ready!!!… Full Review »
  3. JohnK.
    9
    If the info in this movie is true, then we should be cautious with web sites like this. I put my info out there in order to rate the movie. My luck big bro set this up and they will be here soon to take me away for no aparent reason. The movie just heightened my own fears. Any American out there with half a brain out there has to realize that the government definately has a great deal of influence in our small insignificant lives. I live by my understanding of the rules to the best of my abilities with the intention of conforming to being a Good American. I pay taxes. My father showed me how to fill out all the paper work when I was 18. The next year he started investigating things closer. He was the one that turned me onto this movie. He turned me onto books like, "If you are the defendant," and, "The biggest tax loophole of all," and I hadn't read either for last year thinking my dad was a nut. This movie has spurred me to read this books now and I am interested to see what kind of information people encourage me to investigate in them. We should fear when people try to hide things from us, not bring them to light.… Full Review »
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