The War Room

I watched "The War Room" a few days after the 2004 election. Seeing Bill Clinton's strategies, I really got the feeling that John Kerry didn't do as much as he could have. But also, I could see why the far right went after Clinton: here was a young man who came of age in the '60s and was certainly a far cry from the old men who usually dominate Washington. But even aside from that, it was very interesting - even sort of funny - just getting a glimpse inside DC. I would recommend this documentary just so that people can understand politics better. With the midterm elections less than two weeks away, we just might have a chance to change the disastrous course that George W. Bush has led us on. A very good documentary.

It's 1992. This documentary follows the Clinton campaign from the New Hampshire primary to its Little Rock headquarters as they win a landslide victory over Bush Sr. The team is led by the bombastic raging Cajun James Carville and the scholarly Greek George Stephanopoulos. They face scandals like Jennifer Flowers and draft dodging allegations. They try to work on a story of Bush printing campaign material in Brazil but nobody is willing to write it up. Then there is Perot walking away from the election and finally entering the fight. It's a great insight into the heart of the operation. It's not all cleaned up for the camera such as when George plays hardball against a final minute allegation that Clinton fathered a black baby. It is possibly the first of its kind and maybe not to be repeated. It's also fascinating that these characters would become political TV stars. It's a behind-the-scenes look unlike anything before or possibly since.

A documentary of the Bill Clinton 1992 presidential campaign and the organization who ran it. Wile this film was great in its own time, it has only gained in importance since. First of all, the choice to follow Clinton is an interesting one. While he ultimately won, at the beginning of the campaign, Clinton was losing to Paul Tsongas. It would be a very strange film if it followed a candidate who never even won the primary. Would such a film be completed or would they just scrap the whole project? But those involved have risen. George Stephanopoulos has become an important political commentator. James Carville is a legend. The Clinton family has had political influence far beyond 1992 (though it took quite a hit in 2016). And then there is Rahm Emanuel, who could someday make a run of his own.

I have to admit, I came into watching this film with somewhat low expectations, as the last political documentary I watched was "The Hunting of the President" which I found to be ultimately a weak film, with little to no focus on politics whatsoever. As somewhat of a political junkie, I was impressed by this film's portrayal of what seems to be a rather honest look into the workings of a presidential campaign. However, I think the film misses a few point where it could focus on the actual strategies being made, but it chooses more to focus on the people making the strategies. It gives an interesting look into the "reality" of the campaign, but leaves the overall strategies left mostly unexplained. Still a good film though, enjoyed it a lot. Oh, and by the way, the previous reviewed was right on the mark saying that if you liked this you should read "The Agenda" by Bob Woodward. Same sort of style.

The opening of the War Room is unique. We see Bill Clinton, Governor of Arkansas at the time, looking back into the camera, at the audience, with a baseball cap on his head, and a t-shirt covering his body. About to sit down to have his cereal for breakfast, Clinton is talking casual on the phone to a friend. Like the opening conversation, the War Room is as unique and clever as any political documentary before or after. Most of the world did not known who James Carville was until 1992 / 1993. Most know him as a fast talking, cocky, and brilliant political player. Here, we see a deeper human being with more than just an objective, but a message to America. Behind his tears, we see the truth behind the Clinton Campaign in 1991. Whether you are a fan of politics or don't have the stomach to digest politics, you will enjoy the War Room.

This would be an excellent film to show high school poly sci students. It shows the combination of art and craft that goes into a campaign; it promises to entice students into politics without pretending that there isn't some finagling and footwork involved. Weak points: The sequence involving the Bush Brazilian print job goes on way too long and then doesn't resolve. Also, I (for one) was looking forward to seeing that timeless moment during the East Lansing debate when Clinton stepped away from the podium to address the draft issue, head on. That was a make-or-break moment that reminded us just how far a little candor can go when conventional political wisdom has us by the lapels, screaming in our faces. It's too bad the directors/editors didn't see fit to give us that critical moment, which I consider quite historical, not to mention on-topic. All told, worth seeing. Interesting to watch something like this and remember that the pendulum sometimes swings...that way.