Product Description

All politics is local in this hilarious burlesque of a documentary following a tightly-run mayoral race in the small town of Bogota, New Jersey. When the much-reviled--and legally blind--Republican incumbent Steven Lonegan boldly announces he will run for re-election, the citizens of Bogota go on the offensive to unseat him. Enter Democrat Fred Pesce, coaxed from retirement to share the ticket. With his health in question, and his politics compared to those of Tony Soprano, the field is wide open for sight-challenged town booster and former local football hero Dave Musikant to step in as a long-shot write-in independent candidate--officially making it the only mayoral race in the nation where two of the three candidates are legally blind! Add to the mix the machinations of Jesse The Body Ventura`s campaign manager, and Anytown, USA resonates as an all-too-familiar look at the charade of partisan politics in our increasingly polarized nation.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #108794 in DVD
• Brand: Film Movement
• Model: Film 12 Year 3
• Published on: 2005
• Released on: 2008-09-02
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, HiFi Sound, Surround Sound, THX, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 93 minutes

Review
Hilarious and endlessly quirky... ANYTOWN, USA mixes the humor of the best Christopher Guest films with both the scrutiny and pathos of a political satire. --Minnesota Daily

Review
3.5 Stars! More twists than an episode of Lost ANYTOWN is more than a snapshot of local politics. It's a nail-biting drama! --Newark Star-Ledger

Review
A campaign for mayor that takes unexpected, and heartbreaking, twists and turns. --The New York Times

Customer Reviews

Documentary about the political process
This is very interesting documentary about the political process in the local elections for the town mayor. Small town in New Jersey has local elections. It is apparent that local citizens are less than thrilled with their current (Republican) mayor. The race is interesting because the current mayor is legally blind and so is his independent party challenger - a young man who has been battling brain tumor, Democratic nominee is well known in the city but he seems to be battling illness too which he prefers to keep a secret.

Political strategy, process of getting citizens involved and engaged, the ambition, the drive, and support of the family are all aspects of the story.

The conclusion and aftermath are amazing. By the end of the documentary, viewer will be so entangled with everyone's destiny that it will be fireworks explosion of the emotions about the events that follow the actual end of the election process. This film gives a complete story about democratic process of this country, its citizens that are important part of its process and private citizens that are becoming a willing participants in trading their very private lives for a very public ones. Memo to "Film movement" company - this is one of your best productions ever!

Anytown USA - fabulous!
The movie is a must see. Documentary film maker Kristian Fraga is one to watch out for, and you can see his genius at work here. 5 stars all the way.

A Masterpiece!
I grew up in the small town of Guttenberg, New Jersey and became involved in local politics from a young age and after seeing this film it brought back so many memories! Anytown, USA is a captivating documentary that goes in depth to show just how ruthless small town politics can be. The film goes on the campaign trail with all three candidates for mayor. Legally blind Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan(whom I would've supported) was the tough as nails, take no prisoners incumbent who faced opposition from a Democratic challenger in Fred Pesce who clearly had other things on his mind besides the race and a wild card write-in candidate and former star high school athlete, David Musikant who was also legally blind and had enlisted the services of former Jesse Ventura Campaign Manager, Doug Friedline.(Both Musikant and Friedline have passed since the making of this film.)

Perhaps the most interesting sidenote of this film is how each legally blind candidate views their disability. Lonegan resents and even mocks at times what he perceives to be Musikant's attempt to use his disability to win votes while Lonegan gives a brief synopsis of his failing eyesight while making it clear that he doesn't use it as a crutch. Another interesting moment takes place when Musikant starts spreading rumors about Democratic Challenger Fred Pesce's candidacy after receiving a speculatory claim from someone who claimed to be one of Pesce's people and in turn, unleashes the wrath of a furious Mrs. Pesce. You feel for Pesce in this film because you know that something isn't right with him and it becomes more and more evident as the film progresses and you don't see him knocking on doors with his running mate, Joe Noto.(Who is now a Bogota Councilman.) All of this takes place while some residents are outraged over Lonegan's desire to eliminate the town's only high school in order to cut spending. As a result, Lonegan amasses a resistance who is determined to come up against him for the sole purpose of wanting to see him lose and it becomes quite comical at times.

Roll all of these intangiables into one and you have yourself one slobber knocker of a film! Kristian Fraga and Juan Dominguez did a spectacular job of documenting the inner workings of small town politics. Another young talent by the name of Amanda Rosa who assisted in the editing of this film and currently heads her own fledgling production company, Directs 4 Food Productions, did a phenominal job as well and I sincerely believe that she has a bright future ahead of her as a director.

To cut a long story short, buy this film. It's an experience of a lifetime!