The Brink

After Steve Bannon lost his job as Donald Trump’s chief strategist, he set his sights on Europe. He’s now trying to mobilize leading right-wing politicians for his populist movement, with the goal of winning seats in the European Parliament election of May 2019.

With a certain degree of distance, director Alison Klayman documents Bannon’s efforts. Whether he’s sitting at the table with Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage, getting Twitter-punched by Trump (who called him “Sloppy Steve”), or talking to a left-wing audience about the rise of populism, Bannon always comes across as well-spoken and charming, and one who’s willing to make fun of himself. The film subtly reveals his method. Whenever Bannon is inconsistent, the director is quick to expose the underlying patterns in his behavior.

This is a portrait of both Bannon and the global rise of populism—a movement “worth dedicating your life to,” according to Bannon. And he continues to do just that, despite loss and vilification.