Movie Review- Mitt

As we have talked about, Netflix is on fire. I decided to check out Netflix’s  documentary on Romney tonight and I am now more confused than I was when he was running.

Whether by design or with an agenda, the film starts out with several scenes with Romney talking about losing. The most striking is election night 2012.  As it progresses aids makes short statements, Romney responds. More short statements, more short response. Then Romney asks the question "What do you say in a concession speech?" My first though was, "Who in their right damn mind didn't have one written at the start of the race?" With hindsight that is an easy comment, but even in 2012, everyone not living under a rock knew the outcome. 

Flashback to 2006. Yet another scene of questions and answers, this time with Romney's family.  Romney goes around the family asking his family the pros and cons. Again, more questions as to whether he should run or not. Again, more talk of losing.  But during the 2008 run, we see through the film a much more savvy candidate that is friendly, smart and borders on hokey.  This, unbeknownst to me, was a family run campaign without a lot of outside help.  There were no scenes of cronies coming in and out of the room. No party hacks pumping the candidate full of vitriol. Think IDES OF MARCH sans Philip Seymour Huffman, and Ryan Gosling.  You almost end up liking the guy. 

All the way through the 2012 race, it’s the same time. More of Romney being a good guy.  He pick-ups his own trash.  The Republican Presidential Nominee picking up his own trash!! He prays for the country!! He even thanks God for his parents. Good grief!!!! This guy is down right.....no damn likable!! It makes me wonder why the guy lost. Perhaps that is what the filmmakers wanted, but it worked. We get to see into the guy's life on a daily basis, and there doesn't seem to be a flaw.  You just can't say anything bad about the guy.

I could go on about how good a guy Mitt Romney is portrayed in this film.  You end up thinking "Why did this guy get beat?" It would be easy to go on too about how well this film was made.  It's not your talking head interview type documentary, nor is it they type where the characters seem to be acting for the camera (which is problematic in documentaries).  Overall I would recommend it to anyone interested in politics or campaigning.  It lacks the gritty feel that a movie like IDES OF MARCH maintains, and hearkens back to THE CAMPAIGN with Robert Redford.  It's well shot, and it tells a story that few people really saw during the election.  Check it out if you have the Netflix.