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Jimmy Carter Man from Plains
User Score
6.0 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7

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  1. ChadS.
    May 3, 2008
    7
    Former president Jimmy Carter was still in office when Carl Reiner's "The Jerk" played in first-run theaters. Navin R. Jackson(Steve Martin) hailed from the south(Mississippi), and was a white boy raised by a black family, just like former president Carter, a Georgia boy, who although not adopted like Cat Juggler, was looked after by an African-American woman named Rachel, a sharecropper, during his formative years in Plains. When the ex-president visits Darfur, he wears the traditional Sudanese clothing, and dances, badly, to the Sudanese beat, albeit not so in a condescending fashion, because this Nobel Peace Prize-winning octogenarian feels a genuine ease around black people. But Carter has the rhythm of ex-Laker Mark Madsen(best ESPN highlight, ever!), as does Navin, when he claps in time to the songs of his adopted family. Jimmy Carter is not a jerk. "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" is not a racist book. Read it. Or more to the point, buy it. This documentary is more about commerce than art. There's no way of getting around it, "Jimmy Carter: Man From the Plains" does play like an informercial for his hardcover bestseller about Israel's totalitarian-like occupation of Palestinian homelands. But the film also speak volumes of the pervading anti-intellectualism that's dumbing down our culture, in which people will make vicious attacks on a person's character without any substantiation to back up their opening salvos and thrown gauntlets.… Expand
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  2. JayH.
    Mar 15, 2008
    8
    Impressive documentary of a very impressive former president. Very thought provoking and portrays a neutral viewpoint. I believe Jimmy Carter will go down in history as one of the greatest presidents ever, and this film shows why.
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  3. JulieM.
    Nov 11, 2007
    9
    Pieced together from footage of the months following the release of Carter's controversial book, Palestine, the movie gives a behind the scenes view of Carter, in his 80's, boldly welcoming the chance to meeth with his critics--a natural peace-broker. In one shot, his publicist suggests asking that the media not be invited to a particularly hostile meeting with critics. Carter says simply that he does not care if the media is there or not. The movie easily drew me in, and, as the criticism and accusations became more angry and more personal, it had me on edge watching his pain and waiting to see how he would hold up. The best parts were hearing Carter's heartfelt, precise, respectful, and exceedingly intelligent explanations to his critics. (Reminds of of Bill Clinton). When asked if his choice of book title won't hurt his cause, he ponders and answers honestly, "Maybe," but then explains his decision. Priceless, too, were the shots of Carter interacting warmly with everyone he met, even strangers on a plane--he genuinely loves people. Of course, you also get snippets of his past triumphs--most notablly, brokering peace between Egypt and Israel--and difficulties, and his humble beginnings in Georgia. He was also surprisingly funny. I look forward to watching the movie again.… Expand
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  4. AlexZ.
    Dec 7, 2007
    4
    This movie strictly preaches to the choir. Carter was one of the worst presidents in US History. But now as an elder statesman a little revionist History can't hurt.
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  5. RobS.
    Apr 19, 2008
    0
    Terrorist enabler, blame America 1st, giving away our territory (Panama Canal), appointing the most radical leftist Attorney General in history (Ramsey Clark), oh and don't let me forget his cowardly handling of our hostages in Iran. How dare they make a propaganda piece reinventing this man to something he never was or incapable of being. PS he's also antisemitic.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
58 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Ray Bennett
    50
    Blandly interesting.
  2. Variety
    Reviewed by: Ronnie Scheib
    50
    Thanked and vilified from coast to coast, Carter remains steadfast in his belief that Israel's policies in the Occupied Territories are unjust and counterproductive.
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  3. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: J. Hoberman
    40
    Demme's documentary portrait, Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains, has no surfeit of good intentions. In fact, running over two hours, they're nearly suffocating.
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