From Russia with Lev

This great film is going to be one of the finest explanations of the Trump rein of corruption during his time in American politics. The amount of time it must have taken to gather all the information blows my mind! It is so well put together to show the story of what Trump and his weaponization of the DOJ did to destroy our trust in journalism. The Fox news propaganda that was spread in the name of protecting Trump is just so egregious it should be an un coalification event for their moniker of: "Fair & Balanced!! I think it's great that the truth be shown of their involvement in the decline of trust in our government and society! Facts matter, and Rachelle has always been a beacon of trust for me to navigate during this dreadful period of American history!

Gripping from beginning to end. Does Lev Parnes have a checkered past. Absolutely. That's what gave him the credentials to be recruited by Giuliani on behalf of Trump. Is Parnes speaking the truth about Trump's motives and what went down. Absolutely. Everything he describes lines up perfectly with the Trump playbook we've come to know very well over the past 8 years. His wife's sincerity and intelligence and his dedication to his family are very convincing. Taking into account January 6th, the actions described in this documentary and many many other devious actions and statements by Trump and his co-conspirators, it boggles the mind that he's still seemingly supported by 40% of our population.

Directed by Billy Corben, this documentary project from MSNBC host Rachel Maddow provides a cogent, intentionally one-sided detailing of corruption on a massive scale, centered upon and incriminating Donald Trump and his associates, notably Rudy Giuliani. Obviously, MAGA cultists and collaborators including the folks at Fox News won't profess to believe any of it, but it becomes clear that good bad-guy Lev Parnas has the receipts and "in the room where it happened" credibility to tell an important story that is highly relevant now that Trump is competitive (if self-destructive) in the upcoming election attempting to regain the presidency.

Corben's approach overwhelms the viewer with facts, endless testimony from especially Lev and his wife, plus satirical jabs against Trump and his cronies that I found immersive: mainly persuasive but also at times over the top. Like Michael Moore, he is a truth seeker, truth teller and entertainer, but perhaps a more traditional docu format would carry more weight. Yet the finale of Lev meeting and coming to terms with one of his chicanery's victims, Hunter Biden, is powerful.

From Russia with Lev is a riveting exploration of political manipulation and betrayal. Director Billy Corben expertly guides us through Lev Parnas's shocking story-how he became a pawn in Trump's desperate attempt to discredit the Bidens and was discarded when the mission yielded nothing. The film masterfully portrays the tension of a man trapped by loyalty to a leader who sought to suppress the truth. Parnas's wife emerges as a quiet hero, saving vital evidence from destruction. Hunter Biden's grace and humility at the end is an emotional crescendo, leaving no one unaffected. A powerful debut production by Rachel Maddow, this film is a winner in every sense.

This film is very well done.

It puts a spotlight back on what lead to Trump's first impeachment. He tried (and failed) to extort the government of Ukraine to officially announce that they were opening a corruption investigation into Joe and Hunter Biden (even though they did not have any evidence of that), to benefit his own 2020 presidential campaign, or Trump and the United States government would withhold economic and military support to Ukraine and that the administration would withdraw Zelensky's invitation to the white house that had been previously set up.

It is told from the perspective of Lev Parnas, one of Trump's main footsoldiers in the extortion scheme that went behind the back of official diplomatic channels. His claims are backed up by mountains of digital evidence he shared with the production team and presented throughout the documentary.

These actions ultimately led to Trump's first articles impeachment.

Really shows the warped, criminal/mob boss instinct that pervaded Trump's decision making process as president.