Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem Review – A political trainwreck?
Netflix's latest Trainwreck documentary, Mayor of Mayhem, dives into the chaotic political circus of Rob Ford's time as Mayor of Toronto in 2013. A controversial, bombastic figure, Ford made global headlines after admitting to smoking crack cocaine—and things only spiralled from there.
At just over 45 minutes, this is a quick and zippy watch, touching on the scandals, soundbites, and general mayhem that defined Ford's term in office. The documentary does briefly trace Ford's upbringing, hinting at unresolved daddy issues and the way they may have shaped his rough-around-the-edges persona and populist appeal.
Ford's brash, unfiltered approach certainly caught the media off-guard when he burst onto the scene, and what followed was a relentless campaign to discredit him—particularly from progressive newspapers like The Toronto Star.
Oddly, the film barely scratches the surface of this media war. We never examine why the general population have lost faith in mainstream media. We don't get any comparisons to the Toronto Star or the Globe and Mail, which is surprising given one journalist, Robyn Doolittle, worked for both publications. She does tellingly express surprise at the public's distrust of journalism, but the documentary never explores that disconnect in any meaningful way. It feels like a missed opportunity.
Instead, the focus shifts hard into scandal territory, where most of the documentary thrives. From public intoxication to lewd soundbites ('I have enough to eat at home'), Ford's private life often overshadowed any political victories. Yet, despite it all, there is at least a bit of nuance; the film acknowledges Ford's popularity and reputation for actually showing up and listening—traits rarely seen in career politicians.
Tellingly though, one commentator compares Ford's downfall to a Shakespearean tragedy with no final act. His death from cancer at just 46 closed the book before any redemption arc could take shape. Could he have turned things around though? This is a question that will never be answered but Mayor of Mayhem doesn't speculate—it simply presents the chaos, leaving viewers to decide whether Rob Ford really was a political trainwreck destined to crash or a man undone by substance abuse.
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