Michael O'Keefe
A mind-opening documentary showing tax payers money being spent frivolously. Tommy Chong, half of the famous and outrageously funny stoner team of Cheech and Chong, found himself in the slammer for his secondary career. Selling 'bongs'..colorful water pipes often used to consume marijuana. Chong became a primary target in a government sting called "Operation Pipe Dreams" under the guiding eyes of Attorney General John Ashcroft and Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan.Of all the people indicted and prosecuted in the sting, with only one or two priors, Chong was the only one to receive a jail sentence...nine months in minimum security at Taft, California. Supposedly the harsh punishment was because Tommy making fun of the government's anti-drug efforts in the movie UP IN SMOKE. Chong now jokes about the only Weapons of Mass Destruction that the Bush Administration has every found is his bongs.Lesson: it might not be good in the long run to joke about DEA, IRS, CIA or Homeland Security. Innocent or not...they can do anything they want to do. Archive footage with pro and con comment include: Paul Moyer, Jay Leno, Bill Maher,George Thorogood, Ronald Reagan, Peter Coyote, Lou Adler, Cheech Marin, Alan M. Dershowitz and George W. Bush.
systems-student
This is a hilarious and frightening look at the career and persecution of Tommy Chong. Loaded with hilarious clips of Tommy's classics like "Up In Smoke", the real subject of the movie is, of course, very serious. The manner in which Chong was targeted and the resources spent on his arrest and prosecution were both somewhat shocking. Bill Maher said it best: "Don't you feel safer knowing the Tommy Chong is in prison?"Whether the viewer is a relic of the 70's or just interested in constitutional rights, (these people actually do exist) this movie is definitely worth seeing.
pcarone
I caught a screening of "a/k/a Tommy Chong" at the Toronto Film Festival, and I have to say it's one of the best docs I've seen in a long time. The subject itself is fascinating, but what's even cooler is the access the filmmakers had to Chong himself. The film reveals the personality behind the persona--all while giving an in-depth look into the life of a comic legend. In addition,the film gives an extremely eye-opening look at drug policy in this country. I don't think that most people realize the roots of the most of the drug laws in the U.S. are based in racism, and this film does a great job of exposing that in a non-preachy (even hilarious!) manner. Anyone who has the chance should absolutely catch "a/k/a Tommy Chong."
ad4realtor
It should have been called Farenheit 420, AkA is the best Documentary to ever come out!! Revealing who the person is behind the huge cloud of white smoke and bushy beard. AkA Tommy Chong should be seen by all, who appreciate CHONG and what his "Cheech & Chong" legacy stand for, if you have not seen it, your missing out on another piece of there vintage collection. AkA Tommy Chong will go down in history as the voice of all stoner's, that say screw the politics this should be legal! God grows this stuff, the fact that medical patients who are dying find some relief, and can still be charged as a criminals is stupid. Tommy's character is the Hemp Messiah, Pope of Pot, he stands for an entire culture, Hollywood and all those exec's under-estimate his popularity, I remember when he was the biggest star on That 70's Show, and when they had to keep his lines short in front of the studio audience, to sustain the chanting Chong-Heads in the audience. Look Out World here comes not just a movie, but a movement.
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