Weiner

Why the fuck do smart, popular men take and send dick pix to women other than their wives? Directors Elyse Steinberg and Josh Kriegman try to explain the exploding, as it 'twere, phenomenon in their documentary "Weiner."

They had unprecedented access to the aptly/unfortunately-named seven-term New York congressman, on the scene to watch him commit the same crime of narcissism and hubris. The first time caused his congressional resignation in 2011; the second during his initially promising run for the city's mayor in 2013.

The only time Anthony Weiner offers a hint of remorse is during recently filmed remarks, where he admits "the punch line is it's true: I did a lot of things," one of his, and other entitled men's, typical non-apology apologies.

The then-rising star never backed down on the house floor; he was "scrappy, combative, a great fighter for the people." He was married to Hillary Clinton's top aide and "second daughter" Huma Abedin (Bill officiated their wedding). But he couldn't keep his camera phone out of his pants.

When he first denied the act(s), claiming his phone was hacked, Wolf Blitzer said, "You would know if these are your underpants." His pregnant wife by his side, he then said he regretted the act, but would not resign.

Then he resigned. Yet he "was eager to get the life back that he had taken from Huma."

So amidst a rash of New York Post headlines having a field day with his last name, he started his mayoral campaign, since he and his "partners" had never been in the same room at the same time, and no marriages had ended.

Huma reluctantly tried to be the good wife, to fundraise and glad hand, but she wished she had a book to navigate being a political wife, and a cuckolded one at that.

For a time, the glib candidate thought he had "whistled past the graveyard," but yet more sexts emerged, naked this time, under the unfortunate moniker "Carlos Danger" (likely a personal gift to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, as well as to Bill Maher, who did a dramatic reading of the personal porn parade with Jane Lynch), so he retreated into a "defensive crouch."

Huma stood by her man, although her body language and reluctance around the documentary team told a different story, and was termed a "victim of spousal abuse." Ironically, there are no photos shown on the walls of their tony city apartment.

Weiner claims his electronic actions were "like a video game. I had a blind spot about it."

Obviously. But his weary staffers were tired of damage control, perhaps only sticking around to possibly work on Hillary's presumptive presidential campaign later.

The candidate continued to spin his actions (which included phone sex up to five times a day, claimed 23-year-old Sydney Leathers, who also advised "don't meet your heroes"): "no one has died," and even considered the plus side of his infamy - "the entire world knows about this campaign, warts and all."

He claimed the scandal made him stronger: "the same stuff that made me do the thing [reminiscent of Bill Clinton's "what is 'is'?"], made me weather the aftermath."

When the directors took a quiet moment in the car back seat between campaign stops to re-ask the "why, oh, why?" question, Weiner retorts "aren't flies on the wall supposed to be quiet?" His major concern about a public shouting match at a Jewish bakery was that his bald spot was visible.

All they can get Weiner to admit is that "politicians are wired in a way that needs attention; it's hard to have a normal relationship."

Huma wouldn't even join her husband when he cast his vote; of the candidates, he came in last with 4.03%.

At the end, quelle suprise, there are no answers as to why men in the spotlight continue to lead with their little brains.

All Weiner could suppose about his fall was "I lied to the media. And I've got a funny name."

"Weiner"
DVD (with no extras)
$18.89
http://dogwoof.com/weiner/