Showman or Journalist ? Slick Mike Wallace Biopic Questions His Legacy
« Mike Wallace Is Here », by Avi Belkin, charts the phenomenal career of the infamous hard-nosed American TV reporter who passed away in 2012. Pioneer of the spotlit one-on-one TV interview, Wallace is widely credited with inventing the tough interview style, in the process tarnishing the reputations of countless public figures, from Barbara Streisand to the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan and from Eleanor Roosevelt to a young Donald Trump.
Using archival footage, slick editing and a pacy soundtrack, Belkin turns the focus squarely on Wallace himself. Without neglecting the traumatic cornerstones of Wallace’s difficult personal life, the film ostensibly charts the history of Americas news media landscape.
In a fashion that his subject would approve of, Belkin goes as far as questioning Wallace’s legacy. In the opening scene we see him challenging the « lecturing » propagandist style of Fox News’ notorious Bill O’Reilly, who responds by pointing the finger at him as «the driving force» behind his career.
While there’s no doubt that Wallace’s investigative brand of journalism has led to greater scrutiny of public affairs, has it come at the cost of truly objective reporting?
What follows is an exciting and engrossing film. Not only do we follow the progress of Wallace’s career, Belkin also demonstrates the changes in his character, occurring almost in tandem with the society of his time. He starts as a brash entertainer that transforms into a bold, self-righteous reporter before settling as a morose, contemplative and self-critical commentator. Wallace is at first defensive but Belkin slowly lets him open up, culminating in a difficult televised conversation about his battle with depression.
As the film returns to Bill O’Reilly’s accusation, we try to read Wallace’s reaction. Uneasy and uncharacteristically hesitant, a flash of self-doubt seems to cross his otherwise impervious expression.
“Mike Wallace Is Here” is now available online.
