Our Review
Movie: CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID
Rating: NR`
Length: 1:38
Release Date: October 11, 2024
Jeanne: He’s called the “Ragin’ Cajun” for a very good reason. James Carville, the crafty political consultant from Carville, Louisiana, is a masterful Democratic strategist who knows how to win. And he doesn’t mince any words getting the job done.
Writer, journalist and director Matt Tyrnauer followed Carville around the country for 18 wild and productive months in his new documentary, CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID. After multiple attempts to establish himself in politics, it wasn’t until he ran Bill Clinton’s campaign and achieved the shocking presidential results in 1992 that sent this guru on the path to becoming one of the most influential voices in the Democratic Party.
Along with George Stephanopoulos and Paul Begala, with whom Carville still speaks to every day, Carville managed to pull off a victory for the Democrats after losing three consecutive presidential elections. His War Room gang also included other strategists such as Rahm Emanuel, Mandy Grunwald, Stanley Greenberg, Sidney Blumenthal, among others. And his mantra has always been “Winning is everything, stupid” like the slogan utilized for Clinton’s campaign, “It’s the economy, stupid”.
Tyrnauer’s doc focuses on Carville’s efforts to change the course of the current election. In May, a Washington Post/ABC poll showed President Joe Biden losing to former President Trump. Stunned, Carville jumped into action crisscrossing the country to drum up support to convince Biden to drop out of the race. According to other political analysts, Mike Murphy and David Axelrod, it was Carville who changes the course of the 2024 presidential race.
You cannot have a documentary about James Carville without highlighting his truly extraordinary marriage to Mary Matalin. While James was a Democrat hotshot, Mary had an equally impressive resume as a Republican mastermind. No one could believe these two very stubborn individuals could manage to be in the same room together let alone marry. But marry they did in 1992 and despite some people’s misgivings --- they are still married and going strong. They have one cardinal rule --- they never discuss politics.
CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID is a fun ride if you are a political junkie like me. Tyrnauer does an excellent job showing his audience exactly who James Carville is --- and how he’s remained relevant all these years. No matter what you may think of his politics --- and methods --- there is no denying there will never be another “Ragin’ Cajun” like him.
In Theaters now,
streaming December 3rd
Opinion: See It Now!
David: There has never been anyone quite like James Carville in American political history. And there likely never will be. Given credit for Bill Clinton’s successful presidential run in 1992, Carville has been the go-to advisor for the Democratic Party for over 30 years.
Now there is a documentary about him that becomes more relevant to watch, given the state of the upcoming national election. It is appropriately titled CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID to resurrect Carville’s well-known campaign slogan of 1992: “It’s the economy, stupid”.
Fast forward 31 years. Carville saw a poll in May of 2023 that showed incumbent Joe Biden behind Donald Trump by an alarming seven points if the 2024 election were held then. That sprung Carville into action, but his greatest contribution to the political scene was yet to come.
It was the first and only presidential debate in June 2024 which ultimately propelled Carville to convince President Biden that he needed to step down in his bid for reelection. In fact, director Matt Tyrnauer had wrapped production of CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID the day before the debate. However, he and his staff rallied to change their film to include Carville and his shaping of the 2024 election this coming November.
Given that Biden stepped aside ensures that Carville will be remembered in history books 100 years from now as the most influential political advisor this country has ever known. And all the while he has been married to Mary Matalin, a former well-known Republican Party strategist. Their relationship is detailed in the doc, with and without humor. But Carville, almost exclusively clad in something that indicates his alma mater, Louisiana State University, usually gets the last word.
This is man who truly loves his country. Why else would he subject himself to all the scrutiny that comes with his daily endeavors? He clearly recognized the threat that a second Trump term could do to this country and indeed, the world. And he took action that will still result in the examination of his efforts, but in a very positive way.
In Theaters now,
streaming December 3rd
Opinion: See It Now!