Doc Corner: A24's 'Boys State'
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at 2:00PM By Glenn Dunks
I watched the new Apple+ and A24 documentary Boys State and, sorry to break it to you, but America is nuts. Like, really. A lot. I’m allergic to nuts—anaphylactic, send me hospital kind of allergic—and I felt as if I were about to break out in hives watching Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss’ compelling and unsettling new movie. A film about the next generation of wannabe political leaders that stands as a frightening neon-lit (just barely) metaphor for the country’s political climate.
The premise here is something that sounds far more bizarrely foreign to me than anything with subtitles. A strange, long-standing experiment known as Boys State, a social summer camp of sorts that requires military interviews for some reason where 1,200 young Texan teenage boys seek the life-changing opportunity to seemingly learn how to best weaponize their gender, their race and adopt all the sleazy tricks in the political book. "That’s politics—you play to win...”
Upon their arrival, these boys (and it’s important to remember that’s what they are, 17-year-olds!) are divided into two conceptual parties albeit with no set left/right leanings. They must then mimic the adults they see around them in public office by running for positions such as party leader (or ‘party whip’) and Governor in an effort to win a mock election all under the guise of building civic understanding as well character, strength and, perhaps quite tellingly, business acumen.
More closely, we follow a few of the individual participants including meningitis survivor Ben Feinstein, Beto O’Rourke supporter Steven Garza, now activist René Otero, and one boy, Robert MacDougal, who looks like he just left his gig as councelor at Camp Crystal Lake and who in one of the film’s more surprising twists gets a fast education in how short of a distance his teen idol looks will get him. At least in this arena. Although it’s not too hard to believe his vehement if manufactured anti-abortion stance, which he repeatedly makes the center of his stump speeches to a moderately enthusiastic response, proves he could one day find easily himself in good company with right-winged leaders of influence and power if the money was right.
And trust me, while it’s not comfortable viewing watching a thousand teenage boys discuss a woman’s right to choose with not a single female in sight (there is a ‘Girls State’, but we’re not privy to any of it), it’s just as awkward watching them discuss gun rights. This includes Steven Garza, who expresses a desire in background checks but who finds his recent past as a leader for an anti-guns rally gets used by his opponents in a smear campaign. Likewise, René Otero, one of the few African American attendees who becomes the target of an immediate impeachment request from his own party when he won't respond to every stupid motion put forward as well as racist memes from those on the other side.
Herein lies the alarming nature of Boys State. While it is true that some have come into this event with something of an idealized and progressive platform (particularly for Texas), it’s remarkable how quickly many of the participants are able to manipulate others, stifle conversation, and bullishly charge through this particular political arena expecting their (SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD!!) agendas be not just heard, but readily accepted.
It’s remarkable how quickly the issues raised fall predictably to women’s rights, immigration, and guns. It’s remarkable how easily some people’s political beliefs can be so easily put up for sale. It’s remarkable how inbred unfettered patriotism (bordering on nationalism) bubbles out from their mouths whether they believe it or are just deploying it for votes. It’s remarkable how this very uniquely American form of extreme enthusiasm manifests itself into alpha and beta personality types so easily. It’s almost as remarkable as the fact that, for the most part, the impassioned and hopeful candidates actually find some success in many ways, proving at least in this microcosm of a teenage political thunderdome that there’s some hope left and that some approximation of good can win out.
All of this is juxtaposed against fleeting images from other segments of the camp body who take ‘jobs’ as journalists, organisers and cameramen (who are, essentially, the voters who will decide the outcome of the election), as well as footage from a talent contest of which its purpose is unclear. McBaine and Moss have clearly chosen cleverly to focus on the political angle here, but these glimpses into Boys State’s other elements are intriguing if vague, and even just a little bit more of them and how they fit into this experiment may have levelled out some of the documentary’s more genuinely upsetting moments. Crowd shots featuring large swathes of sweaty teenage boys all too enthusiastically trumpeting their make believe political parties like frat kids full of beer are just a bit much to take when they come on the heels of hoots and hollers in support of taking away a woman’s right to choose or loud echoing boos when one Governor candidate says everyday citizens shouldn’t be allowed bazookas.
Many of the kids go to Boys State to, it would seem, get a leg-up on a political career—opening credits so such disparate individuals like Bill Clinton, Cory Booker, Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh; even Mark Wahlberg and Roger Ebert apparently attended. They arrive on day one with the intention of seeking to run for roles with well-rehearsed speeches in their pocket. The film is actually at its best when it does remind us that these are just boys. The lack of confidence in some as they step up the mic; the weird over-confidence of others as if they’ve been preparing for this their entire lives.
The film is full of quotes that strike so decisively at the heart of the America’s political divides. Conservative Ben compliments one boy by saying he reminds him of a “young Ben Shapiro.” The suggestion that it appears to be a “conservative indoctrination camp” is laughed off early, and yet. “I’m playing this like a game” is probably too on the nose albeit an accurate nose. But my favourite of them all is from the poised beyond his years René who really encapsulates everything so well but in particular his opposition with whom he has a combative, tense relationship: “I think he’s a fantastic politician. But I don’t think fantastic politician is a compliment, either.” Ouch.
Release: Currently streaming on Apple+.
Oscar chances: I think definitely. The might of Apple and A24 should guarantee it a solid cut-through, and its political relevance will only improve no matter who wins in November. I’d be predicting it.
A24, Boys State, Doc Corner, documentaries, politics
Reader Comments (9)
They have this in every state, I believe. And most state's have a female version, as well. Back in the 80s in California, I was one of the two people selected to attend from my high school. Even back then, it was a ridiculous event. I wanted nothing to do with it, but was glad to be out of town for a week. I decided not to take any of it serious, and ran for some BS position like dogcatcher or medical examiner.
Fun movie fact from my time at Boys State in Sacramento in the summer of 1985 (I think), my roommate kept talking about his best friend Winona back home who was off filming a movie with Charlie Sheen and Corey Haim.
@Corey-You mean that movie Lucas? I used to like that film until heard about rumors that Charlie Sheen supposedly raped Corey Haim or something like that. If that was true, then Charlie Sheen needs to burn in hell as he's already a fucking trainwreck.
Ben Feinstein was absolutely the villain of this movie. I loathed him. Rene's barbed comment at the end was SPOT-ON.
Will there be any place to watch it later this year besides Apple+? I can't pay a monthly subscription to all these different services for their exclusive content. I'm happy to rent ala carte if that's an option though.
Ben Feinstein gave me total Karl Rove / Stephen Miller vibes. The moment when he dropped out of running for Governor because he realized he had no charisma was both spot-on and chilling because of how quickly he read the situation and adapted and started finding his voice as a behind-the-scenes manipulator, and one who's totally willing to be the worst person for the purposes of winning at that -- chilling because he was right, he was good at being as Rene said "a fantastic politician" and I am afraid that psycho will actually make it places. Even if not him there are thousands like him, no soul and willing to see this whole thing as a "game." That was the most disturbing part of the doc, and I'm glad you kept highlighting it Glenn -- how many of them see Politics as a game, something to be won no matter the cost, and not a force that deeply affects people's real lives.
Corey, I would also like a movie about THAT.
Sounds like you had a similar reaction to Rene who has since decided he doesn't want to pursue politics (in his case, he has moved more towards activism). I would've loved to see a twin movie about the girls state.
Rob and Jason, yes I felt I would have been too mean to the kid (he was 17 after all) but, yes, I agree. It's alarming how swiftly these kids know how to shift and maneuver in order to win. It's all about winning. I will be surprised if now after the release of the movie Fox News doesn't try to get him in as the voice of the minority youth or whatever.
Troy, unfortunate I don't think so. It has played a bunch of festivals before now, and I'd hope maybe a collab between A24 and Apple would still permit it to be seen in some other form (rented on iTunes at the very least), but it appears not.
I'm watching the democrats thing and they're going to fuck it up again.
Hey Glenn,
I may be wrong, but Robert MacDougal did specifically say at the end of the film that he was pro-choice and I took that as a genuine confession. He explained he wanted to win and believed that he would get the most votes by taking an anti abortion stance. Therefore, I feel that the blog post has a minor flaw in claiming "Although it’s not too hard to believe his vehement anti-abortion stance, which he repeatedly makes the center of his stump speeches to a moderately enthusiastic response, will one day find him in good company with right-winged leaders of influence and power".
I would appreciate it if you would be willing to consider a correction of this article to represent the film more accurately.
Thank you!
Jacob, thank you for the note. I have altered the sentence to better reflect what I wanted to say.