Journeys with George

Moviecut—Journeys with George

I watched the whole thing hoping that some bright pinnacle or dark depth might be reached. It was not. I suppose there's some inherent value to seeing and being around this group and getting a feel for the process but the 60's documentary "Primary" of Robert Drew's seems to do a better job of displaying the campaign process, even though its a much older film. The one item I felt this video did impart was that the press is just following their 'target' around and trying not to be noticed and living in fear that they might p*** off the person their supposed to be covering and there by loose precious access. The candidate & crew seem to hold most of the cards and will on occasion dole out some 'face time' - especially when they're down in the polls.

Despite being warned by her Democrat mother to stay out of the media and politics, Alexandra Pelosi winds up working for NBC and spending a year with Texan Governor George Bush as he heads out on the campaign trail to become the next American President. Joining the press core as the Republican primaries start with Bush being viewed as the underdog to John McCain, Pelosi decides to film her campaign journey with a camcorder. An interesting prospect this one. Not only does it offer an insight into the machine that is the political campaign machine but the subject happens to be George W. Bush – not only one of the most unpopular and controversial Presidents of my lifetime, but also one who's nature of election should make for an interesting conclusion to the film. The results are mixed though. I'm not convinced that Pelosi had totally decided what she was trying to do when she first picked up the camcorder as she doesn't really deliver a good documentary/polemic on the nature of the media as part of a well-oiled political process. Yes she gets interviews with her colleagues talking about how what they are shooting isn't real, or complaining about the pack or being self-effacing about being lemmings, but this didn't really convince considering in later scenes we see them all back in the feeding frenzy and doing just what they criticised their peers for doing. It probably didn't help to have interviewed people who look down their noses rather smugly at the subject and talk in a condescending way about it either, since it just made them like snobs as well as being hypocritical. She doesn't really have a structure either; not just in regards the film (which you can understand is already set by the passage of time) but her points are not well made. The tone varies from the sort of stuff that concerns her fancying a fellow journalist, to attempts at more serious questions about impartiality when being so buddy-buddy with Bush and his staff. It is never dull because at worst it is amusing (bemusing?) to see behind the media curtain, but if she had genuine aims to make her film a look at the media within this process then I'm afraid that the material mostly undermines her status as a documentary maker as well as taking away from her points. If some of the film is about that, then the main appeal to the casual viewer will be the fly-on-the-wall access to the most powerful man in the world, George Bush. This part is engaging because there is no doubt that Bush is far from the stupid man that he is painted as. Sure he has a rather homely "average Joe" swagger about him that doesn't totally fit with the demands of his position, but he is a very charismatic man and it shines through in this film. Problem I had though was again to do with structure as she just seemed content with pointing and shooting without having an overall point or argument to make. I appreciate that this was fly-on-the-wall and that the point is not to manipulate to make things fit "a point", but I'm only suggesting a reason for the film being decided with the material structured around that, not spin. A shame then that it is nowhere near as good as it should have been, but even with the rather aimless footage has sufficient access to Bush and sufficient fly-on-the-wall insight into how the media covers the political campaign to be of interest to many a casual viewer.

This is an interesting if ultimately disappointing documentary following G.W.Bush's campaign for the presidency. It is filmed entirely by Alexandra Pelosi as a member of press pack on the campaign buses and planes across the US. It is interesting because it shows the scale of the electioneering business and it shows an inside view of Bush. The overall impression one gets is that US elections are mostly about rallies and bus trips. What Bush stands for never comes into the picture. The result is mixed. Initially Bush comes across as a bit of a buffoon, not slow-witted, as he has been portrayed, but cheeky and a bit chauvinistic, like a college prankster. He never takes Pelosi seriously, and wise-cracks his way through all her questions. However, they strike up a rapport and ultimately he is shown to be more of a friend to her than her colleagues in the press corp. Democrats will probably hate this documentary because it doesn't show him to be a dim-wit monster. Karl Rove type Republicans will not like it too much either because Bush certainly does not look presidential. The press comes off worst, portrayed basically as willing poodles as they are bussed from one rally to another. Although very watchable, by the end I was disappointed with this documentary because it really doesn't have much bite.

This documentary shows nothing new or exciting about Bush junior. The only thing he does in the film is telling stupid jokes and looking weird in the camera,plus that what could be interesting,Bush flirting with Alexandra,was erased.Probably just like them ballots. The only funny part of the documentary was the fact that Bush drinks Buckler Beer! Everybody in Holland will probably laugh at this,because one of our leading stand-up comedians,Youp van het Hek,made a great joke about people drinking this beer.He called them Buckler-D#cks.Nowadays,no one in Holland drinks this beer.Even worse,it's off the market! If George double you only knew what a fool he is drinking it!! 3/10

I watched the whole thing hoping that some bright pinnacle or dark depth might be reached. It was not. I suppose there's some inherent value to seeing and being around this group and getting a feel for the process but the 60's documentary "Primary" of Robert Drew's seems to do a better job of displaying the campaign process, even though its a much older film. The one item I felt this video did impart was that the press is just following their 'target' around and trying not to be noticed and living in fear that they might p*** off the person their supposed to be covering and there by loose precious access. The candidate & crew seem to hold most of the cards and will on occasion dole out some 'face time' - especially when they're down in the polls.

This documentary gives a real in-depth, behind-the scenes view of the journey for politically campaigning. From its infancy up until the end of the election. For one, George W. Bush personifies a go-getter from the beginning hopefully becoming triumphant at the end of his 'journey' to become president. It shows his highs and lows in the political race as he is faced with constant scrutiny as well as great accomplishments along the way. You can't have a comment without a compliment in the media. The two are inseparable and George W. Bush allows for both the bad and good to be reinforced always into a positive. For some reason, he can take any comment and make it into a compliment. He keeps battling these obstacles and successfully rising above them, only to allow them to resemble him as a go getter in his 'journey'.

Just caught this movie on HBO. See Dubya bowling oranges, eating Cheetos, and drinking Non-Alcholic Beer. Instead of the serious statesman we usually see on TV, we get this fun charismatic guy we never get to see. George jokes around and has fun. This movie never takes George or itself seriously and the post election Florida fiasco is short and sweet. If you just want to know more about what kind of man the president is "behind the scenes"; this is the movie to see. My favorite moment from the film was when the filmmaker yells out to ask Mrs. Bush who she's voting for.

The film was entertaining. It provided a candid look at W, before and after the reality of his "situation" (being a viable candidate for President) had really "sunk in." It also provides a great look at how managed are a candidate and the public's view of that candidate. In particular, Rove's role in the entire campaign was apparent ("Bush's Brain," past and present). At any stage of W's evolution, one thing was clear in the film: W is socially awkward. His attempts at humor are, most often, ill-timed and unsophisticated; sometimes inappropriate. It reflects an apparent discomfort with himself and with others. I must say that I am not at all comforted by having seen this view of W.