Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageThe War Room (1993)
Director: DA Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
'The most expensive single act of masturbation in history' - James Carville on Ross Perot's 1992 campaign for the US presidency. If this documentary record of the Clinton team's own campaign doesn't quite warrant such abusive language, it nevertheless comes across as an indulgent piece of self-preening. The film follows campaign manager Carville (see him in The People vs. Larry FIynt) and George Stephanopolis, director of communications, from a pre-Primary February breakfast with Clinton to the night of the November election results. The two 'stars', Carville, a 'ragin' Cajun' with fiercely intelligent Simian features and a forthright approach to the press corps, and Stephanopolis, telegenic Harvard boy, twinkle-eyed and soft-spoken, make a great double-act, though Carville is the stand-out. But the focus is way too far over on the side of personalities. There's scant political revelation: it's less behind-the-scenes than the scenes from a different perspective.Author: NB
Cast & crew
Director: DA Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus
Producer: RJ Cutler, Wendy Ettinger, Frazer Pennebaker
Cast: James Carville, George Stephanopolis full cast
Genre(s): Documentaries
Duration: 96 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Review a Coens' movie and win!
A signed copy of the script for 'A Serious Man' is up for grabs, and we want you to look to your inner film reviewer to win it
Ang Lee talks 'Taking Woodstock'
Ang Lee talks to Tom Huddleston about his tale of the men behind history’s greatest music festival
Roland Emmerich's guide to disaster movies
Ahead of the release of '2012', Roland Emmerich offers his ten tips on creating the perfect global catastrophe
Hippies who work for The Man
To celebrate George Clooney comedy 'The Men who Stare at Goats', we look back at six memorable onscreen hippies who fought the system from within
Sheffield Doc/Fest round-up
Sheffield’s annual Doc/Fest is Britain’s largest documentary festival. Edward Lawrenson learnt a few new things by taking the train north.
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Grant Heslov: interview
Grant Heslov, director of 'The Men who Stare at Goats' talks about his old pal George Clooney, his interest in the paranormal, and his fond memories of working on 'Happy Days'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now