Film Review: Giuliani Time - A Nice Retelling of History But Nothing New

Back in the 1990's if you were living in New York or reading the New York Times you don't need to see Giuliani Time; it provides no new information or additional insights.  However, if you don't know much about Rudy Giuliani beyond what you saw on 9/11 and the days that followed the film provides a slow moving retelling of the news and the issues.

Keating touches on but blows his chance to dispel some of the myths surrounding the 1990's reduction in New York City crime rates. 

Even though I am acquainted with the Giuliani as mayor of New York history a few things I did get out of the film were:
1. Giuliani's ex-officials talk about the fact that he lacks empathy for minorities in a city of minorities. 

2. I gasped when one of his aids says in defense and exaltation of the workfare program that,  " as they say, ‘work will make you free.’"   Those exact works adorn the gate that inmates passed through at the entrance to the Dachau Concentration Camp (Arbeit macht Frie).  I think workfare, if coupled with education opportunities that improve skillsets and self esteem, can be a positive program.  The insensitivity of that comment and the general lack of empathy shown by that administration shows why they had such popularity problems.

3. I learned more about his history as an Assistant US Attorney, with the Haitian boat people.   On the topic of Giuliani before he was mayor, here is an interesting paper, discussing his rise to power and his involvement in the Milken "junk bonds" affair, and the subsequent savings and loans crisis:

http://www.mises.org/journals/jls/19_4/19_4_2.pdf.  (thanks to my friends Louis and Laura for finding this link).

Kevin Keating, the filmmaker, leaves out most personal details about Giuliani that would have a least made the film interesting for anyone who already knew the public history.  For a cheesy docudrama of his family, affairs, rivalries, divorce and an improbably heroic version of what he was doing on 9/11 while the buildings fell around him see made for TV movie, Rudy: the Rudy Giuliani Story.  You even get to see him bravely break down a door to save and protect his frightened staff.