Criterion Collection: War Room

( 1 )

Overview

A look inside the 1992 presidential race, D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hedgus' documentary The War Room explores the backstage side of national politics by examining the day-to-day operations of Bill Clinton's campaign staff. The behind-the-scenes leader of the group is James Carville, the demonstrative, charismatic campaign manager who relies on a plain-speaking manner and emotional appeals to motivate his subordinates. He is complemented by the quieter, smoother personality and photogenic looks of young press ...
See more details below
Blu-ray (Subtitled / Pan & Scan)
$35.99
BN.com price
(Save 10%)$39.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (Blu-ray)
  • All (9) from $20.74   
  • New (8) from $20.74   
  • Used (1) from $25.24   

More About This Product

Overview

A look inside the 1992 presidential race, D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hedgus' documentary The War Room explores the backstage side of national politics by examining the day-to-day operations of Bill Clinton's campaign staff. The behind-the-scenes leader of the group is James Carville, the demonstrative, charismatic campaign manager who relies on a plain-speaking manner and emotional appeals to motivate his subordinates. He is complemented by the quieter, smoother personality and photogenic looks of young press spokesman George Stephanopoulous. The filmmakers follow these two contrasting personalities from the January New Hampshire primary to Clinton's eventual victory, as they attempt to cling to an overall strategic plan while dealing with unforeseen problems and negative press, as their candidate is saddled with accusations of adultery and draft-dodging. Subplots include the rivalries between Democratic campaign staffs -- which can become amusingly petty, as when they accuse each other of tearing down campaign posters -- and the romantic relationship between Carville and Mary Matalin, chief strategist for George Bush's campaign. Co-director D.A. Pennebaker Monterey Pop, Don't Look Back, Primary is renowned as an innovator in the use of cinema-verite, used here to show both the mundane complications and the emotional highlights of the modern political process.
Read More Show Less

Special Features

Return of the War Room, a 2008 documentary by Hegedus and Pennebaker in which advisers James Carville, George Stephanopoulos, Paul Begala, and others reflect on the effect that the Clinton war room had on the way campaigns are run; New pieces in which the filmmakers discuss the difficulties of shooting in teh campaign's fast-paced environment; Panel discussion hosted by the William J. Clinton Foundation, featuring Carville, Clinton adviser Vernon Jordan, journalist Ron Brownstein, and surprise guest Bill Clinton; Interview with strategist Stanley Greenberg on the evolution of polling; Plus: a booklet featuring an essay by writer Louis Menand
Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide
In one of The War Room's most emblematic moments, political guru James Carville offers a contrast between Bill Clinton's campaign for president, which he's managing, and that of incumbent George Bush. "We're saying 50 plus 50 equals 104; they're saying 50 plus 50 equals 104 thousand!" quips the Ragin' Cajun. The comment is telling not because he's slamming Bush, but because he's freely admitting that his own team fudges the facts as well. It's a basic acknowledgement that minor ethical compromise is a necessary evil to elevating a superior candidate to the country's highest office. But by merely cooperating with Chris Hedgus and D.A. Pennebaker's behind-closed-doors project, Carville not only forces himself to resist dirty politics, but his few demonstrated acts of sly manipulation are almost proof of full disclosure, much more honest-seeming than if he feigned spotlessness. It's a genius strategy, even though the PR generated by the movie probably had more effect writing the history than it did winning the election. Any successful documentary relies on some luck -- if Clinton had never made it out of New Hampshire, there would be no movie -- but it seems like shrewdness on the part of the husband-and-wife documentarists to identify that Carville could be one of the truly captivating real-life political characters, capable of propelling the movie through some of its inevitable ho-hum passages. George Stephanopoulos contributes somewhat less ostentatiously. Other than those provided by Carville, The War Room is generally lacking in zinger moments. But the complete package is pretty groundbreaking, representing unusual access to round-table gripe-and-plot sessions that had previously been shrouded in mystery. Few characters resonate beyond Carville and Stephanopoulos, with the possible exception of the candidate himself -- seen only in dribs and drabs, but also deserving credit for his openness to the intrusion.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 3/20/2012
  • UPC: 715515091817
  • Original Release: 1993

    • Rating:

  • Source: Criterion
  • Region Code: A
  • Presentation: Subtitled / Pan & Scan
  • Sound: DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound
  • Time: 1:36:00
  • Format: Blu-ray
  • Sales rank: 35,361

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
James Carville
George Stephanopoulos
Technical Credits
Chris Hegedus Director, Editor
Christopher Hughes Director
D.A. Pennebaker Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Producer
Charlie Arnot Sound/Sound Designer
R.J. Cutler Producer
David Dawkins Sound/Sound Designer
Wendy Ettinger Producer
Kevin Rafferty Cinematographer
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 1 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(1)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Inside Clintonianism

    Clinton. The man. The legend. The blowjob. This is all before the controservies, well, not totally, as it follows the "crazy Cajun" James Carville and the young-looking idealistic Georg e Stephenapholous as they fight like bulldogs in the 1992 Election. Behind the scenes with some shots of Bill and Hillary. Great and historic. Too bad we didn't have that team working in 2004, but we got 'em back in 2006.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review