Poliwood

Barry Levinson's documentary about the intersection between celebrity and political activism touches on some expected issues: accusations of elitism and arrogance lobbed at the most outspoken activists (and by extension, all of Hollywood), the collision of passionate artists with a suspicious (yet accommodating) media, and the hostility of many voters toward actors and musicians who voice views contrary to their own. For the most part, however, Levinson skips through the more controversial topics to focus on the Creative Coalition, a nonpartisan group of actors and artists promoting the importance of the arts in education as they reach across party lines to make their case at the 2008 Democratic and Republican conventions. The most interesting aspect of Poliwood is its engagement with the performers themselves, who see political involvement as their civic duty, while also understanding that their position brings both greater access and more scrutiny. Among the more than two dozen interviewees wrestling with this sense of responsibility are Annette Benning, Danny Glover, Sting, Susan Sarandon, and will.i.am. Levinson periodically steps in to editorialize (as the director of Wag the Dog, he naturally has plenty to say about media and manipulation), noting how politicians have now become celebrities themselves. But the film never explores much of anything in detail, settling instead for making the point that its subjects are neither opportunists nor elitists, but simply successful fellow citizens who want to give back. Optional. (S. Axmaker)