HBO MaxHearts and Minds (1974)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Progressive
Viewer Rating
Rating: 7.9
Overview
Many times during his presidency, Lyndon B. Johnson said that ultimate victory in the Vietnam War depended upon the U.S. military winning the "hearts and minds" of the Vietnamese people. Filmmaker Peter Davis uses Johnson's phrase in an ironic context in this anti-war documentary, filmed and released while the Vietnam War was still under way, juxtaposing interviews with military figures like U.S. Army Chief of Staff William C. Westmoreland with shocking scenes of violence and brutality.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
HBO Max
Apple TVBias Dimensions
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
Buddhism: Positive
Christianity: Negative
Overview
Many times during his presidency, Lyndon B. Johnson said that ultimate victory in the Vietnam War depended upon the U.S. military winning the "hearts and minds" of the Vietnamese people. Filmmaker Peter Davis uses Johnson's phrase in an ironic context in this anti-war documentary, filmed and released while the Vietnam War was still under way, juxtaposing interviews with military figures like U.S. Army Chief of Staff William C. Westmoreland with shocking scenes of violence and brutality.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
HBO MaxApple TVDetailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Progressive
Primary
The film's central thesis explicitly promotes a progressive critique of the Vietnam War, exposing government deception, the devastating human cost, and the moral bankruptcy of American intervention, aligning with anti-war and anti-imperialist ideologies.
This documentary naturally presents a diverse array of individuals, including both American and Vietnamese perspectives, reflecting its subject matter. The narrative critically examines the policies and attitudes of the predominantly white, male leadership involved in the Vietnam War, focusing on the consequences of their decisions.
Secondary
Buddhism is portrayed positively, representing the spiritual and cultural identity of the Vietnamese people. The film shows Buddhist monks and practices with respect, often highlighting their peaceful resistance and the tragic impact of the war on their spiritual heritage.
The film critically portrays how Christian faith and rhetoric were used by American politicians and soldiers to justify the Vietnam War, often leading to hypocrisy, moral blindness, and the dehumanization of the Vietnamese. It highlights the problematic alignment of religious conviction with imperialistic violence.
The film 'Hearts and Minds' is a historical documentary about the Vietnam War. Its narrative is entirely focused on the political, social, and human aspects of the conflict, and it does not include any depiction or discussion of LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Hearts and Minds is a documentary film that features real historical figures and events related to the Vietnam War. All individuals depicted or interviewed are presented with their historically accurate gender, with no instances of a character established as one gender being portrayed as another.
Hearts and Minds is a documentary film featuring real historical figures and archival footage. It does not contain fictional characters portrayed by actors, thus the concept of a 'race swap' does not apply.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
7.9
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
User Ratings
8.2
7.7
Critic Ratings
9.0
6.8
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