2nd Chance – Review
89 Minutes, Not Rated
Written and Directed by Ramin Bahrani
Synopsis:
A documentary chronicling the life of Richard Davis, the man who invented the concealable bulletproof vest – shooting himself 196 times in the course of his career to prove the effectiveness of his vests.
From the director: “In 1969 a bankrupt pizzeria owner, Richard Davis, invented the modern-day bulletproof vest. To prove that it worked, he shot himself — point blank — 196 times. Davis then launched Second Chance, which became one of the largest body armor companies in the world. Charming and brash, he directed sensational marketing films, earning him celebrity status among police and gun owners across the country. But the death of a police officer wearing a Second Chance vest catalyzes Davis’ fall, and reveals a man full of contradictions cultivated over decades of reckless behavior. Equally as questionable as he was captivating, Davis saved thousands of lives while endangering exponentially more.”
Unlike the recent Netflix documentary series The Lady and the Dale, 2nd Chance‘s protagonist isn’t an outright huckster. Richard Davis was sincere–and successful–in his desire to create a truly usable protective vest for police and military personnel.
This is a fact.
And then… like any great American story, something bad happened.
A new vest design, using new materials, was worn by a police officer who was killed. It is then we start getting into the areas of he-said-she-said.
What we know is that, like the Ford Pinto’s explosions, the Ford Explorer’s tires, and the Space Shuttle’s solid-rocket boosters, design and material defects were known by some (by whom, exactly, is still confirmed/denied by various folks), and it was decided that the cost of exposure was too high to simply admit and recall the product for necessary improvements.
Yeah, the cover-up is always worse than the crime.
The biggest thing about 2nd Chance is that we get to see the man behind the scandal. Richard Davis is, by any measure, sincere in his belief in his product.
Why else would he have shot himself 196 times? I mean, really?
But the way he got there, the origin story of the man behind the product is a bit of a mystery, one this documentary digs deep into.
A complicated man creates a complicated story, and it is one that is at once entertaining, enthralling, and frustrating.
2nd Chance is a must-see for any documentary devotee.
2nd Chance will be in select theaters in NYC & LA starting December 2 and expands nationwide Dec. 9.
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