Investigative documentary filmmaking that delves into the duplicitous and unethical methods of the Deep State, The Plot Against the President leaves no stone unturned or revelation unchecked in its examination of an attempted coup against the Presidency of Donald Trump.
The “peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy”. These words, delivered by President Barack Obama in November of 2016, loom heavy throughout The Plot Against the President. It speaks to an ideal that, although should be acted upon with clarity and consistency, was instead used as a mealy-mouth smokescreen that hid intentions deceitful and treacherous. As The Plot Against the President proves, there is something rotten in the state of Washington DC, yet it is much worse than believed.
Directed by Amanda Milius (daughter of infamous filmmaker John Milius), and based on the book by journalist Lee Smith, the 91 minute The Plot Against the President is as damning and engrossing a political documentary as they come. Its presentation of corrupt politicians and shady intelligence agencies almost makes it sound like a Hollywood spy movie, yet it is all depressingly, frustratingly real, and nowhere near as glamorous.
With the investigative journalism of Smith as her guide, and new shocking revelations (regarding the FBI specifically) as her secret weapon, Milius delivers an A-bomb of a documentary packed to the brim with fact-based information on the who’s, what’s, and how’s, that leads to a disturbing “why”. Sometimes it is all too much to take in. With over 70 hours of footage shot, one hopes that this feature documentary can become a series.
The editing by Jarrod Leesland (his feature debut) is tight and paced well. With so many interview heads featured, and so many chapters in this conspiracy to cover, that the film manages to have heads spinning yet feet firmly planted on the ground is something of a cinema miracle. A dramatic score by Stephen Limbaugh (Hoaxed) reminds of the stakes at play.
It all leads what is described as the current era of “information warfare”, with the Democrat Party, the FBI, and the media in collusion to usurp a democratically elected president from office. A lot of this is exemplified in a deluge of fabricated and debunked reports: Russian collusion; corruption with the Ukraine; Trump getting peed on by Russian hookers; the infamous “cocaine and prostitutes on yachts” story (among many more). Media witch hunts destroyed the reputations of innocent people. The supposed gladiators of the truth instead became hyenas the defecated on the gates of democracy.
With The Plot Against the President, Milius presents the clear through lines in this web of corruption that points to what is, quite simply, treachery in the bowels of the political machine. That heads have not rolled down the corridors of Washington is just as infuriating and disturbing as the evidence presented here. Drain the swap, indeed.
