Good satire keeps you focused on the film ... cf. Dr. Strangelove which is as strongly critical of America as any of Klein's films, but it's a classic in the US. Everyone has seen it. Klein's films are intended to be harshly critical of the US as well, but they are so amateurish in their execution and pedantic in their dialog that I actually fell asleep during two of his films. Robert Mitchum was once described as having 'a crushing touch in an eggshell comedy'. This is no such comedy, but Klein does have the 'crushing touch' down to a fine science. This skill extends to Who Are You Polly Maggoo? which is part of the set issued by Criterion in the Eclipse series.
Review of Mr. Freedom
