Mike Wallace Is Here

An engaging look at some of the largest world figures and events of the last seven decades through the eyes of one of the most recognizable personalities in news media over that same time frame. I learned a lot about Wallace's personal life as well and appreciated the doc makers employing the same approach their subject would have, in their raw and seemingly honest portrayal of him. Mike Wallace and 60 Minutes have always provided that steady, comforting feeling that I recognize only occurs with those rare figures or institutions that have been noticeably present throughout the entirety of a life. 8.5/10

Raises important questions about the media and their purpose. Are they there to seek out drama and controversy, or to report the facts. I saw it on a delta flight.

Saw it on a cross country flight. The subject seemed worthwhile and intriguing. The footage of interviews, etc. is absolutely terrific. But Mike Wallace as portrayed here....? Meh. You see and hear a lot, but don't really learn much about him---and you don't learn about why the filmmaker chose to focus on Mike Wallace. It has to be more than "Oh snap! no one's ever done a documentary on this, I'll do it." Because otherwise it's just a chronology of an inscutable, opaque, not very appealing person's life and career. And here's one specific nit-pick about the lack of providing context: only once can I recall---for Frank Lloyd Wright---that interview subjects were actually identified by caption. Unless Mike Wallace was talking about a particular interview and the documentary cut to that exact interview it is up to the viewer to figure out who is on the screen. I know a quite a bit about mid and late 20th Century history, but found this ommission irritating----for example: Morley Safer would be talking about a characteristic of Mike Wallace, like "Once he got hold of a news lead he'd never let it go" and it would cut away to some famous person from 50-60 years ago talking or reacting---and literally half the time I didn't know who it was---no labeling etc. Generally, an ok way to pass the time.

Interesting documentary. Although, no real new information.

Ego ego ego puff piece. A big disappointment.

Avi Belkin hits it out of the park in his first feature length movie, a documentary on arguably the best journalist in United States history, Mike Wallace, The film is a brilliant look into Wallace, who has been dead for a more than a handful of years. The key element is how Belkin was able to use 100s of hours of archival footage from CBS. The fresh look sees Wallace answer questions through the years from interviews he has been on the other side of and watching him ask the same or similar questions to others. It may not sound like anything on paper, but it works and if left me wanting more. There's a bit of a through line involving his longtime 60 minutes partner Morley Safer and his interview with Wallace. The way Safer asks his first question shows this isn't going to be a puff piece, but an illustrative look into a fascinating man. Wallace always had a point of view and it's on full display here as Belkin splices together moments from his career. There are big superstar interviews here spanning the entirety of the career of the subject. If you are a fan of docs, Wallace, or 60 Minutes this is a must. I happen to like journalism and that made this one of my favorite films of 2019. Final Score: 9.8/10

A fascinating intimate look at the life and work of a broadcasting legend, in which the history of newsmedia feels more impactful than most people could expect in modern times. Anybody who hasn´t known the work of Mike Wallace, should definitely see this documentary for themselves.

decent guy, decent values

Reminder that Mike Wallace interviewed all of the major personalities of his era.

An in-depth look at the life and career of one of television journalism's most influential reporters, one who significantly helped to reshape an industry and its practices. Through interviews before his death, as well as a wealth of archive footage, viewers see the seasoned reporter at work, conversing with everyone from celebrities to world leaders to industry whistleblowers. The film also features interviews of Wallace conducted by colleagues like Morley Safer and Barbara Walters, conversations in which he guardedly reveals his own secrets, including his feelings about the death of a child and his battle with depression. The overall package paints a picture of someone who opened up the profession to new tactics and styles of questioning, as well as to scrutiny about how far is going too far. An engaging documentary about a fascinating individual.