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One of the most interesting relationships that formed from Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1992 was that of James "The Ragin' Cajun" Carville and George Stephanopoulos, campaign strategists, they were key coordinators to Clinton's successful run at the White House. The film "The War Room" from filmmakers D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus takes viewers behind-the-scenes of a political campaign from the perspective of Carville and Stephanopoulos. Capturing their challenges, the strategies, the working relationship and their friendship.

The camera follows their day-to-day activities, watching them build morale, plan political ads, answer phone calls, and grab a quick bite to eat. "The War Room" of the title is the room where the campaign team meets to hash out the strategy.

"The War Room" while never delving too deeply into the "strategy", secrets of the campaign (mainly because they weren't allowed to film those meetings) and Clinton himself aren't spotlighted, yet it offers a rarely seen glimpse into the political world.
What's truly remarkable is that far from a stodgy or boring look at boardroom machinations, the viewer is granted access to an exhilarating, come-from-behind political action story.

Directors: Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker
Cast: James Carville, George Stephanopoulos, Heather Beckel
Country: USA
Genre: Documentary, History

BD50 | 1080p AVC | 01:36:04 | 42.7 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

• William J. Clinton Foundation Panel - in 2011, the William J. Clinton Foundation hosted a panel discussion in Little Rock, Arkansas, to mark the twentieth anniversary of the announcement of Clinton's candidacy for president. In a series of excerpts from the event, James Carville and other veterans of the campaign recall the many obstacles their team had to overcome. President Clinton also joins the discussions. In English, not subtitled. (26 min, 1080i).

• Return of The War Room - in this follow-up feature to The War Room, advisers Kames Carville, George Stephanopoulos, Mary Matalin, deputy communications director Bob Boorstin, press secretary Dee Dee Myers, Newsweek journalist Mark Miller, and others reflect on the revolutionary 1992 campaign. Mark McKinnon and Frank Luntz, members of the new generation of campaign operatives, also discuss the innovations of the war room concept. In English, not subtitled. (82 min, 1080i).

• Making The War Room - in this series of video pieces, shot by the Criterion Collection in 2011, directors Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker; producers R.J. Cutler, Wendy Ettinger, and Frazer Pennebaker; and camera operator Nick Doob discuss the process of gaining access to, and then filming, a presidential campaign. In English, not subtitled.
-- Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker, Cutler, and Ettinger (42 min, 1080p).
-- Frazer Pennebaker (9 min, 1080p).
-- Doob (7 min, 1080p).

• Stanley Greenberg - in this video interview, shot for the Criterion collection in November 2011, Stanley Greenberg, pollster for the 1992 Clinton campaign, discusses the nuances of the job. In English, not subtitled. (11 min, 1080p).

• Trailer - original trailer for The War Room. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).