Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Docu one-sidedly reveres late right-wing media provocateur.
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Hating Breitbart PG-13
What's the Story?
HATING BREITBART PG-13 is ironically titled, because the documentary is actually an ode to Andrew Breitbart, the late conservative activist and provocateur who used his media empire to challenge what he perceived as the left-controlled mainstream media. Through interviews with friends, family, former classmates, and other conservative and libertarian journalists, Breitbart's confrontational, in-your-face style is mostly admired and respected in the film. He's shown speaking around the country, at Tea Party rallies, college campuses, and press conferences.
Is It Any Good?
Andrew Marcus' biographical documentary of Andrew Breitbart, who died unexpectedly in 2012, isn't the sort of investigative piece the departed media entrepreneur was best known for promoting. It's a straight-up homage to the man, featuring only footage of him and his family, friends, and other conservative journalists or politicians who respected him. By interviewing only people who loved and admired the man, Marcus makes sure that the audience sees only the positive about Breitbart's professional mission -- although very little (outside of interviews with Breitbart's father-in-law Orson Bean and stepmother-in-law Alley Mills) of his personal life.
In fact, only a couple of Breitbart critics are included in the entire 85-minute documentary, neither of whom is well known or particularly eloquent. It's like the documentarian had no interest in providing a counterpoint to all of Breitbart's slick explanations for why he considered the extreme right, like Tea Party supporters, the only voice of truth in America. Whether you agree with Breitbart or not, one thing is undeniably true: The man knew how to stir an audience, how to anger his opposition, and how to be charismatically confrontational.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Hating Breitbart PG-13's intent: Is it to counter the negative media perception of Andrew Breitbart or to explain why people either love or hate his style of journalism?
What are the differences between fact and speculation or opinion? What tools do we have to help us determine which is which? Do you think documentaries are required to be objective? Why or why not?
Breitbart's untimely death is never mentioned except for a graphic that shows his birth and death years right before the credits. Do you think Breitbart's death and how it affected the Breitbart media empire should have been discussed?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 17, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : June 4, 2013
- Cast : Andrew Breitbart , James O'Keefe , Orson Bean
- Director : Andrew Marcus
- Studio : Rocky Mountain Pictures
- Genre : Documentary
- Run time : 85 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : thematic material and brief strong language
- Last updated : December 5, 2025
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