A Perfect Candidate

Year: 1996

Grade: B

Country: USA

Director: Cutler/Van Taylor

Review

documentary in the style and tradition of the war room, but this one follows oliver north instead of bill clinton. in 1994 ollie north ran for senate in virginia and the film details the campaign from beginning to end. it’s a remarkable documentary for a couple reasons: 1) because of its intimate access behind the scenes 2) because of its subject – one of the more infamous men in american politics. the documentary doesn’t attempt to paint north in any particular light, rather, like the war room, it seeks to be a fly on the wall and merely capture a moment and a process. towards the end of the film we see north’s advisors open up a bit and they are frank and truthful about their role in the political process and about the lessons they learn from the outcome of the election. these moments are among the most noteworthy because they are so candid. one campaign manager remarks that they are in the business of packaging a candidate which has nothing to do with solving any political problems. it’s a moment that runs contrary to the usual stuff a campaign manager might say about trying to get the right guy to win so that the world will be a better place..