Our take
It may not teach us anything that we don’t already know by now, but the documentary Totally Under Control—filmed in secret, in defiance of the Trump administration—still stands as a valuable historical document so that the same mistakes can be avoided in the future. Boiled down to simple terms by doctors and other experts, the film’s explanation of the United States’ failure to adequately contain their own COVID-19 outbreak is always science- and fact-oriented first. And in its own classy, level-headed way, the film emphasizes that every politician, celebrity, and media outlet has a crucial part to play in making sure nobody panics and chases any counterproductive agendas. It should be obvious by now that we’re all on the same team.
What it won
WGA
1 nom
The story
This documentary puts a spotlight on the White House’s failed response to the global pandemic and how it could have been prevented. Featuring damning testimony from public health officials and hard investigative reporting, director Alex Gibney reveals a system-wide collapse caused by a profound dereliction of presidential leadership.
Elsewhere
"Essential viewing for undecided voters, though it could have been more expansive."
— Erik Nielsen
"None of the fancy gimmicky in "Totally Under Control" can top the sheer emotional turmoil on display from its key subjects."
— Eric Kohn
The details
The Looming Tower
Alex Gibney & Dan Futterman
In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon
Alex Gibney
In the Same Breath
Female director & Nanfu Wang
Collective
Alexander Nanau
Undefeated
Daniel Lindsay & T. J. Martin
To Kill a Tiger
Nisha Pahuja
Hail Satan?
Penny Lane
Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time
Don Argott & Robert B. Weide
Who picked it
Emil Hofileña is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. He also writes as a theater critic, with work published in Rogue and Out of Print, among others. He’s probably crying over a movie or an episode as we speak.