re: “In fact, it took a decidedly and unwavering anti-birther approach that startled me.”
I think D’Souza’s desire was to illustrate not what HE thought of Obama, but what Obama has said about his own beliefs. He deliberately went to people who actually knew Obama, he brought out the people who were the major influences in his life. He let Obama’s own words speak for himself. He was trying to let his audience discover who Obama is as a person - what his political beliefs are - who were his major mentors - all through Obama’s own words and the testimony of the mentors themselves.
If D’Souza had gone after the birth certificate issue, I think it would have made it too easy for people to turn away and say this is just a hit piece from a bigoted right-wing nut. I’m not saying the birth certificate issue isn’t important, I just think had that been a major part of the film a lot of people would not have gone to see it.
Unlike the Anita Hill book by Brock, D’Souza’s film does not leave one with warm fuzzies for Obama, it leaves you with a very disturbing sense of dread about him. That’s a big difference.
My reaction too. Like others have stated, I already knew most of the information presented, but the movie put the "big picture" together very well. Only the 2nd movie we've attended in about 8 years. Well worth it.