As a supporter of James Carville, I find “Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid” to be an enlightening and captivating portrayal of a political heavyweight who has been shaping the landscape of American politics for decades. The film masterfully weaves together the high-stakes drama of the 2024 Presidential race with Carville’s extraordinary journey from political novice to indefatigable kingmaker, making it not only dramatically satisfying but also flat-out entertaining.
When creating a documentary on current issues, there’s a significant risk involved as the subject matter can evolve rapidly: By the time you finish your work, the situation you initially aimed to explore might have shifted significantly, leaving you with only a fleeting mention of that change in the concluding scenes. Unfortunately, this means that the audience may already be aware of these developments before they even begin watching your production.
Let’s examine the case of “Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid,” a captivating and insightful documentary that delves into the life of James Carville, a Louisiana-born Democratic strategist. Known as “The Raging Cajun” due to his unbridled confidence, relentless advocacy, and humorous profanity, this documentary offers a revealing look at his career and character.
Throughout significant portions of his movie, director Matt Tyrnauer closely watches Carville as he becomes progressively worried about the 2024 Presidential election, particularly since preliminary polls hint that incumbent Joe Biden may struggle against former President Donald Trump. Before many within and outside his party even began to subtly or overtly advise Biden to withdraw from the race, Carville started to question whether the current president was truly too old and cognitively impaired to manage the mental and physical challenges of another term in office.
In May 2024, an ABC/Washington Post survey revealed that merely 42% of potential voters were in favor of Biden’s re-election, while 49% preferred Trump. This poll, as Carville candidly admitted, left him stunned and taken aback. Not long after, the seasoned operative began advocating for Plan B: Biden should withdraw from the race without designating a suitable successor, and instead, let a fresh candidate be selected at an open Democratic National Convention.
Indeed, events didn’t unfold as initially anticipated. (Kamala Harris briefly appears near the end, in footage clearly added close to the film’s late-August premiere at the Telluride Film Festival.) This unexpected turn serves as a testament to how engaging — and undeniably amusing — the movie was until this abrupt “plot twist”. Despite feeling somewhat incomplete, Tyrnauer skillfully narrates a tale that remains dramatically fulfilling.
The book “Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid” effectively alternates between portrayals of the intense 2024 presidential campaign and the transformative journey of Carville, a novice, into an unstoppable power broker.
George Stephanopoulos, who initially worked under James Carville, highlights that Carville significantly boosted his public image on a national level during Bill Clinton’s successful 1992 presidential campaign, where he served as the chief advisor. Stephanopoulos recalls that both Clinton and Carville had a bit of mischievousness in them, which possibly helped them when Carville needed to protect Clinton from controversies involving his personal life, such as extramarital affairs and draft-dodging allegations.
During the pivotal campaign, Carville skillfully diverted focus from various scandals by highlighting Clinton’s potential as a more effective problem-solver compared to incumbent George H.W. Bush. To emphasize this point, Carville created a catchy phrase that resonated with his team — “It’s the economy, after all” — which quickly gained popularity and served as an early ’90s viral sensation.
Tyrnauer cleverly incorporates excerpts from “The War Room,” a 1993 documentary by Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker, which offers insights into the strategic planning within Clinton’s campaign team – including Carville’s remarks that have since taken on an ironic tone, as they implied Bush was too aged to effectively lead as commander-in-chief.
Furthermore highlighted throughout the documentary: Carville’s seemingly unlikely partnership with Republican strategist Mary Matalin, whom he encountered during the Clinton-Bush campaign. They have been married for over three decades, a fact that astonishes many commentators, which in turn delights the apparently incongruous pair. It is evident that despite their substantial differences — he vehemently opposed the Gulf War while Matalin, during her tenure as a White House staffer under President George W. Bush, endorsed the invasion — they deeply care for and value each other. In truth, their indestructible bond appears to be a remnant from an era gone by when political disagreements did not prevent people from being, at the very least, cordial in their dealings.
The phrase ‘Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid’ indicates that Carville understands his methods in political battles, party allegiance, and campaign speech might seem outdated to some in his profession, even fellow Democrats. He criticizes the ‘extreme ideologies’ of unyielding progressives who could potentially drive moderate Democrats and ardent liberals towards the Republican Party. However, if Biden supporters might still harbor resentment towards him for vigorously advocating for replacing the incumbent, Carville simply does not concern himself with it. To him, success is what truly matters.
As political strategist and commentator Paul Begala often remarks about his friend James Carville, “He’s the sharpest mind who’s ever taken on this profession.” Although age may have slowed him slightly, Carville remains active in politics and continues to play with unwavering determination.
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2024-10-12 03:18