BY: Alan Premel, the Clandestine Comic I had the pleasure to review the documentary 'Top Priority, the Terror Within' last Wednesday at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, home of the Academy Awards (Oscars). The retaliatory undertones ring loud and clear in Top Priority - Silence, Discredit and Destroy. After watching this well written and equally well directed docu-drama you will agree that no one understands the misfortune of being silenced, discredited and destroyed as well as Julia Davis.
Directed by rising star Asif Akbar, Top Priority reserves no punches as it bravely tells the unbelievable real-life story of National Security Whistleblower Julia Davis who once served our country as a Customs and Border Patrol agent under the guise of the Department of Homeland Security. Davis' reward for drawing attention and shedding light on a real-life breach of national security was to be arrested, discredited and branded a domestic terrorist by DHS.
They say real life is stranger than fiction and if that mantra holds true than you will be left saying "You cannot make this stuff up", as what seems so wildly unbelievable, far-fetched and exaggerated is shown and proved to be a reality. The amount of government wrongdoing, oppression and discrediting will leave you shocked and dismayed. Such brutal law enforcement tactics and retaliation would have been expected from a 1930's pre-FBI and Prohibition era law enforcement and not the system of checks and balances and oversight we have 2012. There is no shortage of intrigue in Top Priority, when the plot thickens a young Hollywood star is dead, Julia Davis is the target of 56 unlawful investigations and there are more suspicious and untimely deaths. By the time you would imagine the story is ending the mafia gets involved and the story, again, bravely charges on. At every twist and turn during the feature you will find yourself shaking your head in dismay at the overwhelming evidence presented by first hand audio and video interviews.
The highlight comes when government officials lie on tape about actions, orders and their knowledge of wrongdoing presented and exposed. At this turning point, the audience, now in Julia Davis' corner all collectively jeered and laughed as official government documents are shown side by side blatantly showing false testimony. It's shock and awe at its best and it gives an outsider a glimpse into how lethal the case was. Director Asif Akbar and legendary Hollywood stuntman BJ Davis, husband of Julia Davis, were both masterful in the presentation and execution of this highly controversial case. Top Priority is a blitzkrieg of truth and vindication that continuously pummels and humiliates the DHS for 95 minutes.
As the screen fades to black, the pants of DHS are squarely around their ankles. The Davis' leaving them in a compromising position with zero wiggle room to defend themselves. Just as the ending credits start to roll my friend on my left says "Oh my God!" and my cousin on my right exclaims, "Wow!" This was followed by an eruption of thunderous applause and a standing ovation. Top Priority accomplishes what every movie strives to do by stirring the emotions of each viewer. You leave Top Priority with an overwhelming and profound sense of emotion that is hard to explain. On one side of the token you feel the fear of the actions which were inflicted on someone in real life. While on the other side, you have a deep sense of sadness for those who died suddenly and unexpectedly from the governments mishandling of the case.
In the end, you are presented with the saddest fact of all. Throughout everything Julia was subjected to, an arrest warrant was never issued for Julia. The laundry list of crimes and violations presented were not done by a whistleblower but were done at the hands of a government agency whose sole purpose is to protect each and every one of us.
Top Priority was the first documentary ever allowed to premiere at the academy for its opening debut and it is fitting because if the ballots went out today, Top Priority would be bringing home an Oscar for Best Documentary. My only real advice for watching 'Top Priority, the Terror Within' is to bring a pillow because your back will hurt from sitting at the edge of your seat! I give 'Top Priority, the Terror Within' 9.5 out of 10 popcorns.
Directed by rising star Asif Akbar, Top Priority reserves no punches as it bravely tells the unbelievable real-life story of National Security Whistleblower Julia Davis who once served our country as a Customs and Border Patrol agent under the guise of the Department of Homeland Security. Davis' reward for drawing attention and shedding light on a real-life breach of national security was to be arrested, discredited and branded a domestic terrorist by DHS.
They say real life is stranger than fiction and if that mantra holds true than you will be left saying "You cannot make this stuff up", as what seems so wildly unbelievable, far-fetched and exaggerated is shown and proved to be a reality. The amount of government wrongdoing, oppression and discrediting will leave you shocked and dismayed. Such brutal law enforcement tactics and retaliation would have been expected from a 1930's pre-FBI and Prohibition era law enforcement and not the system of checks and balances and oversight we have 2012. There is no shortage of intrigue in Top Priority, when the plot thickens a young Hollywood star is dead, Julia Davis is the target of 56 unlawful investigations and there are more suspicious and untimely deaths. By the time you would imagine the story is ending the mafia gets involved and the story, again, bravely charges on. At every twist and turn during the feature you will find yourself shaking your head in dismay at the overwhelming evidence presented by first hand audio and video interviews.
The highlight comes when government officials lie on tape about actions, orders and their knowledge of wrongdoing presented and exposed. At this turning point, the audience, now in Julia Davis' corner all collectively jeered and laughed as official government documents are shown side by side blatantly showing false testimony. It's shock and awe at its best and it gives an outsider a glimpse into how lethal the case was. Director Asif Akbar and legendary Hollywood stuntman BJ Davis, husband of Julia Davis, were both masterful in the presentation and execution of this highly controversial case. Top Priority is a blitzkrieg of truth and vindication that continuously pummels and humiliates the DHS for 95 minutes.
As the screen fades to black, the pants of DHS are squarely around their ankles. The Davis' leaving them in a compromising position with zero wiggle room to defend themselves. Just as the ending credits start to roll my friend on my left says "Oh my God!" and my cousin on my right exclaims, "Wow!" This was followed by an eruption of thunderous applause and a standing ovation. Top Priority accomplishes what every movie strives to do by stirring the emotions of each viewer. You leave Top Priority with an overwhelming and profound sense of emotion that is hard to explain. On one side of the token you feel the fear of the actions which were inflicted on someone in real life. While on the other side, you have a deep sense of sadness for those who died suddenly and unexpectedly from the governments mishandling of the case.
In the end, you are presented with the saddest fact of all. Throughout everything Julia was subjected to, an arrest warrant was never issued for Julia. The laundry list of crimes and violations presented were not done by a whistleblower but were done at the hands of a government agency whose sole purpose is to protect each and every one of us.
Top Priority was the first documentary ever allowed to premiere at the academy for its opening debut and it is fitting because if the ballots went out today, Top Priority would be bringing home an Oscar for Best Documentary. My only real advice for watching 'Top Priority, the Terror Within' is to bring a pillow because your back will hurt from sitting at the edge of your seat! I give 'Top Priority, the Terror Within' 9.5 out of 10 popcorns.