Airing less than a year before Angels in America hit Broadway, Citizen Cohn falls heavily in the shadow of that work. Both feature Roy Cohn on his death bed being visited by from ghosts of his past, but this straightforward, more fact-based biopic offers less insight into the man. James Woods is earnest in the lead role, but shouty and preachy scenes set years apart, mostly in courtrooms, place this firmly in mediocre telefilm territory. It's a harshly critical look at the man, but refusing to humanize him in any way seems cruel. The film revels in his misfortune. Neglecting his same-sex relationships makes this seem especially timid.
