Let's be realistic.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Although entertaining, this movie approaches current events with a depth rarely seen in American media.The filmmakers followed Carter on a book signing tour after he challenged to current mythology that Israel is always right. They use the tension provided as people, most who haven't read the book, attack.The book was titled, Palestine: Peace or Apartheid. The movie could have been titled Carter: Man of Peace. His efforts to bring peace to the world and the way he embodies peacemaking in his daily life were moving.One of the most telling scenes is in the extra footage included with the DVD. A woman waits in a long book-signing line to tell President Carter she thinks he should be tried as a traitor. The look on her face and her obvious lack a clue what to do next when he responds quietly and moderately and moves on, is classic. (I wonder if the producers would cut it differently after the success of those Borat movies in which people didn't mind looking stupid as long as they got attention.)

...but despite some of Jonathan Demme's techniques to making Man from Plains, which are either interesting (the skewed camera on the television screens, the title cards listed in big font above the locations in some scenes) or off-putting (the usage of music is overbearing), his movie should be called the proverbial 'fair and balanced.' There are few issues in the world that ignites the firestorm of debate like Israel and Palestine land and peace talks (the abortion issue is right up there). Jimmy Carter placed himself into the pit of controversy a year and a half ago with his book "Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid", and director Demme does his best to reveal not simply Carter defending his points on various interview shows and programs, but to get the other side's voice as well. Carter isn't let off very easily, and rightfully so. But had Demme gone too far either way in depicting the reaction to the book, then the documentary would get damaged by the effect.This might make Man From Plains seem slightly 'safe', but its strongest points are just revealing, without pushing a whole lot of stylistic fervor in the way, this man in his complexity, conflicts, resolve, and in his comfortable position as about as well-respected a ex-President one could ask for. He has a lot to boast about with some of his past accomplishments (some which we might forget as what he might have not done), but a lot of his output and speeches and very concise answers are based on experience. It's easy to pin down Carter as he's labeled- anti-Semitic, plagiarist- without either reading his book(s) or seeing what is really going on past the veneer of the media's depiction. Just seeing the interviewees (with some exceptions) repeating the named "apartheid" for incisive affect is enough to see what can be taken out of context.Does this mean that Man From Plains reveals everything that could be about Carter on this book tour with the amount of depth one might hope for with an ex-president? Maybe not. But for what it's worth, Demme delivers two hours of potent coverage, and even creates a narrative around his detractors/protesters (i.e. rabbis/Dershowitz/Brandeis) that adds a little weight to what would otherwise be Demme's equivalent to Moore's the Big One. As a portrait and a compact look at a hot-button issue, it's very good if not mind-expanding. 7.5/10

Forget the subject matter, this movie is boring as hell. You want to see some good documentary's? Try watching the excellent "The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara" or another great film called "Why We Fight!" I realize he is an ex-president, but if this (the Documentary) was around any other person it would be considered trash and would have never seen the light of day. What's worse is that it is directed by the extremely talented Oscar winning ("Silence of the Lambs") director Johnathan Demme. Anyway don't watch this especially if you really don't like ho-hum documentaries. It almost seems like everything he says just doesn't matter. It's like people put up with him because he is an ex-president and he at least deserves the respect from the office he once held. However it's like people are saying oh "let him talk, he won't be around much longer." It reminds me of how people stare at the homeless man on the corner then forget about it as soon as you go by. I don't know anything about what he did or didn't do as president, but from a plain (no pun intended) movie/documentary standpoint this was one of the worst I've seen. Don't bother watching this unless you are a die hard Jimmy Carter fan or like to watch every single documentary ever made. Skip this and watch the other two I recommended.

Jonathan Demme makes a misstep in this documentary with the former president. I believe that Jimmy Carter's advocacy of peace is sincere. But this film in support of the controversial book does nothing to advocate his position nor incite any discussion.Demme's film leaves us with no legacy or message. We simply aren't provided enough content to understand the former president's position. Over two hours was spent watching Carter enter and exit limousines and hotel rooms. More time is spent watching Cater sign books than explaining the controversial Palestinian policies.Former Vice President, Al Gore, made complex facts simple and digestible in his film. Unfortunately, President Carter made a complex situation and the associated politics even more distant. Carter and Demme, both articulate men, did not get a message across. Don't waste your time.