As a long-time political enthusiast, I must say that “Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid” is a captivating documentary that offers a unique insight into one of the most colorful figures in contemporary politics – James Carville. The film’s exploration of Carville’s life and career, particularly his role in the 1992 presidential campaign, is nothing short of riveting.
In my perspective, I find myself grappling with a concern in the recently unveiled James Carville documentary, titled “Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid,” set to debut at Telluride. Throughout the movie, it seems that Carville expresses apprehensions regarding Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee.
It’s clear that the movie (purchased by CNN Films) was made before Biden ended his presidential campaign. Prior to the June debate with Trump last year, Carville feared that Biden on the ballot could lead to a Democrat loss in the election. However, everything changed on July 21st when Biden withdrew from the race. By then, the film was almost finished being produced. The end credits mention Harris taking office, but the movie still seems biased.
Despite this, it offers valuable insights into Carville’s background, leaving us in no doubt that he is an intriguing character currently active. His upbringing in a small Louisiana town with a significant Black population undoubtedly influenced him, and filmmaker Matt Tyrnauer explores this town together. Carville’s memories of the hardships his neighbors faced have left lasting impressions on him. Tyrnauer, known for previous documentaries on Roy Cohn, designer Valentino, and sociologist Jane Jacobs, has a keen eye for detail.
The key moment that established Carville’s prominence was his involvement in the 1992 presidential campaign, where he contributed significantly to Bill Clinton’s victory. As some analysts note, both Clinton and Carville had a touch of rebelliousness about them. Carville skillfully managed to minimize the negative press surrounding Clinton’s personal scandals, while emphasizing Clinton’s intelligence and his moderate stance on various issues that resonated with American voters, particularly economic matters. (Carville’s catchphrase, “It’s the economy, stupid,” proved particularly relevant.)
Clinton himself and George Stephanopoulos, Carville’s young assistant back then, offer insightful and contemporary interview content to the director. Additionally, other political figures share their opinions about Carville’s skills in this paraphrased version.
It’s not surprising that a key aspect of the document focuses on the 30-year marriage between Carville and Matalin. During the 1992 Bush campaign, they met when Matalin, who was working for the campaign at the time, crossed paths with Carville. Their unlikely romance, which has been noted before, even served as inspiration for the movie “Speechless” (starring Michael Keaton and Geena Davis in 1994). In interviews with the director, both Matalin and Carville offer candid insights. They experienced their most significant disagreement when Matalin joined the Bush-Cheney White House, while Carville strongly opposed the Iraq War. Their on-camera interactions always seem spontaneous and unscripted.
It’s widely recognized that Carville wasn’t a hard-line progressive. In fact, in the film, he criticizes the “progressive” left, suggesting that he and Matalin were not absolute ideological adversaries.
The movie seamlessly blends contemporary shots of Carville frequently walking in hotel hallways with his usual routine, along with clips from the Clinton campaign and various other escapades. These commentators, which also feature Paul Begala, Donna Brazile, and Al Sharpton, affirm Carville’s unconventional reputation.
Beyond focusing excessively on Joe Biden’s age, compared to Carville who is just slightly older, and his tenacity in persisting in the presidential race until he withdrew, the movie could be useful for introducing younger viewers to a seasoned political strategist. Additionally, the depiction of a marriage between political opposites might encourage some people to consider the potential for finding mutual understanding with someone whose views they fundamentally disagree with.
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2024-08-31 09:24