Where's My Roy Cohn?

Where's My Roy Cohn? is a gripping 2019 documentary that provides a detailed examination of the controversial life of one of America's most notorious lawyers: Roy M. Cohn. Produced and directed by Matt Tyrnauer, who previously helmed the successful documentaries "Studio 54," "Citizen Jane: Battle for the City," and "Valentinoa: The Last Emperor", this riveting and sometimes unsettling film pits the enigmatic figure of Cohn center stage.

The documentary expresses the critical story of Roy M. Cohn, a man who played a significant role in the rise of key figures in American politics, business, and the media, including his infamous association with Donald Trump. The title of the film, "Where's My Roy Cohn?" references a question reportedly posed by President Trump during the onset of the Mueller investigation, hinting at the influence and reach of Cohn's legacy even decades after his death.

Featuring interviews with noteworthy commentators including Ken Auletta, a writer, and journalist, known for his work at The New Yorker; as well as Marie Brenner, an investigative journalist and author, the film uncovers the complex personality and life of Roy Cohn. The documentary also incorporates extensive archive footage and interviews with those close to him, which effectively chart his life and posthumous influence.

Born to an influential New York family, Roy Marcus Cohn shot to prominence as a pit-bull attorney during Senator Joseph McCarthy's communist witch hunt in the 1950s. His tactics, including the aggressive use of counter-claims and his manipulation of the media, would later become commonplace in the world of American politics. Through his thirst for power and influence, Cohn became an essential player in US public life.

Cohn's reach extended to New York City's club scene where he represented Studio 54, and involved himself in business dealings that frequently towed the line between legality and corruption. Among the film’s most intriguing discussions is Cohn’s mentorship of Donald Trump, beginning when Trump was an ambitious young real estate tycoon. Cohn's influence on Trump’s career, including his combative interaction with media and critics, is explored at length.

Where's My Roy Cohn? shows how Cohn’s path through the 20th century was littered with questionable ethics and under-the-table deals. Cohn’s cruel homophobic persecution as part of McCarthy's team gains additional irony when the film delves into Cohn’s own struggle to conceal his homosexuality, culminating in his death from AIDS in 1986.

The film continually draws from this rich historical material to illustrate the forces that molded Cohn into the infamous figure he became and the dangerous legacy that he left behind. It's a chilling portrait of a volatile man, whose career straddles the worlds of law, politics, and the mob, with the film centering upon Cohn's boast that he operated on "power" being "better than money".

Tyrnauer merges elements of politics, power, and contradictions that mark Cohn’s controversial life and persona. Where's My Roy Cohn? is a deep dive into the life of a man who wanted to be remembered for his power and influence, yet it also exposes the moral complexities and contradictions of his character. The film's power rests in its exploration of how such a man, despite his immoral ways, was able to exert vast control and influence over American society while exposing the frailties behind his seeming invincibility.

Through 'Where's My Roy Cohn?' the audience, for a moment, sees the world through Cohn's eyes and grapples with the unsettling realm of power, deception, secrecy, and manipulation. It's a haunting, thought-provoking portrait of how influence works in America and a high-octane illustration of the proverb, "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Contrasting personal stories and well-chosen archival footage, Where's My Roy Cohn? makes a fascinating, complex figure accessible to viewers unfamiliar with Cohn, while offering ample fresh insights to those who remember his public persona and his machinations. Its expert blend of testimony and archival material creates a disturbing yet irresistibly compelling portrayal of a man who shaped some of the most significant episodes of 20th-century American history. It's an essential chronicle for anyone seeking to understand the intersection of power and corruption in U.S. politics.