Patriot Act: A Jeffrey Ross Home Film

Patriot Act is a feature-length "home video" that captures a rare and intimate look into the early days of the American occupation of Iraq through the eyes of stand-up comedian, Jeffrey Ross.
When standup comedian Jeffrey Ross joined Drew Carey's U.S.O. show that toured through Iraq during the first year of the American occupation, he took along a video camera and made a clumsy but strikingly intimate portrait of the armed forces. Performing in venues as different as the Baghdad Civic Center and a camouflaged camp in the middle of the desert, seven comedians (Ross, Carey, Kathy Kinney, Blake Clark, Kyle Dunnigan, Andres Fernandez, and Rocky LaPorte) did what they could to entertain soldiers who suffered sand, heat, and being shot at--but the brief snippets of rough comedy are little more than a sidelight. The most intriguing aspects of Patriot Act (which, despite its title, is largely apolitical) are the simple conversations with G.I.s, bellhops, translators, and others, who endure a difficult situation with a weary smile and a little glimpse of hope. It's the ordinary effort of life that comes through, even when surrounded by bombed buildings and armored vehicles. Ross has no great insights, but he proves an affable and earnest tour guide. --Bret Fetzer