‘Trainwreck’ to tirade: Ford's big blow-up

Party at the North Doors

ABOVE THE FOLD

The Premier held forth on everything from would-be carjackers in his ‘hood to the latest Greenbelt drama — but first: film critic RICHARD CROUSE watched the Netflix documentary on ROB FORD so you don’t have to.

DOUG FORD called Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem “disgusting” and said he won’t be watching. So I asked Canada’s go-to bad movie watcher to take one for the team. Crouse’s verdict? The title says it all.

“It’s entertaining in the same way The Jerry Springer Show delighted viewers — by playing to the audience’s basest instincts.”

Sensationalism over substance: While the doc leans into scandal — footage for which most of us have already seen — Crouse says it misses the bigger picture: the birth of Ford Nation, suburban alienation, and the populist wave the late mayor helped spark long before Trump took the stage.

“I wasn’t a big fan of Rob Ford as mayor, and I certainly remember his chaotic years in power, but I think media representations of him since he’s passed away have often missed the point of his life and career. Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem is no different.”

“I understand that if it bleeds it leads, that the sensational stuff sells, but there was more to Rob Ford than shambolic press appearances and outrageous headlines. Trainwreck leans into the scandalous aspects of his story. I think it misses the opportunity to talk about how he championed populist politics in a way that has garnered much steam in the years since he was mayor. It also misses the Ford Nation phenomenon and aspects of suburban alienation that were key to Ford’s success.”

FORD LETS IT RIP (AND THEN SOME) — As for everything else the Premier sounded off on…