The War Room

About The War Room

The War Room is a 1993 documentary film following Bill Clinton's campaign for the United States presidency in 1992. Directed by Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker, the film sees James Carville and George Stephanopoulos at work on the campaign trail, showing the behind-the-scenes tactics and strategies that led to Clinton's successful election.

Making / Production

The film was produced by Wendy Ettinger and R.J. Cutler in addition to being directed by veteran documentary filmmakers Hegedus and Pennebaker. Their access and perception allowed them to document this historic presidential race in a manner often not seen by the public.

Actors

• James Carville: As himself, Carville put up an impressive answer to the question of how well he played the strategist behind Bill Clinton's campaign.
• George Stephanopoulos: Appearing as himself, Stephanopoulos masterfully demonstrated his role as a communications director and campaign adviser to Clinton.
• Bill Clinton: The then Arkansas Governor Clinton played himself naturally and convincingly during his 1992 presidential campaign.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The phrase "The War Room," which is the film's title, is actually a term used to describe a political campaign headquarters.
• The film presented a comprehensive look at how modern political campaigns are run, significantly impacting future campaign strategies and tactics.

Awards

The War Room was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Furthermore, it was recognized by the Sundance Institute and the National Board of Review for its excellence in capturing a historic and influential campaign.

Quotes

• "We change lives, we make history. Let's go out there and do it!" - James Carville
• "This is more fun than any human being should be allowed to have." - George Stephanopoulos

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's evocative and stirring score was crafted by the talented composer Michael Bearden.