This is one of those documentaries that continued to surprise & goes to show just how slimy & supposedly powerful these longtime politicians can be. Worst than anything is the way all those around the mayor all think that just because he's the mayor, he's immune to everything. The previous mayor Sharpe James is such a slimy jerk it's disturbing and somebody needs to put this guy in his place. He is exactly like so many other politicians who say one thing like the previous Governor of N.Y. Elliot Spitzer who crusaded against prostitution than gets caught doing it himself. How this guy James became mayor is beyond my comprehension as he is so loud, brash, a racist against his own. In any other society wouldn't be anything special. Just as the saying goes, which is supposed to be a positive remark, it also applies negatively as well, "Only in America." A good documentary that if you already despise politics will make you despise them more, and to those that like them, it will open your eyes to the ugliness that is just about all campaigns, especially here in the U.S. A truly disturbing, but interesting film to say the least.
15 Reviews
Fascinating Documentation of Raw Local Machine and Racial Politics
noralee26 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
"Street Fight" is fascinating even for New Yorkers who knew the outcome of the Newark, NJ mayoral race in 2002 between long time incumbent Sharpe James and challenger Corey Booker.
But what we thought we knew came from the local press and TV news and first time documentarian Marshall Curry almost single-camera-edly shows up The New York Times, The Newark Star Ledger and the broadcast outlets of the supposed media capital of the world in exposing what really goes on in a local election. I worked many years ago in the government office of a party boss in Queens (as was once said about Gov. Harriman and Tammany, like the clean collar on a dirty shirt) and I was still enthralled and taken aback by this raw examination of retail--and even more-- racial politics.
Curry's motivation going in was quite simple on the face, that there hadn't been a close examination in a black majority city of a 21st century race between two African-American candidates. He claims he originally wanted to do a balanced portrait of both sides, but James's campaign instinctively and forcefully shuns him -- quite dramatically in the Land of the Free that is forcing democracy on the rest of the world-- so that his coverage is more and more pro-Booker, which drives the James forces to blockade him (much like Michael Moore going against General Motors in "Roger and Me").
Becoming persona non grata despite the promises of modern ineffectual flaks, he has to personally admit defeat to cover all the campaign himself by enlisting another cameraman (white or black we aren't shown) to film James's epithet-filled public campaign appearances. He cagily gets the last word in against this censorship to catch on tape James's outrageous demagoguery that plays on prejudices spinning against an educated "carpetbagger" and outright lies about facts that is startling that the conventional media wasn't documenting. Curry effectively raises the charge against the media's apathy for a black vs. black race in a poor city --the other reporters only begin to get a little curious when they see Curry rough housed by James's henchmen.
While the story line becomes the machine vs. the reformer, the details on just how a machine baldly runs roughshod using every card of power and class at its disposable is old-fashioned personal hardball against every visible supporter of Booker that is a powerful story on screen.
This is visually even more pernicious than Claude Rains's tactics against Jimmy Stewart in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and makes those polling strategists on "West Wing" look like press conference wimps. This is very much the Newark portrayed in "The Sopranos", where behind the scenes wheeling dealing contractors of dubious ethics bring out the money and the votes. You start feeling like you are watching an election in a third world country as Booker supporters put their livelihoods on the line in a graphically visual representation of the line from "Good Night, and Good Luck" "The fear is in this room."
We do only get a brief biographical outline of each candidate, which for all of Booker's earnestness does leave him open to the blunt nativist charges of an inexperienced, suburban Ivy League outsider suddenly discovering the hood by theatrically living in a housing project, shockingly equating him to a Jew, playing on light vs. black-skinned perceptions. We do see his access to suburban campaign contributors. Amongst the insightful interviews with Booker's multi-racial supporters and campaign staff, the most moving were the tearful ones upset at these charges. One woman is in excruciating pain as she protests against the contempt for him as a role model for young black men: "We keep telling them to get educated and then this happens when they do." The audience gasped when at the end of the campaign each side seeks outside supporters and the Rev. Al Sharpton, no stranger to fomenting racial division in the NY area, comes down from his suburban NJ home to support the Mayor.
As a film, this works more than just as a PBS Frontline episode with excellent use of editing and music building suspense through the chronology, though it does seem to be a Booker in 2006 campaign film at the end.
Even though my husband has worked under five NYC mayors and could relate to how bureaucracy can be politically manipulated, he felt there was not enough insight on campaign strategy, preferring the approach in "The War Room", which I haven't seen completely and wasn't able to find to watch in a timely fashion for review comparison. He wanted to get a better understanding from the inside of the campaign decisions.
We saw this film at a crowded pre-Oscar run in NYC with a very responsive, racially mixed audience including many Newarkers. The guy next to me felt the film left out a key reason for Booker's loss -- that he had neglected to drum up voter registration, which James's forces had marshaled in advance.
This film certainly made me wish that someone had been similarly documenting the 2000 Presidential election in Florida as one wonders how much of American balloting would stand up to monitoring, though the Justice Dept. was barely of help in Newark on Election Day.
But what we thought we knew came from the local press and TV news and first time documentarian Marshall Curry almost single-camera-edly shows up The New York Times, The Newark Star Ledger and the broadcast outlets of the supposed media capital of the world in exposing what really goes on in a local election. I worked many years ago in the government office of a party boss in Queens (as was once said about Gov. Harriman and Tammany, like the clean collar on a dirty shirt) and I was still enthralled and taken aback by this raw examination of retail--and even more-- racial politics.
Curry's motivation going in was quite simple on the face, that there hadn't been a close examination in a black majority city of a 21st century race between two African-American candidates. He claims he originally wanted to do a balanced portrait of both sides, but James's campaign instinctively and forcefully shuns him -- quite dramatically in the Land of the Free that is forcing democracy on the rest of the world-- so that his coverage is more and more pro-Booker, which drives the James forces to blockade him (much like Michael Moore going against General Motors in "Roger and Me").
Becoming persona non grata despite the promises of modern ineffectual flaks, he has to personally admit defeat to cover all the campaign himself by enlisting another cameraman (white or black we aren't shown) to film James's epithet-filled public campaign appearances. He cagily gets the last word in against this censorship to catch on tape James's outrageous demagoguery that plays on prejudices spinning against an educated "carpetbagger" and outright lies about facts that is startling that the conventional media wasn't documenting. Curry effectively raises the charge against the media's apathy for a black vs. black race in a poor city --the other reporters only begin to get a little curious when they see Curry rough housed by James's henchmen.
While the story line becomes the machine vs. the reformer, the details on just how a machine baldly runs roughshod using every card of power and class at its disposable is old-fashioned personal hardball against every visible supporter of Booker that is a powerful story on screen.
This is visually even more pernicious than Claude Rains's tactics against Jimmy Stewart in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and makes those polling strategists on "West Wing" look like press conference wimps. This is very much the Newark portrayed in "The Sopranos", where behind the scenes wheeling dealing contractors of dubious ethics bring out the money and the votes. You start feeling like you are watching an election in a third world country as Booker supporters put their livelihoods on the line in a graphically visual representation of the line from "Good Night, and Good Luck" "The fear is in this room."
We do only get a brief biographical outline of each candidate, which for all of Booker's earnestness does leave him open to the blunt nativist charges of an inexperienced, suburban Ivy League outsider suddenly discovering the hood by theatrically living in a housing project, shockingly equating him to a Jew, playing on light vs. black-skinned perceptions. We do see his access to suburban campaign contributors. Amongst the insightful interviews with Booker's multi-racial supporters and campaign staff, the most moving were the tearful ones upset at these charges. One woman is in excruciating pain as she protests against the contempt for him as a role model for young black men: "We keep telling them to get educated and then this happens when they do." The audience gasped when at the end of the campaign each side seeks outside supporters and the Rev. Al Sharpton, no stranger to fomenting racial division in the NY area, comes down from his suburban NJ home to support the Mayor.
As a film, this works more than just as a PBS Frontline episode with excellent use of editing and music building suspense through the chronology, though it does seem to be a Booker in 2006 campaign film at the end.
Even though my husband has worked under five NYC mayors and could relate to how bureaucracy can be politically manipulated, he felt there was not enough insight on campaign strategy, preferring the approach in "The War Room", which I haven't seen completely and wasn't able to find to watch in a timely fashion for review comparison. He wanted to get a better understanding from the inside of the campaign decisions.
We saw this film at a crowded pre-Oscar run in NYC with a very responsive, racially mixed audience including many Newarkers. The guy next to me felt the film left out a key reason for Booker's loss -- that he had neglected to drum up voter registration, which James's forces had marshaled in advance.
This film certainly made me wish that someone had been similarly documenting the 2000 Presidential election in Florida as one wonders how much of American balloting would stand up to monitoring, though the Justice Dept. was barely of help in Newark on Election Day.
Politics Jersey Style
lastliberal1 March 2007
It is not often that you get to see what goes on in the day to day of a campaign. In Street Fight, we see a newcomer trying to unseat an incumbent that has a 16-year hold on office, and is not afraid to use all the power at his disposal to crush this upstart. In addition, those who have been feeding at the trough of city government for those 16 years do not want their gravy train stopped. Dirty politics, dirty government, and a dirty city badly in need of repair. It makes for a compelling directorial debut and a story that should make all of us want to fight for the person we most want to see in office. It takes more than a vote to change a government!
top notch documentary
exeverything27 December 2005
This film does for politics on a local level what "The War Room" did for presidential politics, providing a fascinating in-depth look behind the scenes of campaigns and elections. I agree that "Street Fight" is a bit one-sided, though part of that is by necessity, as sharpe james' staff denied the director any kind of access, which the film shows in a series of outrageous scenes. And besides, documentaries in recent years have generally adhered to a more op-ed kind of style (e.g. fahrenheit 911). But whatever your politics, Street Fight's subject matter is something you haven't seen before, and it is extremely well-done and vastly entertaining. see it.
Oscar-worthy Documentary.
AlanTES3 May 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This film won the audience choice award at the Tribeca Film Festival, and it certainly deserved it. Amazingly enough, this is Marshall Curry's first film. I truly hope to see more films from him.
While the subject of national and international politics has been the subject of many critically acclaimed documentaries, Street Fight concentrates on the 2002 Mayoral election in one urban city, Newark, N.J., which is wracked by homelessness, drug addiction and poverty. The movie is perhaps one of the most compelling and interesting documentaries I have ever seen. The film's title is quite appropriate because Television ads are meaningless, but rather these hard-fought battles are won on the street.
The film's director tried to follow the campaigns of both the incumbent Mayor, Sharpe James, who has been Mayor for 16 years and the campaign of the upstart 1st term Councilman, Cory Booker. While the Booker campaign welcomes the filmmaker, Mayor James is less welcoming and outwardly hostile. The film quickly evolves into a compelling David vs. Goliath epic.
You'll watch as Mayor James instructs the Newark police officers act like Storm Troopers intimidating and assaulting campaign workers blatantly violating state and federal law. You'll be outraged as you watch those same police officers attack the film's director in broad daylight on the sidewalks in an attempt to shut down the documentary. Mayor James paints himself as a political villain more despicable than Senator Joseph Paine from "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". The scary part is that the film is not fictional. Had it not been recorded on film, you would not believe it. It's not often that a film angers me. This one did.
Booker tries to campaign on the issues, but we see how effective James' tactics are. Both candidates are Black, but Mayor James constantly refers to Booker as light-skinned and "white" because Booker was educated at Stanford, Yale Law School and was a Rhodes Scholar. Looking at the numerous dirty tricks employed in the campaign, it is no wonder that Sharpe James has never lost an election. Although Booker loses the election, he wins the moral battle and the audience by running an ethical and admirable campaign. The closing scene is Booker's unveiling of his 2006 campaign, which received an ovation from the Tribeca audience.
While the subject of national and international politics has been the subject of many critically acclaimed documentaries, Street Fight concentrates on the 2002 Mayoral election in one urban city, Newark, N.J., which is wracked by homelessness, drug addiction and poverty. The movie is perhaps one of the most compelling and interesting documentaries I have ever seen. The film's title is quite appropriate because Television ads are meaningless, but rather these hard-fought battles are won on the street.
The film's director tried to follow the campaigns of both the incumbent Mayor, Sharpe James, who has been Mayor for 16 years and the campaign of the upstart 1st term Councilman, Cory Booker. While the Booker campaign welcomes the filmmaker, Mayor James is less welcoming and outwardly hostile. The film quickly evolves into a compelling David vs. Goliath epic.
You'll watch as Mayor James instructs the Newark police officers act like Storm Troopers intimidating and assaulting campaign workers blatantly violating state and federal law. You'll be outraged as you watch those same police officers attack the film's director in broad daylight on the sidewalks in an attempt to shut down the documentary. Mayor James paints himself as a political villain more despicable than Senator Joseph Paine from "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". The scary part is that the film is not fictional. Had it not been recorded on film, you would not believe it. It's not often that a film angers me. This one did.
Booker tries to campaign on the issues, but we see how effective James' tactics are. Both candidates are Black, but Mayor James constantly refers to Booker as light-skinned and "white" because Booker was educated at Stanford, Yale Law School and was a Rhodes Scholar. Looking at the numerous dirty tricks employed in the campaign, it is no wonder that Sharpe James has never lost an election. Although Booker loses the election, he wins the moral battle and the audience by running an ethical and admirable campaign. The closing scene is Booker's unveiling of his 2006 campaign, which received an ovation from the Tribeca audience.
Genuine
trent_merchant13 February 2006
Curry's unvarnished style and long sequences enhance the real life drama as he allows the story to unfold in front of us instead of manufacturing the drama by clever editing. Shot with a hand held camera and edited on a Mac, Curry the film-maker mirrors the determination and resolve of his main subject, political challenger Cory Booker.
Repeated confrontations in the film make it clear that Curry had an opportunity to make himself the focus of a compelling side story, but he removes his ego completely. He only inserts himself as an occasional off-camera participant whose voice serves as a traditional chorus uttering simple, yet poignant reminders of what is at stake beyond the specific election he is covering. Like his presence in the film, Curry's voice-over narration is also sparse, yet effective. He sticks to open-ended observations and realizations, without ever crossing the line to offer value judgments.
With its simplicity, small cast including chorus, and theme of family torn asunder, it is not unlike Greek tragedy...
Repeated confrontations in the film make it clear that Curry had an opportunity to make himself the focus of a compelling side story, but he removes his ego completely. He only inserts himself as an occasional off-camera participant whose voice serves as a traditional chorus uttering simple, yet poignant reminders of what is at stake beyond the specific election he is covering. Like his presence in the film, Curry's voice-over narration is also sparse, yet effective. He sticks to open-ended observations and realizations, without ever crossing the line to offer value judgments.
With its simplicity, small cast including chorus, and theme of family torn asunder, it is not unlike Greek tragedy...
A Pseudo-Microcosmic Political Race That Everyone Should Be Aware Of
fwomp29 October 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Most politically charged films focus on corruption at the higher levels of state, but STREET FIGHT gives us a curb-side view of something much smaller ...and much more important.
The 2002 Newark, New Jersey Mayoral race is something most voters in the U.S. could care less about. Why should someone in, say, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania pay attention to Newark's voting issues? Or someone in Fort Worth, Texas? Or San Francisco, California? Realistically, none of them would. But Newark is New Jersey's most populated city, and those in San Francisco and beyond might want to take a peak at what's happening to our democracy on a pseudo-microcosmic level.
The film's primary focus is on Cory Booker, a Newark city councilman with his eye on the mayor's office. He's a Stanford and Yale graduate who lives in a slum within Newark. He's an idealist who's grown tired of his city's poor schools, poorer neighborhoods, and rising jobless rate. To get into the mayor's office, though, he'll have to unseat four-time incumbent Sharpe James, a man who's firmly entrenched within Newark's politics.
We watch as writer/director/photographer Marshall Curry seeks to interview both sides of the race, first by checking in on Cory Booker's campaign, then by trying (in vain) to meet up with Sharpe James and his people. But once James' campaign personnel learn that Curry interviewed Booker already, he is immediately shunned and pushed aside (often in a very rough manner). Curry's camera is pushed around time and again, his microphone broken, and he's denied access to Sharpe James entirely. Even when Curry catches up with James at a public event, he's manhandled by Sharpe James' 'brute squad.' Most will find this very unsettling, as this is a publicly elected figure in a public place who is, in essence, acting like a thug.
That we never touch on the political issues surrounding the campaign is interesting and absurd. These are both positive aspects of the film. It shows us how little our democracy means in many instances; it isn't the poor schools/neighborhoods/jobs that dominate voters' discussions, but who's "more republican" or "more black" (both candidates are black) or "campaign has more money" or "has visited a strip joint".
In the end, we watch Sharpe James use every slimy tactic at his disposal in order to win votes (including bringing in paid James' supporters from out-of-state to help bolster support on election day). Booker doesn't win the election, thus giving the viewer a very negative view of New Jersey politics. But all is not gloom and doom.
In 2006, Cory Booker returned to the mayoral race and took Newark by storm. Sharpe James uncharacteristically dropped from the race for unknown reasons while a new runner took up position against Booker, only to be squashed in the largest landslide win of any mayoral race in New Jersey history.
But the bitter taste of the 2002 race still lingers in audiences minds after watching Street Fight. It's a tough film to watch, because we all want to believe that our democracy is flawless when, in fact, it has so many problems and shady dealings as to make one ill at the prospect.
The 2002 Newark, New Jersey Mayoral race is something most voters in the U.S. could care less about. Why should someone in, say, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania pay attention to Newark's voting issues? Or someone in Fort Worth, Texas? Or San Francisco, California? Realistically, none of them would. But Newark is New Jersey's most populated city, and those in San Francisco and beyond might want to take a peak at what's happening to our democracy on a pseudo-microcosmic level.
The film's primary focus is on Cory Booker, a Newark city councilman with his eye on the mayor's office. He's a Stanford and Yale graduate who lives in a slum within Newark. He's an idealist who's grown tired of his city's poor schools, poorer neighborhoods, and rising jobless rate. To get into the mayor's office, though, he'll have to unseat four-time incumbent Sharpe James, a man who's firmly entrenched within Newark's politics.
We watch as writer/director/photographer Marshall Curry seeks to interview both sides of the race, first by checking in on Cory Booker's campaign, then by trying (in vain) to meet up with Sharpe James and his people. But once James' campaign personnel learn that Curry interviewed Booker already, he is immediately shunned and pushed aside (often in a very rough manner). Curry's camera is pushed around time and again, his microphone broken, and he's denied access to Sharpe James entirely. Even when Curry catches up with James at a public event, he's manhandled by Sharpe James' 'brute squad.' Most will find this very unsettling, as this is a publicly elected figure in a public place who is, in essence, acting like a thug.
That we never touch on the political issues surrounding the campaign is interesting and absurd. These are both positive aspects of the film. It shows us how little our democracy means in many instances; it isn't the poor schools/neighborhoods/jobs that dominate voters' discussions, but who's "more republican" or "more black" (both candidates are black) or "campaign has more money" or "has visited a strip joint".
In the end, we watch Sharpe James use every slimy tactic at his disposal in order to win votes (including bringing in paid James' supporters from out-of-state to help bolster support on election day). Booker doesn't win the election, thus giving the viewer a very negative view of New Jersey politics. But all is not gloom and doom.
In 2006, Cory Booker returned to the mayoral race and took Newark by storm. Sharpe James uncharacteristically dropped from the race for unknown reasons while a new runner took up position against Booker, only to be squashed in the largest landslide win of any mayoral race in New Jersey history.
But the bitter taste of the 2002 race still lingers in audiences minds after watching Street Fight. It's a tough film to watch, because we all want to believe that our democracy is flawless when, in fact, it has so many problems and shady dealings as to make one ill at the prospect.
POLITICS WHAT A BAG...!
masonfisk5 July 2018
Man, city politics is probably the most soul-killing, mind numbing public spectacle we humans witness from time to time. As evidenced in Street Fight, the chronicle of Sharpe James/Corey Booker mayoral race, one clearly sees the struggle between the bought James & the idealistic Booker fighting for a city that quite possibly doesn't care how the election will turn out since the outcome, to some, is obvious. Next to Illinois, New Jersey has the stench of political corruption on the city level so much so John Sayles created a fictional NJ town in his film, City of Hope, to showcase the rampant malaise affecting his berg. Now in this documentary, we see the corruption & graft in the flesh and we're fascinated by it but not really surprised. Corey Booker has gone on to become a state senator and even his 'successful' stint as a mayor is being recalled as problematic by the electorate which put him there. Can anyone escape the taint of the public calling?
This is a democratic nation?! It made me livid to see this film!
planktonrules12 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This was a great documentary, as it achieved its purpose of energizing me and sucking me into the message. In this sense, the film was a total success and I am glad I watched it.
As an American, I am ashamed of many of the images I saw in this film. Now I am NOT saying that I thought Cory Booker was the man for the job of mayor--I really don't know everything he stood for in the campaign, though he did have a very likable style. However, even if he were a Nazi or Anarchist or transvestite or Satan himself, this didn't justify the incumbent's political machine abusing its power and ignoring the US Constitution. No matter how good a man Mayor James was, nothing justified his using police power to limit his competition's access to the people or limit the freedom of the press. This film should be proof enough that indictments should have been handed down on the James' administration and the police officers involved. Seeing this crap on camera is something nothing James or his people could justify--no matter how "good" or qualified he was.
Though not illegal, the James campaign also was ugly in its bold-faced race-baiting, Jew-baiting, gay-baiting and class warfare--though Booker was Black, not Jewish and NOT gay--nor should any of this matter!! Unfortunately, while sick, this is something that cannot be eliminated from politics--after all, there is a First Amendment freedom of speech which allows them to distort or defame--the SAME amendment that supposedly ensures Booker supporters freedom of the press! As an effective tool to energize the viewer, this film is it. I was totally angered by the old-time dirty politics (such as bringing in "volunteers" from out of state) and had hoped my country was better than this. Unfortunately in Newark it isn't. Also, if the purpose was also to get you to like Booker, it sure did that as well. Sure, I know that to some extent this must be propaganda and we may have never seen the real Booker. But it was very, very effective and persuasive positive propaganda. Too bad James appeal to the baser instincts of voters worked.
UPDATE--I was happy to see that Jame WAS recently indicted and convicted of corruption charges. This was not related to the rights violations seen in this film, however and he currently faces 27 months in prison. I hope every second of it is agony--after all, he owed more to the people. Also, Booker was finally elected mayor in 2006--and I'm sure this film had a lot to do with it.
PS--If you are curious, read up on ex-DC mayor Marion Barry and Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick (who is currently in jail). Apparently James isn't the only one of his kind. We deserve so much better.
As an American, I am ashamed of many of the images I saw in this film. Now I am NOT saying that I thought Cory Booker was the man for the job of mayor--I really don't know everything he stood for in the campaign, though he did have a very likable style. However, even if he were a Nazi or Anarchist or transvestite or Satan himself, this didn't justify the incumbent's political machine abusing its power and ignoring the US Constitution. No matter how good a man Mayor James was, nothing justified his using police power to limit his competition's access to the people or limit the freedom of the press. This film should be proof enough that indictments should have been handed down on the James' administration and the police officers involved. Seeing this crap on camera is something nothing James or his people could justify--no matter how "good" or qualified he was.
Though not illegal, the James campaign also was ugly in its bold-faced race-baiting, Jew-baiting, gay-baiting and class warfare--though Booker was Black, not Jewish and NOT gay--nor should any of this matter!! Unfortunately, while sick, this is something that cannot be eliminated from politics--after all, there is a First Amendment freedom of speech which allows them to distort or defame--the SAME amendment that supposedly ensures Booker supporters freedom of the press! As an effective tool to energize the viewer, this film is it. I was totally angered by the old-time dirty politics (such as bringing in "volunteers" from out of state) and had hoped my country was better than this. Unfortunately in Newark it isn't. Also, if the purpose was also to get you to like Booker, it sure did that as well. Sure, I know that to some extent this must be propaganda and we may have never seen the real Booker. But it was very, very effective and persuasive positive propaganda. Too bad James appeal to the baser instincts of voters worked.
UPDATE--I was happy to see that Jame WAS recently indicted and convicted of corruption charges. This was not related to the rights violations seen in this film, however and he currently faces 27 months in prison. I hope every second of it is agony--after all, he owed more to the people. Also, Booker was finally elected mayor in 2006--and I'm sure this film had a lot to do with it.
PS--If you are curious, read up on ex-DC mayor Marion Barry and Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick (who is currently in jail). Apparently James isn't the only one of his kind. We deserve so much better.
Watch one of the next superstars in NJ (or even American) politics
asc8510 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
It was interesting, and I enjoyed it. A little on the short side though...I believe it's running time is 83 minutes.
In the director comments, Curry says this is "a film about Cory Booker, not a commercial about Cory Booker." I respectfully disagree with that. This film really shows no negatives about Booker. Is that "true"? I'm not sure. If it is true, then this film is an early look at one of the upcoming superstars in New Jersey (and probably American) politics. I can definitely see him running for Governor or Senator in the next 5-10 years. And then people will look back on this film with even more interest to see where it started.
Sharpe James comes off looking pretty bad in this movie, and it seems deservedly so. However, as someone who has lived in New Jersey most of his life, I will say that Sharpe James was a huge improvement on the guy he replaced, Kenneth Gibson. The movie glosses over some of the things Sharpe James accomplished. Newark definitely still has a long way to go, but in my opinion, James left it in much better shape than when he got there in 1986.
In the director comments, Curry says this is "a film about Cory Booker, not a commercial about Cory Booker." I respectfully disagree with that. This film really shows no negatives about Booker. Is that "true"? I'm not sure. If it is true, then this film is an early look at one of the upcoming superstars in New Jersey (and probably American) politics. I can definitely see him running for Governor or Senator in the next 5-10 years. And then people will look back on this film with even more interest to see where it started.
Sharpe James comes off looking pretty bad in this movie, and it seems deservedly so. However, as someone who has lived in New Jersey most of his life, I will say that Sharpe James was a huge improvement on the guy he replaced, Kenneth Gibson. The movie glosses over some of the things Sharpe James accomplished. Newark definitely still has a long way to go, but in my opinion, James left it in much better shape than when he got there in 1986.
A compelling documentary.
mettabite-imdb20 November 2005
Warning: Spoilers
The best thing about this documentary is Cory Booker himself. He is a remarkable individual and is the real thing. Watch this film if you want to see on of the top three rising political stars in the U.S. If more people like Cory get elected to public office in the U.S., we might just be able to turn back the tide of unethical power mongers who have been elected in the last few years.
The documentary is a bit too long and it needs another round of editing, but it skillfully shows the depths to which Sharpe James sank in order to stay in power in Newark, NJ.
I highly recommend this film.
The documentary is a bit too long and it needs another round of editing, but it skillfully shows the depths to which Sharpe James sank in order to stay in power in Newark, NJ.
I highly recommend this film.
Too one-sided, I live in Newark and this movie is a commercial
thepraetorians23 July 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is a commercial for Cory Booker. It does not show the numerous times Booker sound trucks interrupted Sharoe James events. It does not show the bus stops with James billboards damaged or removed. It does not show the arrest (yes the arrest) of Booker workers tearing down LEGAL James signs.
As someone who lives in Newark and followed the election, I can tell you that Booker's campaign was just as dirty if not more so. Intimidation with threats following victory were not unheard of. Many business owners were asked to donate and when they refused the "we'll remember when we win" threat was used numerous times.
Just because Cory Booker is more media savvy, does not make him nor his campaign saints.
As someone who lives in Newark and followed the election, I can tell you that Booker's campaign was just as dirty if not more so. Intimidation with threats following victory were not unheard of. Many business owners were asked to donate and when they refused the "we'll remember when we win" threat was used numerous times.
Just because Cory Booker is more media savvy, does not make him nor his campaign saints.
Politics at its best & dirtiest
jstrick198523 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Marshall Curry made me believe in the U.S. political system. He also made me hate it.
This film is an eye-opening view of street front politics. In the 2002 election, the young, intelligent, charismatic candidate Cory Booker wants to be Newark mayor. He thinks he can help turn the crime-ridden city around. But old-school politician Sharpe James has been mayor for 16 years, and he isn't going quietly. Curry follows along as Booker tries to play by the rules to win voter support, and James repeatedly tries every dirty trick in the book to stop him. He slurs Booker's ethnicity for not being black enough, he calls in paid supporters from out of state, he gets his team to tear down Booker's signs.
There's a dramatic scene where James's police officers even push around Curry, for attempting to film the mayor!
Booker ends up losing the 2002 election, but the movie closes with him declaring his candidacy for 2006. He would win in a landslide, a deserving victory if I ever saw one.
As a piece of political education, Street Fight is absolutely essential. As a piece of filmmaking, it is absolutely terrific. Marshall Curry is a director to watch.
This film is an eye-opening view of street front politics. In the 2002 election, the young, intelligent, charismatic candidate Cory Booker wants to be Newark mayor. He thinks he can help turn the crime-ridden city around. But old-school politician Sharpe James has been mayor for 16 years, and he isn't going quietly. Curry follows along as Booker tries to play by the rules to win voter support, and James repeatedly tries every dirty trick in the book to stop him. He slurs Booker's ethnicity for not being black enough, he calls in paid supporters from out of state, he gets his team to tear down Booker's signs.
There's a dramatic scene where James's police officers even push around Curry, for attempting to film the mayor!
Booker ends up losing the 2002 election, but the movie closes with him declaring his candidacy for 2006. He would win in a landslide, a deserving victory if I ever saw one.
As a piece of political education, Street Fight is absolutely essential. As a piece of filmmaking, it is absolutely terrific. Marshall Curry is a director to watch.
Great powerful documentary
FuseJ-R2 December 2007
Anybody familiar with Michael Moore or Fredrick Wiseman or any other documentary filmmaker know that the documentary genre is a very powerful medium. I just watched the Film Street Fight, a film recommended to me by nice little online show called the Cinefiles, a group amateur critics who get together and talk about film. In their political documentary piece, they spent a good amount of time discussing the film and I said to myself, I have to see this film. The film is absolutely heartbreaking on how dirty a political campaign can be. With two political candidates of the same race running for major of Newark, NJ, the race turns into a battle of "authentic ethnicity". Cory Booker, the lighter skinned man running for mayor, runs a clean campaign about fighting against poverty and crime. I can't stress enough how good and powerful of a film this is
Check it out
And think to yourself
How far off is this going to be from the Hilary vs. Obama presidential campaign??? Oh yeah if you want to see the talk of the Cinefiles...either look it up on Youtube...Or go to myspace.com/cinefiles
The True Nature of Politics
msameer1724 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
There is an old saying in Newark, New Jersey that "the only way that an incumbent leaves office is either death or conviction." Street Fight, a documentary following the 2002 mayoral election of Newark works to address and highlight that issue. Marshall Curry, the director of the documentary, follows Cory Booker, the challenger to long-term incumbent, Sharpe James. Booker, the son of civil rights activists, grew up in a predominantly white suburb north of Newark. He was a high school all-American football player and graduated from Yale University. He attempts to unseat James because of the lack of change he sees from the current mayor. He works to unite the people through a grassroots movement against James, the man who has been in office since 1970.
Street Fight attempts to reveal the harsh realities and the pseudo-democracy that exists in modern day local politics. Curry argues that local politics are not as fair as they seem to be, a claim that he supports with solid evidence through Booker's campaign. Though Curry only shows footage in support of Booker, it is not difficult to distinguish the actual differences between both candidates' approaches.
Booker approaches his campaign the best way that a challenger against a long-term incumbent can, through a mainly grass-roots movement. He spends his time with the people who he knows have been the most negatively affected by James, the poor and the working class. Sharpe clearly favors the higher class above the lower and Booker cleverly uses that to his advantage. He realizes that he must first get his name out to the masses, so he does it in the most reasonable, old-fashioned way, door-to-door campaigning. By continuously showing Booker actively interacting with citizens of Newark and expressing his concerns, Curry enforces that Booker is running an honest, down-to-earth campaign. He does not waste his efforts trying to convince those who he knows he cannot, rather he takes a more logical step and attempts to acquaint himself with the common people. In a further attempt to connect with the people, Booker had been living Brick Towers, one of the worst public housing buildings in Newark.
Not only does Curry assert that Booker runs a clean, honest campaign through his actions, he reveals that James is cheating his way to victory. One of the film's main arguments is that Sharpe James used threats and force to bully Booker and his supporters into ending his campaign. This also furthers the claim that local politics are an ugly business and that politicians will go to any length to secure their positions. Throughout the campaign, Booker, Curry, supporters and other camera men are assaulted by police who support James. Though they are not doing anything illegal, the police interrupt them under orders given by the mayor. Furthermore, many local businesses that have expressed support of Booker whether it be through word of mouth or signs in their stores, are threatened with being closed down by the city if they do not revoke their beliefs. These are not empty threats either, as a local car shop that had expressed prolonged support of Booker had been shut down by the government. Larger businesses are threatened with losing their government contracts, potentially losing them thousands of dollars.
Booker and his supporters are assaulted and threatened not only indirectly by James and his hired muscle, but also directly. Curry portrays how James expresses hate towards Booker by using empty accusations and hateful speech. James goes to every extent to solidify his position, even slander Booker's name with claims that are not even true. He begins by claiming that Booker is a republican instead of a democrat, a claim that has no political backing. Eventually, Curry highlights the irrationality of James' claims by acknowledging that he goes to ridiculous extents to attack Booker. The mayor accuses James, clearly an African American, as being Jewish, white, and also gay. The most controversial claim that he makes results in a central theme of the documentary; James questions whether or not Booker is "black enough" to fairly represent the people. As uninformed as the claim is, it brings up one of the most discussed topics of the campaign. James, a man born and raised in Newark, is concerned that Booker is not the right kind of man to lead the city because of his upbringing and light skin.
Ultimately, Curry concludes that politics are far more than who has the best agenda. Elections go far beyond who has done the best campaigning or who has collected the most funds. As Street Fight documents, many times elections come down to personal battles, with incumbents having an unfair advantage due to their connections and resources. In the resulting election of the documentary, Cory Booker ultimately loses by only around one thousand votes. Eventually, Booker does run again in the 2006 mayoral elections and wins by a landslide, proving that the political system is not as broken as Curry makes it out to seem; it is important to note that Sharpe James did not run for reelection that year. In the end, issues in politics will always exist. Campaigns will almost never be seen as fair. No matter how people attempt to address it, corruption and politicians go hand in hand. More often than not, election as close as the one between Booker and James may end up being nothing more than a street fight.
Street Fight attempts to reveal the harsh realities and the pseudo-democracy that exists in modern day local politics. Curry argues that local politics are not as fair as they seem to be, a claim that he supports with solid evidence through Booker's campaign. Though Curry only shows footage in support of Booker, it is not difficult to distinguish the actual differences between both candidates' approaches.
Booker approaches his campaign the best way that a challenger against a long-term incumbent can, through a mainly grass-roots movement. He spends his time with the people who he knows have been the most negatively affected by James, the poor and the working class. Sharpe clearly favors the higher class above the lower and Booker cleverly uses that to his advantage. He realizes that he must first get his name out to the masses, so he does it in the most reasonable, old-fashioned way, door-to-door campaigning. By continuously showing Booker actively interacting with citizens of Newark and expressing his concerns, Curry enforces that Booker is running an honest, down-to-earth campaign. He does not waste his efforts trying to convince those who he knows he cannot, rather he takes a more logical step and attempts to acquaint himself with the common people. In a further attempt to connect with the people, Booker had been living Brick Towers, one of the worst public housing buildings in Newark.
Not only does Curry assert that Booker runs a clean, honest campaign through his actions, he reveals that James is cheating his way to victory. One of the film's main arguments is that Sharpe James used threats and force to bully Booker and his supporters into ending his campaign. This also furthers the claim that local politics are an ugly business and that politicians will go to any length to secure their positions. Throughout the campaign, Booker, Curry, supporters and other camera men are assaulted by police who support James. Though they are not doing anything illegal, the police interrupt them under orders given by the mayor. Furthermore, many local businesses that have expressed support of Booker whether it be through word of mouth or signs in their stores, are threatened with being closed down by the city if they do not revoke their beliefs. These are not empty threats either, as a local car shop that had expressed prolonged support of Booker had been shut down by the government. Larger businesses are threatened with losing their government contracts, potentially losing them thousands of dollars.
Booker and his supporters are assaulted and threatened not only indirectly by James and his hired muscle, but also directly. Curry portrays how James expresses hate towards Booker by using empty accusations and hateful speech. James goes to every extent to solidify his position, even slander Booker's name with claims that are not even true. He begins by claiming that Booker is a republican instead of a democrat, a claim that has no political backing. Eventually, Curry highlights the irrationality of James' claims by acknowledging that he goes to ridiculous extents to attack Booker. The mayor accuses James, clearly an African American, as being Jewish, white, and also gay. The most controversial claim that he makes results in a central theme of the documentary; James questions whether or not Booker is "black enough" to fairly represent the people. As uninformed as the claim is, it brings up one of the most discussed topics of the campaign. James, a man born and raised in Newark, is concerned that Booker is not the right kind of man to lead the city because of his upbringing and light skin.
Ultimately, Curry concludes that politics are far more than who has the best agenda. Elections go far beyond who has done the best campaigning or who has collected the most funds. As Street Fight documents, many times elections come down to personal battles, with incumbents having an unfair advantage due to their connections and resources. In the resulting election of the documentary, Cory Booker ultimately loses by only around one thousand votes. Eventually, Booker does run again in the 2006 mayoral elections and wins by a landslide, proving that the political system is not as broken as Curry makes it out to seem; it is important to note that Sharpe James did not run for reelection that year. In the end, issues in politics will always exist. Campaigns will almost never be seen as fair. No matter how people attempt to address it, corruption and politicians go hand in hand. More often than not, election as close as the one between Booker and James may end up being nothing more than a street fight.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
