Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill were the The Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid of the New York City newsroom.
I love the “Breslin and Hamill” doc for telling the amazing story of these two kings of content.
Trailer for “Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists”
Watch “Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists”
The only place you can stream “Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists” is through HBO Max. The main link to watch it is at https://play.max.com/movie/e2c2aee1-afa1-44c7-b9a9-0fdd03ff2678.
But you can also subscribe to Max through Prime Video and YouTube (you still have to pay the Max description but this allows you to watch it through Prime or. YouTube instead of Max.com.
Check here for the latest streaming options: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/breslin-and-hamill-deadline-artists
Ratings:
- My Rating: 98/100
- IMDB Rating: 8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 100/100 (Users); 100/100 (Critics)
Review of “Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists”
“Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists” is the kind of doc that makes you want to grab a notebook, hit the streets, and start chasing down stories.
It’s a high-octane tribute to two of the most badass journalists to ever pound the pavement in New York City: Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill.
These guys were the real deal.
They didn’t have fancy degrees or Twitter followers, but they had guts, instincts, and a nose for the truth.
From the Kennedy assassinations to the 9/11 attacks, Breslin and Hamill were there, digging up the stories that nobody else would touch and giving voice to the people who didn’t have one.
Directors John Block, Jonathan Alter, and Steve McCarthy clearly did their homework.
The doc is chock full of incredible archival footage and interviews.
The doc features interviews with Breslin and Hamill, archival material, and insights from over 40 people who knew them.
It’s a star-studded cast that includes Tom Brokaw, Gail Collins, Robert De Niro, Spike Lee, and Gloria Steinem.
It covers Breslin and Hamill’s coverage of NYC events like the Bernhard Goetz case, Son of Sam, Central Park Five, and Crown Heights riot.
And national events are in here too (Kennedy assassinations, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam war, and the 9/11 attacks).
But the real stars are Breslin and Hamill themselves,.
They are two larger-than-life characters who could charm their way into any story and write their way out of any trouble.
Sure, they had their flaws – Breslin could be a bulldozer. He’d camp out in lobbies confront subjects head-on to get his story (destroying relationships in the process).
And Hamill had a thing for famous women.
Did you that he dated both Jacquie O’Nasses and Shirley McClain?.
“Breslin and Hamill” shows mostly the positive side of the two writers.
For instance, Breslin stood up for victims of Bernhardt Getz when few did.
And he backed AIDS victims at a time when few did.
And did you know…
…Hamill talked Robert Kennedy into running for President?
…or that Breslin and Hamill were there when Bobby Kennedy was shot? With Breslin riding to the hospital behind Kennedy.
…or that it was Breslin that the Son of Sam serial murderer chose to write to?
This doc is a wild ride through a time when newspapers mattered and columnists were kings.
It’s a reminder of what we’ve lost in the age of clickbait and fake news.
But also a celebration of the enduring power of storytelling — and the people who put everything on the line to bring us the truth.
So grab a stiff drink, settle in, and let Breslin and Hamill show you what real journalism looks like.
They don’t make ’em like this anymore, but damn, it’s fun to watch.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc