A Perfect Candidate

Starring:Don Baker, Mark Goodin, Mark Merritt, Bill Clinton, Douglas Wilder, David Jacobsen (II), J. Marshall Coleman, Oliver North, Chuck Robb, G. Gordon Liddy
Director: David Van Taylor, R.J. Cutler
Studio: First Run Features
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

When right-wing icon Oliver North tried his hand at electoral politics in 1994, running for a U.S. Senate seat in Virginia, documentary filmmakers R.J. Cutler and David Van Taylor came along to record all the action. The access given to the filmmakers by North's election staff is startling, especially as it reveals the cynical realities at the heart of his campaign. Scenes of North professing his born-again faith are juxtaposed with footage of his foul-mouthed campaign managers plotting to use sexual rumors against his opponent, Senator Chuck Robb. Indeed, even North's own fabled mendacity is put before the camera: North is shown, in his 1987 immunized Congressional testimony, admitting that he lied to Congress, and then years later he's seen telling credulous high school students at a campaign stop that he never lied to Congress, but the press lied to the American people. Watching this revealing film, one wonders why North's campaign managers welcomed the camera crews into their profanity-filled staff meetings, but perhaps their egos demanded that people would someday get to see how cocky and mean-spirited they truly were. North lost the election, and went on to riches as a radio talk-show host, but this documentary about his campaign scores a win by exposing the dark heart of American politics in the 1990s. --Robert J. McNamara

Customer Reviews:

Great Movie on Campaigns.......2007-05-31

As a prof, I sometimes need a break from lecturing. It's true, I don't always like to hear myself talk. When this happens I like to show a movie about American politics. This is one of the ones, usually a way to cover campaigns and campaign strategy. It does a great job of informing students about what these topics are by showing vibrant examples of both. My only complaint is that the movie is getting a little long in the tooth. Most of my freshmen were born after Iran-Contra, so they just don't bring the knowledge to make this movie great. It's just before their time. If you have nontraditional students, they can help get the others up to speed and make the experience great. Anyway, a great flick for class, and break for the prof. If you need a "younger" movie, try see how they run.

Pretty Good Documentary.......2007-02-22

I actually thought A Perfect Candidate was pretty good. I've been a huge fan of Oliver North since 1994 when he ran for U.S. Senate. I recommend A Perfect Candidate to anyone on the right or the left who is interested in politics.

Filmmakers given amazing access to campaigns.......2006-03-21

Isn't it interesting how little things have changed: the right kowtowing to the religious, stooping for votes. The pathetic sight of candidates trying to keep fake smiles etched on their faces for fear of showing an ounce of humanity. While the GOP can go straight to hell as far as I'm concerned, this fascinating doc doesn't exactly paint Dems as all the better. It shows how desperate people can get to achieve their goals (walking in grocery store aisles pretending to be friendly). You watch this and begin to understand why no one who could truly benefit society won't participate in the electoral process. You have to pander and be a fraud for the most part.

You don't have to like North to like this film.......2005-12-30

An obvious comparison can be made between this film and Journeys with George. While the latter is more entertaining (Bush makes a much better movie star than North), this film is brutally honest in how it portrays politics in America. With that in mind, A Perfect Candidate is the better choice if you're looking for more than entertainment.

Like all good documentaries, this film doesn't come across as having an agenda. If there was an underlying agenda, it doesn't come through. The film allows you to be a fly on the wall during this campaign and I was truly amazed at what North's campaign team did and said in front of the cameras. They came across as making no effort to hide any of the bad or cynical things they did or said. At several points in the film you'll find yourself rewinding just to make sure you heard these guys right.

I don't think this film would appeal to casual observers of politics the way that Journeys with George would, but anyone that follows politics seriously will enjoy this film, regardless of your partisan or ideological leanings.

Good but troubling POV.......2005-09-19

A Perfect Candidate is an interesting and thought provoking documentary on the Senate race between Republican Oliver North (of Iran Contra fame) and scandal tarred incumbent Deomcrat Chuck Robb.

The movie tries to make the case that no matter what your positions are on the issues it is better to vote for someone who is a idealogue than a moderate. It demeans the very notion of someone who may be conservative on some issues and liberal on others. Before that it is a celebration of Oliver North because of his perfect conservatism. When North starts to make mistakes and Robb starts tearing into him the movie becomes more interesting because the filmmakers obviously never thought Robb could win re-election.

The great thing about this documentary is all of the scenes with Douglas Wilder. He was the first black governor of Virginia and ran as an independant in the Senate race for a while. The racial issues explored is the main reason why this is worth getting.

Charlie Rose with Laurence Tribe & Gerald Lefcourt; Stanley Cloud, Lynn Olson, Richard C. Hottelet & Robert Trout; R.J. Cutler, David Van Taylor & Mark Goodin (June 25, 1996)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Laurence Tribe & Gerald Lefcourt; Stanley Cloud, Lynn Olson, Richard C. Hottelet & Robert Trout; R.J. Cutler, David Van Taylor & Mark Goodin (June 25, 1996)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

First, as the President endorses a Constitutional amendment to protect victims' rights, Laurence Tribe of Harvard and attorney Gerald Lefcourt debate the pros and cons of this issue. Then, journalists Stanley Cloud, and Lynne Olson, Richard C. Hottelet, and another CBS correspondent, Robert Trout, discuss Edward R. Murrow, an anchor who assembled a team of reporters for CBS that took radio and news to another level. Finally, producer/directors R. J. Cutler and Davin Van Taylor and political strategist Mark Goodin talk about Cutler and Taylor's new film, A Perfect Candidate, a documentary about the controversial 1994 Virginia Senate race between Oliver North and Chuck Robb.

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