When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts

The average user rating for this TV Show is 8.6 out of 10 (based on 56 Votes).

Josh R. gave it a10:
Amazing. As side note, you have to love the negative reviews, which all seem to revolve around the clash between the political bias of the reviewer and what they see as Lee's political bais.

Mathias B gave it a10:
A masterpice, plain and simple. This is an emotionally wrenching, messy and profound work. Yes, it's flawed, but every great film is. What it gets to is the tragedy of this event and the high crimes that surrounded it ("Heck of a job Brownie"). This is a moving, compelling document that gives voice to the people who suffered through this time that shall be forever etched into our country's history.

Barry M gave it a9:
As a survivor of Katrina, I had a bad PTS. That alone should convince anyone of it's accuracy. My only probllem was with the disturbing images. Dis we really have to see all those rotting corpses?

Tomas gave it a3:
political sniping at its worst

Jonathan P gave it a9:
Watching the images of those dealing with the hurricane's aftermath, I realized that I'd never really seen them without a natural soundtrack. Though this documentary frequently augments them with music, I think this was the first time I saw the images and heard the sounds of the people for myself, instead of being covered over by incessant chatter of 24-hour news people. For that alone, this film is a priceless document of what occurred.

Spongeee gave it a10:
Another classic Spike Lee Joint. It is an honest, brutual, telling of the Katrina story. Well done and put together...great filmmaking.

Brenda C gave it a10:
Spike's best work ever!!!! Bravo, Spike......Bravo!!!!!

Tammy B gave it a10:
I cried and my heart is still broken.

[Anonymous] gave it a4:
Horribly bias, more of a politcal gripe than a touching story.

Daren L gave it a10:
Defintely one of the best documentaries that I've ever seen. A wonderful account of a national trajedy.

Nancy H gave it an8:
Heartbreaking as well as heart wrenching. Shameful how their neighboring parishes behaved. Lesson learned: don't count on the government or your neighbors.

Mat C gave it a7:
If Spike could just present a little bit more balance - mostly by not presenting the whacko conspiracy and leftist ideology, he'd be the best documentary creator of our generation. Love ya Spike, but don't give so much air time to the loonies!

Thom M gave it a9:
Nearly flawless - one of the best historical documentaries of the past 10 years.

Denise V gave it a10:
Hopefully viewers will be moved to take action. This is not just a film - it is about the results of the political and economic choices we are all responsible for making (or not making). A must see for everyone. The question is - what are we going to do to ensure this never hapens again? Denise

Edward C gave it a10:
When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts I watched the first two acts last night on HBO, and I think they moved me more profoundly than any documentary I've ever seen... The drama involved was like watching one of those 70's Irwin Allen disaster flicks times 1000!!! But the real sting of it is that it wasn't fiction... It really happened! I commend Spike Lee for having the passion to follow through on this horrific film project to clearly awaken America to the glitches in our system that so severely compounded Katrina's impact on our victimized citizens... I commend the selfless and humane volunteers, like Sean Penn, the Canadian Mounties of all people, and the many others, who "pitched in" against insurmountable odds to give hope where there was no hope to Katrina's victims... Most of all, I commend the locals and the fellow victims who commandeered anything that could hold weight and float to rescue their neighbors... It was enlightening to see the human spirit that prevailed despite its powerlessness... I think what appalled me most, aside from our overall incompetance and lack of preparation despite all the advance warning Katrina gave us, was the confusion and lack of leadership that existed between the layers of government responsible for providing relief to the victims due to placing more emphasis on what was politically correct than on the results of the disaster and our citizens so hopelessly crying for help... I was entirely absorbed with a dying sister in Oregon when Katrina hit the southeast, but was shamed by the footage that showed the victims in New Orleans who were suffering similar circumstances to mine reaching out to assist their neighbors as well as their loved ones... When the Levees Broke is a tough lesson about making choices to all Americans... Choices about who we elect to lead us... Choices about laying groundwork to avoid failure again in the future as we rebuild our levees in life... Choices about what the right priorities are in the face of disaster... Selfless, rather than selfish, choices... I urge all Americans, as well as citizens of the rest of the world, to watch and learn with me... How Long Does It Take America to Learn from Its Mistakes? HBO: When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts-- Acts Three and Four... I was further appalled by Acts 3 & 4 of Spike Lee's new documentary, as they focused more on the aftermath of America's greatest disaster than the disaster itself.... Many points were made that only reinforced what I emphasized most in yesterday's blog, regarding the incompetance of and lack of leadership from the layers of elected and non-elected officials before, during, and since America's worst natural disaster ever.... First and foremost to me is the Army Corps of Engineers approach to rebuilding the levees, as we are now approaching another hurricane season, and we are only at the tip of the iceberg rebuilding New Orleans... Part of the film was invested into showing how the construction of the original levees failed... How the walls themselves were only thin concrete slabs lacking the minimally required depth of 17' piling for support and held together by plastic fastenting devices... How the base of earth beneath the slabs was less than the required 4 feet per foot of water depth protection desired... Time in the film was even devoted to comparing New Orleans' levees to the levees in the Netherlands, where over 60% of the country is below sea level... How the marshlands at the foot of the Mississippi River, nature's means of flood protection have randomly been ravaged and broken down with jetties for boat access to the river... New Orleans levees were "Mickey Moused", and are again being "Mickey Moused"! Even more shocking, The Army Corps of Engineers is protected from lawsuits for incompetence by federal law! In addition I learned that the offshore drilling there provides over 30% of America's natural gas and oil, but, because most of the drilling is done more than 3 miles off Louisiana's shores, the government revenues generated from the drilling goes to the federal government, rather than to Louisiana... and, were it different, the wealth of those revenues would easily afford the rebuilding there without being at the mercy of FEMA or the federal government... The above picture shows a damaged home with an X painted to the right of the front door by government inspectors assigned to inspect damaged homes and locate bodies... The body count inside was to be painted at 6:00 on each X... Amazing tolls of the zeros painted were proven innacurate as relatives later discovered the bodies of their loved ones upon entering the dwellings... DNA support was requested by medical examiners to identify those lost in early September and not granted until late December... Families were torn apart... Mothers from their children... as the victims were relocated to other states... The US citizens of New Orleans were freely called "refugees" by the media, as opposed to citizens, in newscast after newscast... The highlight for me last night was a caption of a local resident who dropped by a news conference with Dick Cheney being conducted about 150 feet from his ravaged home. A lame duck representing a lamer duck.... According to the citizen, Cheney had, in a congressional meeting a few weeks prior, told a congressman who was pressuring him for answers over the Katrina disaster to "go fuck yourself"... The citizen interrupted the conference twice, calmly telling Cheney to go fuck himself.... And the inhuman atrocities, in addition to the disaster, American to American, continue as I write this, 12 months later... How difficult would it be to bring our boys home from Iraq and invest our billions and their energy into recovering our losses at home instead? I think the world would understand... "A government of the people, by the people, and for the people"... The people should speak louder... See the film... Wake up America and protect your rights!

Carl H. gave it a10:
Absolutely outstanding work. To me the doc. showed that there was enough blame to go around not only at the federal level but the city and state level as well. Some have more blame to bear than others i.e. FEMA and Bush Admin. All in all a very powerful and moving look at what's still a ongoing crisis in New Orleans and the effect gulf areas.

c woods gave it a9:
I found all 4 hours to be riveting. I was unsure of what to expect but I came away with a sense of compassion and determination to do what I can. The thing that sticks in my mind is the lady in the t-shirt that read: FEMA PLAN--RUN MF RUN was priceless

Armand D gave it a9:
I hope to never again see such a blatant display of piss poor planning, political tap dancing and buck passing as was exdposed on this brilliant documentary. Well done, Mr. Lee!

Miguel B gave it a10:
Undeniably the truth!!!!!

Sheila R. gave it an8:
I came away from seeing this film wondering about the Mayor and the Governor. They put out the word to evacuate but did nothing to help these folks, they knew people would gravitate towards the Superdome and the Convention Center, why was it not equipped with water, food and cots for folks who could possible lose their homes in this hurricane then when the levees broke my God these people had nothing, but the Mayor and Governor, President all the way up were safe. More baffling even when we were watching these events fold out on TV was the media flying over head and NOT HELPING at all. LA looked like a third world country when all was over and no one helped them. I am so disappointed in our government, these people are still in dispair and it still looks like a third world country. Why are they not clearing those areas so these people can rebuild if they choose. I voted for George W and I am so angry at him and that New Orleans still looks the way it does. I do not feel this was a racial thing, I believe this being George W's last term his agenda is his own and he is not taking care of his own. Lets get out of Iraq and help our own for a change.

lauren b gave it a10:
Mr. Lee captured the sentiment and struggles of the people of New Orleans poignantly and accurately. Although there was no new light shed on the events connected to the flood, this film refocuses the nation on the ineptitude of the recovery effort thus far. Maybe this film will help by being a catalyst for the rebirth of concern and interest in bringing our beautiful city back from the dead and our people back to their homes.

Casey E gave it a10:
I thank Spike Lee for this uncompromising inspection of what happened in New Orleans because really when it comes down to it New Orleans is the embodiment of the class system, the racism, the poverty that still runs rampant in this country. Katrina not only stripped away homes, she stripped away the sugar coating to reveal the underbelly of this country which is ripe with unjustice - and Spike Lee had the balls, the brains, the means and the vision to make the most compelling, heart-wrenching, heart-breaking, compelling documentary that I have ever seen.

Lela T gave it a9:
This film demonstrated how our government overlooks and covers up significant information that is not on their number one priority list. I realize now that the voices of the poor and under class continuously go unheard. It is our responsibility as U.S citizens to speak up, speak out, and attempt to place our voices in the right persons ear-in hope of some type of change. This country will never be at rest until we acknowledge the hurt and pain that others continuously experience.

D.J. gave it a9:
Brilliant. This documentary is a mouthpiece for the people. Sure, they are angry. Sure, they are upset. Maybe even irrationally so, but damn it, who wouldn't be. This is their story. Not Lee's. You barely saw or heard Lee at all through the film. And to the person who said this wouldn't have happened in Connecticut? You're probably right and that's the whole point of the documentary. This is not a film from Democrats, Liberals, Moderates, Conservatives, what-have-you. This is a fim about the human condition. Human emotion. Human decency and the lack of empathy shown towards the victims. Stellar work. Stellar.

Lisa J gave it an8:
Its impossible to watch this film and not be affected by the humanity of this tragedy. I like everyone was curious about the bureacratic flaws and slow responses. But at the end, all I could focus on were the lives lost and forever changed . How can you focus on anything else? I'm I the only one still in disbelief?

Ricky M. gave it a5:
The blatant bias of Lee, as expressed through the voices of Sharpton and Belafonte, as well as the proposterous idea that levess were intentionally destroyed, undercuts the compelling stories of the people who went through this unprecedented natural disaster. I praise Lee for bringing this crisis back to the attention of the nation, but I feel that New Orleans is being used by many people like Lee as a platform for political and racial radicalism. That is not the New Orleans I know and love.

Tamara G gave it a10:
I don't care what you say, this doc was excellent!! God, I cried many times. And also applauded the heroic people who got out there and risk their own lives to save others. Of course the Bush fans defend him, as usual. "He the greatest, blah, blah, and blah. Don't want to hear it, I am sure you would have felt different if your mother died in that wheelchair and you had to leave her body there because you were demanded to get on the bus. Mr. Lee told the story as it was, a didn't try to suga coat for all you Bush fans out there. Mr. Lee as with all your other works this has to be the best God Bless you always!

Benny W gave it a10:
A revealing look at the embedded pain that grips this nation. Its vividly exposes the toxic DNA that is in the bast cell structure of this arugant nation.

louis c gave it a10:
inciteful, touching, entertaining, informative, and breathtaking. couldn't look away

T C gave it a9:
Jocelyn P, maybe you should actually watch what you claim to be "reviewing" instead of giving a rating based on someone else's review. Lee does not give Nagin and Blanco a free pass, and in fact references the evacuation debacle. But don't let the facts and the product in question get in the way of your bashing.

CreoleInDC M gave it a10:
I think Lee just basically showed everything that was going on and allowed you to come up with your own conclusion. They were very candid about the ongoing political feud between Blanco and Nagin which created the "do nothings" and I don't feel he gave them a "pass." I do note that there weren't as many white people portrayed in the film, but it wasn't about the HURRICANE, it was about when the LEVEES broke in NEW ORLEANS. It's easy to dismiss things and call racial biased into play so you don't have to create your own thoughts regarding. Both sides of this particular racial coin have done it here. White people flooded the poor black areas and black people looted the rich white areas according to those that stereotype in that manner. Right? *sigh* Condoleeza Rice is black...and hey...her shopping on day 2 of the crisis in Manhattan surely solidified for me that she didn't care about those people suffering. How anyone could do any comparison with ANYTHING Jeb Bush has EVER come up against regarding this is just dumb in my opinion.

Kenyetta W gave it a10:
Excellent

Thomas H gave it a10:
A tour de force that transcends mere history and escalates to epic proportions.

Cleo M gave it a9:
Spike's Katrina documentary is a powerful, dimensional, tragic, brilliantly synthesizing marvel that's bound to irritate clueless, blind, Whites and their Black mental accomodationist who still self-hypnotize into claiming race is no longer an American issue. It is to be expected that these types predictably will dismissively reference Kanye West’s comment "George Bush doesn't care about Black people" which has nothing to do with Spike’s film. The actual footage Spike used to tell the Katrina story speaks even more powerfully than Kanye’s unusually courageous Bush critique. Thanks Spike for defying media norms by keeping it real! Cleo Manago

Alex W. gave it a10:
People caught up in the politics surrounding Hurricane Katrina and it's effects on the Gulf Coast are missing the point of the documentary. Yes the film is about what happened and how governmental failures contributed to the tragedy following the storm, but it's moreso about the experience and the people who suffered through and continue to suffer still a few days shy of a YEAR later - the "beating heart inside the body", the indignity of dying the way that they died, and the way our physical and mental health and our city, our HOME, still are damaged to this day. A year later I find that many Americans have "gotten over it" and don't think about or really care about what has happened since Katrina, beccause if they did New Orleans would not be in the condition it is in now. I hope this powerful and moving film helps bring the guld cost back to the forefront of Amerian minds as it was days after... the city is STILL in a "GD Crisis"

Camille C gave it a10:
My heart is full, my mind is racing and the anger is so great that I cannot focus on what to conclude about the actions made. What has happened to humanness and care for the fellow man? We live in a country that focuses on maintaining its egotism and status, so much so that we have forgotten what really matters--the human spirit. I encourage all people to watch.

George C gave it a10:
A knockout! Not a pretty picture. Ever wonder what the Bush administration performance in Iraq might really look like?

Aimee M gave it a1:
This documentary was completely from a democrats desk. Seriously, would the whole situation have happened if this storm hit Connecticut??? NO!! (you know why)

[Anonymous] gave it a3:
meh.

Barbados gave it a10:
Fabulous.

Jocelyn P. gave it a3:
How Lee can give Nagin and Blanco a pass in this account (as mentioned in the San Francisco Chronicle rave) calls this entire account into question from my perspective. Why did Nagin leave the city buses underwater & not require that everyone be evacuated from city in accordance with his own "plan"? Why did he flee to Dallas with his family (refusing to return) while the rest of the city was in a crisis? Why was Blanco unable to perform even the most basic crisis management techniques that Jeb Bush had perfected in Florida during the previous 7 or 8 hurricanes which struck his state? These are the types of questions I had hoped would be answered by the first major artistic account of this event, but Spike leaves us hanging by focusing on "George Bush doesn't care about Black people." (Kanye West) For a complete and ubiased account of this event, try respected author and Tulane historian Douglas Brinkley's "The Great Deluge."

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