Journeys with George (2002)
George W. Bush is a real idiot. You don’t need
anything other than “Journeys with George” to prove
it. He’s a dolt. Alexandra Pelosi was lucky enough to
be assigned to the Bush press pack by her employer,
NBC News. She was smart enough to take a camcorder with
her everywhere and capture much footage of her time
in the “press bubble” and she was tenacious enough to
keep filming. What we have here, then, is part documentary
and part home movie about Pelosi’s life and Bush’s idiocy.
Of course, since Bush becomes a part of Pelosi’s life,
and vice-versa. The two stories intertwine.
This is a fascinating look at just how hollow and
vapid Bush is. I’m sure if we got the same documentary
from someone on Gore’s campaign, the film might be hollow
and vapid AND dull. At least Bush is somewhat fascinating.
Pelosi manages to capture him in many moments of light-heartedness
and relaxation. Often in the film Bush comes across
as Bush imitating Will Farrell imitating Bush. When
Bush whips out a word like “stylishness,” as he does
towards the beginning of this documentary, it’s hard
not to bust out laughing.
The behind the scenes moments here are filmed like
home videos, with the subject speaking often only partially
in frame. But we realize what we are getting here is
a sneak peak at something that the public has really
never seen before. And, in this race, we also get to
see some history made.
Bush comes across like the charming down-home bamboozler
he is. Watching him charm Pelosi is fascinating. There
is a moment where he kisses her on the cheek that reeks
of flirtation. I’m of the mindset that Laura would kick
his ass if she saw it. The give and take between the
two, as well as between Pelosi and several of her fellow
press purveyors is always engrossing.
Those on the trip of note include R.G. Ratcliffe
of the “Houston Chronicle” and Wayne Slater of “The
Dallas Morning News.” Both Slater and Pelosi become
objects of interest during the press junket for stories
that they mention or that get leaked out. Bush’s treatment
of the two is interesting to see.
“Journeys with George” is fascinating. Politics
have never seemed more vapid or more useless. And, of
course, that seeming vapidity and pointlessness is almost
always fascinating.
Note:
Ted Koppell, Erin Brockovich, and Al Fraken, all
have cameos. Since Pelosi works for NBC, TV images of
Tom Brokaw talking about the then current events are
used.
Bush is credited with “Additional Photography.”
He does at times take the camera and turn it on Pelosi
as he talks to her.
Seen at
SXSW 2002 where Pelosi introduced the film and informed
it was a “rough cut.”
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Report
Card
Content:
A+
Completeness: A
Cinematography\Lighting: C
Special Effects\Make Up: C
Music: B
Final
Grade: A+
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