Sarah Palin: You Betcha!

The Real Sarah Palin
Finally, the real Sarah Palin revealed in all her hideous glory. Religious zealot, disconnected, willfully ignorant, vile, thoroughly corrupt, and proud of it... a side of Palin the Wasilla towns folk are afraid to discuss for fear of retribution from her cult-like fundamentalist evangelical tea partying followers. It's Jim Jones in a skirt.

Being there
In his 2011 documentary SARAH PALIN: YOU BETCHA!, filmmaker Nick Broomfield travels to Alaska to meet the failed 2008 vice presidential candidate who may have been considering a run for president in 2012. As I write this in December 2012, we know Sarah Palin did not seek the presidency. Broomfield observes, "What's astonishing is how close she's already gotten to the White House."

At times as chilling as the climate in the Last Frontier, SARAH PALIN: YOU BETCHA! presents Broomfield's interviews with friends and foes Palin made while Wasilla, AK, mayor and state governor along the way as he attempts to secure a one-on-one with Palin herself. The film reminds us that the advantage Palin had in being made the 2008 vice presidential candidate was the Republicans rushed the decision, not allowing enough time to see just how poor her qualifications were and how many skeletons they'd have to keep in her closet.

But wait, you say! Sarah Palin may be divisive, dumb,...

NOT from the same pathetic loser who moved in next to her.
This film is by Nick Broomfield, who is an excellent documentarian for the BBC; a previous reviewer is thinking of is Joe McGinness, who has nothing to do with this picture.

This is a minor work from Broomfield, but still quite good, and really more of an essay than a documentary. Outside of the fact that it's about Palin's world and her questionable ethics, it really has no political point of view whatsoever -- no one is demonized for being on the right, or praised for being on the left. In fact most of the folks that he talks to in Alaska are Tea Partiers, many of whom say they would vote for Palin, and they all are shown as quite reasonable and charming. This may disappoint leftists who are hoping for a holier-than-thou hit piece, but for me it was a relief.

A number of Broomfield's pictures, including the excellent 'Biggee & Tupac' and 'Ailleen' films are available on Amazon and Hulu, and I very much recommend them. 'You Betcha' most resembles his 'The...

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