Get Me Roger Stone (2017) review

Insightful - and purposefully aggravating - portrait of the legendary Roger Stone (I say that without irony), whose career as a (controversial) political strategist and provocateur has taken him from his involvement with the Nixon administration all the way to the election of real estate mogul Donald J. Trump as President of the United States. I've known about - and perversely admired - the Machiavellian shrewdness of Mr. Stone for a while (despite the two of us being on the opposite ends of the political spectrum ... you know what they say about 'knowing your enemy') and this documentary brings this 'shadowy figure' to light: he views politics as a sleazy racket and is all too comfortable plunging in, making ridiculous allegations and spreading false misinformation for the purpose of winning at any cost (if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying). The (liberal) filmmakers allow in all sides to discuss the myth-generating and charismatic Stone, who relishes conflict and drama - it even ends on a moment straight out of Camus' The Stranger when he tells the (presumably disapproving) audience, "I relish your hatred." If you're still reeling from the whole Trump fiasco and cannot believe such a person could become the leader of the free world, meet the individual who helped con (part of) a nation. One of my favorite 'Stone's Rules' wasn't included in this documentary ... but it fits POTUS #45: "Politics isn't theater, it's performance art ... sometimes, for its own sake."