Netflix released a surprise Michelle Obama documentary, and hell yes, we can review it. What does it teach us about politics and celebrity? Is this a forerunner to an eventual campaign? And can she inspire us all to hope for change once again?

What Is This Show? An ORC? An MRE? - Top of Show

BECOMING REVIEW

NONSPOILER REVIEW:

Production Profile - 4:31

Plot Premise/Expectations - 7:07

Production Values - 12:06

(And The Cynicism Built Into This Project Itself)

Performances of the Subjects - 16:15

(And Some How Getting To Mike1 Wearing Clothing That’s Too Tight?)

Watch or Not? - 20:42

SPOILER WARNING - 22:19

SPOILER-FILLED REVIEW:

Worst: Guiding Resentment - 23:40

Worst: Defending? Fox News? - 28:44

Best: Turn The Criticism and Questions - 33:24

Best: Being Blunt and Honest - 37:41

(With a Reality Check)

FINAL THOUGHTS AND GRADES - 43:33

Your Homework/LEAVE US 5 *’S - 47:48

What’s Next From MMO/Words of Wisdom - 48:37

Is this an Oscars Sprint Profile? Or is this a Movie Event Review? We open with a discussion on the purposes of this documentary, and how they might be aiming higher than a few trophies. But whatever you’d call this, we still follow our normal review format from spoiler free sections on the film’s production specs, our expectations, it’s production values, the script, and subjects. Then we give you a spoiler warning before discussing all the best & worst scenes, plus our final grades.

Now Mike & I have been honest with you about our politics. Although our show doesn’t usually focus on them, we still cannot avoid the subject because movies don’t avoid the subject. And we review movies. Maybe other critics could walk that tightrope of reviewing political films without talking politics, but we are not those critics. So beware - we do talk a little red vs blue in this episode, and we are team blue.

Whatever your allegiance, Becoming offers a rare glimpse into the life of our former First Lady, and although the film’s format follows Michelle during her 34 city book tour, we also spend a lot of time getting to know her support team, some of her less famous family members, and we get a lot of her biography as well. How does Michelle Obama recount recent history? What is she accomplishing on her present course? And where does she see her future headed? We can’t help but discuss it all in this review.

As always, we wanna know your thoughts, political or not. We’re at MMandOscar on Twitter, and we are on Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, and Gmail. You can subscribe / rate / review / like / share / & listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Google Play, Tune In, Spotify, and just about wherever you might listen. We’re Mike, Mike, & Oscar, and we’re making awards season year round, without the stuffiness. Thanks for listening.