With the term “fake news” thrown around day after day, it’s difficult to imagine a time when the journalists on TV were seen as the gatekeepers that spoke the truth and challenged our leaders. And when you watch the film “Mike Wallace Is Here,” the obvious change in how news is reported and the role the journalist plays in that is made abundantly clear.
In honor of the new documentary playing in theaters now and expanding to more locations in the weeks to come, we are thrilled to give our readers the opportunity to see an exclusive clip from “Mike Wallace Is Here,” which perfectly illustrates the difference between the news of today and from years past.
In the clip, Mike Wallace, who is the legendary news figure from “60 Minutes,” interviews Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, this isn’t some softball interview that world leaders tend to get now, depending on who is interviewing them. No, in this clip, Wallace doesn’t hold back and grills Putin on the issues surrounding freedom of the press and the democracy in his country.
In our review for the film, we called the documentary “an insightful film…full of delights for journalism, history, and political junkies alike.”
The documentary is directed by Avi Belkin, who is probably best known for his 2015 film “Winding” and is currently finishing up his series “No One Saw A Thing,” which will be shown on SundanceTV.
“Mike Wallace Is Here” is in select theaters now and will expand nationwide in the weeks to come.
Here’s the film’s synopsis:
MIKE WALLACE IS HERE offers an unflinching look at the legendary reporter, who interrogated the 20th century’s biggest figures in his over fifty years on air, and his aggressive reporting style and showmanship that redefined what America came to expect from broadcasters. Unearthing decades of never-before-seen footage from the 60 Minutes vault, the film explores what drove and plagued Wallace, whose storied career was entwined with the evolution of journalism itself.