Assholes: A Theory

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Assholes: A Theory

2020,

1h 21m,

Documentary

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8 Reviews

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With venomous social media, resurgent authoritarianism and rampant narcissism threatening to trash civilization as we know it, the time has come for Assholes: A Theory -- an entertaining and oh so timely feature doc from acclaimed director John Walker. Inspired by Aaron James' New York Times bestseller of the same name, Assholes investigates the breeding grounds of contemporary 'asshole culture' -- and locates signs of civility in an otherwise rude-n-nasty universe. Venturing into predominantly male domain, Walker moves from Ivy League frat clubs to the bratty princedoms of Silicon Valley and bear pits of international finance. Why do assholes thrive in certain environments? What explains their perverse appeal? And how do they keep getting elected! Lively commentary is provided by the likes of actor John Cleese, former RCMP officer Sherry Lee Benson-Podolchuk, and Italian LGBTQ activist Vladimir Luxuria who famously locked horns with Silvio Berlusconi, the p****y-grabbing prototype of the 21st century demagogue.

Nick Schager

The Daily Beast

Feb 3, 2021

A gravely depressing survey of a 21st century in thrall-in several crucial arenas-to humanity's worst impulses.

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Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Nov 28, 2019

3/4

There's much humour but also a few swift kicks to the derriere delivered in the doc, including to supposedly mild-mannered Canadians.

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Stephen Silver

Splice Today

Nov 16, 2020

3.5/5

A compelling documentary which asks what constitutes an asshole, how assholes succeed in society, and what can be done about it, if anything

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Jorge Ignacio Castillo

Planet S Magazine

Jan 21, 2020

3/5

For a documentary that barely cracks the 80-minute length, Assholes: A Theory covers a lot of ground and even dares to provide a solution: don't enable assholery. Denounce it, don't celebrate it. Seems like sound advice.

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Carey-Ann Pawsey

Orca Sound

Jan 2, 2020

3/5

The inspiration for him to make this film was reading the book Aaron James' book of the same name. It caused him to want to explore why. Why that type of person seems to be everywhere you turn today?

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Norman Wilner

NOW Toronto

Dec 3, 2019

3/5

It's maybe not as funny as Walker wants it to be - a burbly jazz score tries very hard to force some lightness into the material - but it'll leave you thinking...

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John Walker

Director

John Walker

Narrator

John Cleese

Self

Robert Sandler

Writer

Ann Bernier

Producer

Annette Clarke

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Synopsis

With venomous social media, resurgent authoritarianism and rampant narcissism threatening to trash civilization as we know it, the time has come for Assholes: A Theory -- an entertaining and oh so timely feature doc from acclaimed director John Walker. Inspired by Aaron James' New York Times bestseller of the same name, Assholes investigates the breeding grounds of contemporary 'asshole culture' -- and locates signs of civility in an otherwise rude-n-nasty universe. Venturing into predominantly male domain, Walker moves from Ivy League frat clubs to the bratty princedoms of Silicon Valley and bear pits of international finance. Why do assholes thrive in certain environments? What explains their perverse appeal? And how do they keep getting elected! Lively commentary is provided by the likes of actor John Cleese, former RCMP officer Sherry Lee Benson-Podolchuk, and Italian LGBTQ activist Vladimir Luxuria who famously locked horns with Silvio Berlusconi, the p****y-grabbing prototype of the 21st century demagogue.

Director: John Walker
Producer: Ann Bernier, Annette Clarke, John Walker
Screenwriter: Robert Sandler
Distributor: Gravitas Ventures
Production Co: National Film Board of Canada, Documentary Channel, John Walker Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 30, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2020
Runtime: 1h 21m

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