Review: 'Weiner' is riveting fly-on-the-wall filmmaking

At first, it seemed like they were, as the charismatic Weiner chipped away at public skepticism (if not the media's) and climbed to the top of the polls.

[...] it all came crashing down, as more lurid photos and text exchanges emerged, some that occurred after Weiner's resignation.

[...] for some reason, Weiner and his wife, Huma Abedin — a longtime top aide to Hillary Clinton, and current vice chair of her presidential campaign — let the filmmakers keep going.

[...] it makes for riveting filmmaking — as a portrait of a campaign in crisis, of a fascinatingly flawed politician, and especially of a marriage.

Watch Abedin's face as she stares at Weiner on the day the scandal breaks anew, disappointed and stunned, with no words spoken and none necessary.

[...] we see that Twitter image of bulging underwear, the humiliating media coverage, the resignation.

Abedin, ever the pragmatist, suggests to Weiner's visibly upset top aide that when she exits the building, "You will look happy" — lest reporters see her crying.

[...] on Election Day (spoiler alert: he loses!) Weiner's erstwhile sexting partner, Sydney Leathers, seeks to confront him.

Weiner," an IFC Films release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America "for language and some sexual material.