Requiem for the American Dream (2015) User Reviews

Excellent Account of What Happened to America

[benzir13 · 9/10 · 21 September 2016]

Noam Chomsky mentions the works of Joseph Stiglitz and Paul Krugman as two examples of renowned economists and Nobel Laureates who agree with his views, but what is different is the way he explains the development of inequality during the last 4 decades from the historical perspective of previous times when inequality was rampant during other times and the forces that drive societies into one direction or another. I don't agree with Chomsky on many issues, but this one he is spot on.

I gave this movie a 9 star rating instead of 10 because the background music was too loud and seriously interfered with the understanding of what Chomsky was saying.

Excellent documentary.

Chomsky FTW!

[rego-37670 · 8/10 · 18 April 2017]

He is a genius and explains our situation with big business, banks and the wealthy that control the politics. His explanation shows how Trump is fooling the ones who voted for him. By reducing taxes for the corporations the Wealthy will get bigger, There will be another stock market crash and the taxpayers will bail them out. Getting rid of the EPA powers, and school funding he will keep the poor in their place. (slaves for the Corporations. The corporation will still be in control with the lobby and no cap on what corporations can give to each party. He goes into detail and backs up his views with video history. It is a must see video.

Excellent Summation of Chomsky Philosophy

[bobcolganrac · 9/10 · 8 November 2017]

If you're a Trump supporter, you probably won't watch this. Too bad. It's about YOUR beliefs. Everyone's beliefs.

A great deal of Noam Chomsky's attention over his long career has been about how consciousness is shaped by------as well as shapes---- language. Language consequently becomes power to control others......as Eric Blair pointed out so brilliantly in 1984 with his totalitarian NewSpeak. Language, words, grammar, inflections . . .the stuff of thoughts and ideas.

In this lovely synopsis of his book by the same title the filmmakers managed to encapsulate the leading points one of America's greatest intellectuals makes by paring the content down to ten overarching themes ---all of which point to seizure of power by the most manipulative for their own purposes.

We learn how the money and power are consolidated, controlled by the wealthiest. How free markets aren't free. How the concept of democracy was always feared by the leaders in the US....even though their rhetoric is full of token adoration of it. How minds are controlled-- brainwashed by repetitive messaging. How power, and wealth in the hands of a few renders everything else unstable. How the entire system is imploding because it is no longer sustainable. How the damage to the ecosystem, to societal harmony is ruinous......and what must be done to alter the current flow.

If you haven't seen this short documentary, watch it. Especially if you're one of the people not given to thinking about deeper social causes and effects. You know, Trump supporter types.

The downfall of America as described by a world renowned philosopher

[rocks-67264 · 10/10 · 6 May 2016]

Forget the bad review found here from the person from London. This is the real reason for the downfall of America and it has everything to do with the moneyed class wresting control of our government from the hands of the average citizen. Noam Chomsky is a world renowned American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, logician, social critic, and political activist who details the collapse of a once great country step by step. He makes it easy to understand and provides very specific examples of his elucidation of the hijacking of our economy and country. I find the perspective of a professor emeritus at MIT much more edifying than the simple minded who dismiss him as an extreme leftist.

Relevant in this Election

[bobzmcishl · 10/10 · 10 May 2016]

Somehow, conservatives have awoke from their slumber and become aware that we have severe economic problems in this country and the American middle class has seen their economic power erode while the "masters of the universe" just become richer and richer and exert more power and money to ensure that legislation is written that will continue to benefit the 1%. Donald Trump acknowledges this in his stump speeches while Bernie Sanders has made it a cornerstone of his campaign. Clinton tries to avoid the subject lest her opponents bring up Goldman Sach's yet again. Choamsky puts the intellectual underpinnings on why the American Dream is fast becoming a nightmare. His ten principles are pretty easy to understand as he invokes the Founding Fathers and Adam Smith to buttress his intellectual arguments that income inequality in the U.S. is not only a problem but a huge problem that not only affects us in the pocketbook but undermines our democratic processes that have stood us so well over the last 200+ years. We have a professional class in the U.S. that has become immune to the globalization issues facing blue collar workers and both political parties have turned a blind eye to helping American's who have borne the brunt of trade policies that benefit corporate America at the expense of working people. Also the constant drumbeat of the elites against labor unions in our country, an organizing group that once had immense power to protect American wages. In the new "sharing" economy there are vicious fights to keep the sharing workforce from unionizing. Also massive attacks mounted against public sector workers including teachers because they belong to a union. These attacks are not random events but carefully orchestrated events with an end in mind: the continued growth of the 1% that even Adam Smith warned us about. The big fear among the enormously wealthy is that the majority of American's will get too much democracy and start pushing for rights that have long been denied them. They rely on law enforcement and even the military if necessary to protect their property rights and right to govern or manipulate the legislators who supposedly represent their constituents but in reality only represent the interests of the !%. Chomsky lays this all out in his documentary. You may not agree with everything he lays out, but he makes an awful lot of common sense. Many American's are finally waking up to this reality. Watch this documentary and it will provide a good insight into how this country arrived at this economic state.

A Must See for anyone interested in why the US is having so many problems

[pipstraw27 · 10/10 · 5 June 2016]

I agree with another reviewer who said that if you've followed Noam over the years, you won't be learning anything new. That's true, I've heard most of these topics being discussed in previous books and talks that he has given but, having the focus of the entire movie on one topic was a treat and personally, I feel much better informed for having seen the movie. Also, Since Noam has so much information it's nice to have it edited so all the information is concise.

People love or hate Noam Chomsky, I fall in the love category. I just feel that whenever I hear him speak he is saying what I sense but I am unable to put into words. I've worked hard all my life but, never manage to get much accomplished so, his words are kinda soothing to my soul.

I just got finished watching it and already I am planning on when I can watch it again. I'm sure I missed a few points. I just love intelligent people and Noam is one of the best.

Tragic and truthful.

[supervillanova · 10/10 · 25 October 2016]

"Chomsky finds the roots of the Requiem in how the United States was originally set up. The U.S. Constitution put power in the hands of the wealthy. The Constitution was written to prevent, not promote, democracy. Concentrations of wealth resulted in concentrations of political power. The course of our history has been defined by the struggles of this wealth and political power against upsurges in democratization, most notably in the 1930s labor movement and the 1960s peace, civil rights and women's movements.

Power and wealth fought back against these popular movements by trying to shape ideology and manufacture consent. Elections are engineered. Attempts to regulate the economy are undermined. Solidarity of the American dreamers is attacked. As Chomsky has shown through earlier work ("Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media" with Edward S. Herman, 1988) control was extended beyond the use of force into the domain of culture by marketing compliance and marginalizing dissent.

Chomsky himself provides an example of the extent to which dissent is marginalized when he chooses to avoid mentioning by name the great sources of ideas which help us understand how power and wealth function: socialists like Gramsci, Lukacs or even the scholar of the British Museum himself.

Rather than end his dissertation in despair, Chomsky offers elements of hope, if not exactly a well lit path to redemption. Popular movements, efforts to dismantle illegitimate authority, freedom of speech and new forms of political action all offer hope. He cites philosopher John Dewey's admonition that institutions should be under participatory democratic control. What matters, relates Chomsky quoting his friend Historian Howard Zinn, is the countless deeds of unknown people who lay the basis for the events of human history. Ultimately, learning how the world works will greatly aid in changing it."

The Final Film of Noam Chomsky? Not Likely...

[gavin6942 · 7/10 · 10 May 2016]

The definitive discourse with Noam Chomsky, widely regarded as the most important intellectual alive, on the defining characteristic of our time - the deliberate concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a select few.

This film is being touted as the "final" film of Noam Chomsky. I don't buy that. He's not dead, for one thing. But also, the amount of footage out there is pretty daunting... people could be making films of Chomsky's speeches for years to come.

There isn't all that much here that you won't hear elsewhere if you're familiar with Chomsky's work. It's a standard denouncement of various systems and how Americans interact with their government. For those who aren't fans, it may also be really, really dry. Chomsky packs a lot of information into his words and is not the most exciting speaker. It is more accessible, though, than some of his broader work... unlike his views on foreign policy, he does not dig into decades of obscure history to support his theories.

Requiem for the American Dream--A Pending Nightmare?

[diana-y-paul · 10/10 · 5 December 2016]

This eerily prescient documentary (2015) narrated by Noam Chomsky was in development before the official announcement of Donald Trump's candidacy. Yet, in the "Ten Principles of the Concentration of Wealth and Power" the viewer sees the redesigning of the US economy."Requiem for the American Dream" is indeed sobering. Chomsky, known for his activism during both the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War,bemoans the state of "an uninformed electorate making irrational choices often against their own self-interest." This is a documentary that is a must-see for all of us trying to make sense of the election of Trump. The historical perspective is an eye- opener!

Powerful and shocking movie

[velvettazz · 17 January 2017]

Being an"intellectual" is not a prerequisite to understand what this man says. The actualization of what's happening to America in my lifetime greatly saddens me because we were once a might and great country. I'm not sure how we as a people will defend against this societal disease. I recommend this film be made part of the curriculum in schools if the wealthy don't prevent us. God help us as a nation.

This film presents factual events as they happened and proposes future generations rectify the problems by throwing off apathy surrounding the voters and bring fresh insights to the political scene. Banking deregulation only contributed to the demise of the Middle Class. This country will be at the mercy of the war mongers with deep pockets that need a venue to enrich themselves at the cost of our blood. This is a most painful lesson that must be not be allowed. I strongly recommend this film.

Consciously Slanted Criticism of Contemporary American Cultures

[l_rawjalaurence · 6/10 · 28 November 2015]

Marketed as a definitive statement of Chomsky's view of contemporary America, REQUIEM FOR THE American DREAM offers an eight-part deconstruction of a country where rampant capitalism and unrestricted practices have led to a society even more unequal than it has ever been in its two hundred-plus year history.

Through a series of interviews Chomsky traces this development back to the time when America was established, when the Constitution allowed for the freedom of individuals to practice anything they wished, including unrestrained capitalism. He argues that until the Seventies there were a series of checks and balances in places so as to ensure that all the people were well looked after; but things started to change, as successive presidents decided that the country had gone too far in the direction of freedom in the past decades, and needed to be reined in.

Gains obtained in the Sixties and early Seventies, such as the acquisition of civil rights, women's liberation and a relaxing of sexual mores were followed by a tightening of the political structure, a deliberate manipulation of public opinion by capitalist interests and a concession to the moneymakers to pursue whatever policies they wished. Now it is commonplace for governments to bail them out whenever they over-spend; if they didn't, then the governments would not be elected.

Chomsky paints an overwhelmingly negative picture of contemporary America, while suggesting that the only solution is for individuals to band together and create resistance movements similar to those formulated during the Sixties. Some of his historical claims are just plain bunkum: while middle-class white Americans enjoyed unrivaled prosperity in the Fifties, this was certainly not the case for most African Americans deprived of civil rights. Likewise the troops returning from World War II did have the chance to benefit from a university education, but little was done to alleviate the trauma of the previous six years. Hence America was hardly that edenic world as Chomsky claims - before the capitalists had their way.

Nonetheless, we should understand that this documentary does not pretend to be objective. It is the views of an aging leftist with a passionate concern for his country's future; on those terms REQUIEM FOR THE American DREAM is a compelling watch.

Should be required viewing for every American.

[isaacroccoco · 10/10 · 20 June 2018]

Everyone should see this. Confused, concerned, and frustrated by what is happening in America? Watch this and you'll begin to understand.

I would also recommend watching Adam Curtis' excellent documentary "The Century of the Self" as a companion documentary to help understand how we got here.

Noam Chomsky for better or worse

[bastos · 7/10 · 24 May 2020]

This movie will not change the minds of most people, you either like him or don't, so this feels a bit like preaching to the choir. Nevertheless he is a fascinating character and it's always a delight to hear him speak, even if I don't agree with everything being said.

democracy working

[jbmd-24349 · 5/10 · 9 May 2016]

Movie misses the point. Talks about consequence not cause. As my father would say, "Who told you live is fair?" Democracy is about majority rule. Over 40% of the voting public makes a conscious choice not to vote. Not voting is a choice to support the status quo. We have only ourselves to blame. The American public loves to point to someone else as the problem. Movie should be a real hit. This looks like the typical propaganda to misdirect the public from the true nature and solution of the problem. The public has the right to change any part of the Constitution to make our Republic fairer but again chooses not to act. It has been changed 27 times in the past. We could change it to Supreme court judges to be elected by the people.

instructive and sad. it is definitely an eye opener

[danielibiricu · 10/10 · 7 February 2017]

most of people that I know are aware the the rich gain more that politicians are corrupt that bankers only want money for themselves etc.. but we know it because we hear it here and there.

this movie actually shows you how this is all engineered and does it in a way that slowly builds up and makes you even angry to see how much truth is in it.

But I am posting here mainly for one reason, I am neither American nor live in the US but in Spain and I can tell that over here (Europe) we have got exactly the same structure that this movie shows. It is an actual copy but in Europe, that tells that this is not US on their own with their economy and social classes etc... it is Global or at least common to the so-called 1st world.

In Spain and other southern European countries like Italy, Portugal or Greece it is not enough nowadays with having a full time job for not to be poor. Many salaries are around the 1K EUR mark those that earn 1.5K consider themselves somehow with a good salary but that is totally wrong with current earnings people can barely pay the rent, bills,schools, insurances etc...

Today's poor is not a street begger but also someone who does have a full time job but cannot afford a decent live.

A resounding success

[take2docs · 9/10 · 23 May 2020]

Now, this is more like it.

The filmmakers of REQUIEM FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM take a back seat and keep a low profile and simply let their subject speak, what with Mr. Chomsky being fascinating enough to carry a documentary on his shoulders.

Granted, some of what is discussed here can be a bit circumlocutory and abstractive for the average person, but for the most part it makes perfect sense and important points are made.

For decades now, this especially discerning and cerebral secular sage -- a man who has spent much of his life scrutinizing and comparing newspaper editorials, and commenting on the influence of Big Media upon the masses -- has been emphasizing just how propaganda functions within a democratic society.

This exceptional talkfest is one that I would recommend to anyone not already familiar with Chomsky's work.

We learn, for instance, what the power elite or global Plutonomy think of us commoners: as know-nothing plebeians and ignorant peasants, whose only purpose for living is to consume. Chomsky talks about the injustices that have occurred as a result of U.S. foreign policy, of wage slavery, monopolies and conglomerates, economic exploitation, stage-managed elections, how things like professional sports are somewhat designed to distract and keep the have-nots from thinking, as well as his views on free association and the importance of the alternative media.

This is not a long documentary, nor does it need to be. In certain respects, it works both as a fine introduction as well as a fitting conclusion.

An important documentary - but without a real solution.

[janlind999 · 8/10 · 23 October 2016]

This is a very important documentary with a lot of information - especially for the uninformed about society and what mechanisms there are that's "controlling" us and how we then behave, like puppets.

But what I miss here is discussions about solutions, and that's why I can't give this documentary a 10 out of 10. I would like this documentary to be more educational and have more discussions about alternative solutions - like the "Zeitgeist Moving Forward"-documentary did!

But Requiem for the American Dream is, of course, very much worth seeing! This informative educational documentary should be viewed in schools! Why isn't it?

Don't just post Trump memes, watch this documentary and see how capitalism and mass media made him possible

[kjc-bln · 10/10 · 6 March 2017]

This documentary is so great! I've actually never written a review on IMDb and normally use it for fictional films but especially the "uninformed" ,how one other user put it before, should definitely watch this. Noam Chomsky is one to listen to! He really puts the finger on the wounds of society and capitalism. Especially in times of Trump and other right forces it is important to not just post memes on Facebook but rather talk about why it happened. And this film perfectly summarizes why people are fed up with society and how people as Trump can get their votes with the cheapest "solutions", get their votes with just finding a guilty one instead of dealing with the unjust economy (& society) of capitalism.

Really? This is the brain trust intellectual?

[jbryceyoung · 28 August 2020]

I was led to believe Chomsky was intelligent, this film showed that was a lie. Yes, i watched every second hoping for some redeeming aspect. Most of his logic had no track to a cohesive conclusion beyond money=bad. He glorifies some of the worst civil rights offenders, and vilifies others by tearing quotes from context. The cogent points he does make are likely by accident. Most everything else he says is self contradictory within the documentary, or has been radically redefined five years later to fit the morphing agenda. Maybe I need to go back a few decades before dementia clouded his judgment?

Best part is how an anti capitalist hit piece is totally funded by interruption ads. Go ahead and down vote me; I've seen what you cheer.

Fear and Catastrophe if your god is money.

[theairind · 7/10 · 19 May 2016]

Noam Chomsky preaches doom and gloom over the current (and potential future) of the US economy. Vicious cycles, corporate tyranny, too big to fail, Goldman Sachs, Wall Street, blah blah blah all amount to this movie being just another standard diatribe about how "the rich have all the $$$ money $$$ and the poor are suffering :(

If your god is money, and C-notes make you sweat, this movie can be difficult for you to watch. If you're one of us who realize wealth can be measured in ways that don't require dollar signs, and experienced in a color other than green, you'll find it as entertaining and humorous as I did.

A must see

[adalpra-00151 · 10/10 · 7 October 2020]

A must see to understand why most U.S. citizens are trapped and cannot pursue the "American Dream"

Typical Noam Chomsky fare, not necessarily a bad thing.

[vithiet · 7/10 · 7 July 2023]

There's a lot of interesting information in there, but nothing truly new if you are familiar with Chomsky. If you are not, and are inclined to listen to his viewpoint, you will get some pretty good tidbits to think about. However if you fall on the opposite side of the spectrum there is not much in there you might find of interest. And that is why I am not giving a higher score here. While I am 100% in line with his views, objectively this documentary only offers Chomsky's one-sided analysis and commentary on how we got here and why things are the way they are without any kind of proposal on how we could fix the situation. Still a recommended watch.

Power of Wealth

[milad_nazari · 10/10 · 8 March 2017]

Noam Chomsky one of the best activists , Philosopher, intellectual professor of our time, a great genius that has had little to no media attention because of his views. He takes no sides but only describes the problems with our time. If you would like to understand the fundamentals of Concentration of Wealth and Power then this is the best documentary to watch. The interviews given by Chomsky are very descriptive with real life references to every point he includes. Anyone who has followed the works of Adam Smith and has read his books will understand many of the points described in this documentary about our financial institutions were described by Adam Smith about the industrial Revolution.

Highly recommended!

It's a philosophical mess.

[koltci · 1/10 · 25 March 2019]

A self-proclaimed Anarchist supporting FED; a socialist remembering the difference between East and West Germany; critic of modern corporationism suggesting solutions which will even make the situation worst;

no tin hat required..

[shmity72 · 10/10 · 16 February 2018]

To write a review of this movie and be tracked by the nsa, cia, WEF, bilderbergs, CFR....am i missing someone?

facts: oh yah! 1/10th of one percent have 98 to 99 percent of world usd..and are confused as to how to keep the rabble in line'' lol

so funny. they should make it a comedy. or no, make it a marvel movie consisting of prurient individualism marketed by 98 percent cgi..

now THAT would blow the roof off!

yours truly, shmity

ps i took chomsky's 400 level grammar class at the u of washington in the early 90s ...he aint no dummy.