Mitt (2014)

Simply A Masterpiece

It is a performances centric movie

Good movie but grossly overrated

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

I followed the 2012 elections avidly, but failed to get a sense of what Mitt was all about. They really should have released this movie at the time of elections. It may have made a difference to some voters. Mitt comes across as genuinely likable, funny, friendly and analytical. Had he been elected he would probably have seen himself as the CEO of America.But he also comes across as politically naive especially when him and the family are talking about John McCain. Ann Romney constantly looks at the camera and one gets the feeling that all her actions before the camera are part of a show she is putting on. The only scene where she seems genuinely relaxed and at ease is when she is with her horses.Some scenes like the one where his son gets slapped are appalling. I would very much have liked to see the thought process that went behind Mitt's picking of a vice presidential candidate.The family comes across as clannish and loyal but that is probably to be expected in such a hotly contested race.It's really hard to reconcile this image of Mitt with that of the man driving 650 miles with his sick dog on top of the car in freezing weather.

Mitt Romney seems like a nice man, and that pretty much sums up what I got out of this documentary. But apart from that, I didn't feel like I really learned anything.If the object was to make Mitt seem human, it does do a good job of this, but as far as providing an insightful look behind the curtain it falls short. There is a sort of a discrepancy between the use of "one cameraman/interviewer with his hand-held camera" signifying bare honesty and how often the scenes seem set-up and "for the camera". Ultimately; this means that it often comes off as a bit disingenuous, and that you're only scratching the surface, rather than getting to know the deeper truth about a man and his political life.

Despite being completely neutral in its treatment of Mitt Romney, the film exposes the humble and brilliant nature of a man whom was unfairly characterized and misunderstood by the media during his run for president. The film follows Mitt Romney from his Decision to run for the republican nominee in 2008 through his campaign against Obama in 2012, culminating in his election night defeat. The film is surprisingly honest and allowed unparalleled access into a family which seems, in a lot of ways, just like the rest of us. It follows the ups and downs of his campaign with candid insights which inadvertently convey many honest moments and insecurities the candidate struggled with.The final moments of the film focus on the slow disintegration of his hopes for becoming president and the last moments of the campaign. How he responds to such a disappointing result, surrounded by his family, after months of exhaustive campaigning truly exemplifies the perseverance and integrity of Mitt Romney. It is a rare look into a man whom could have made a great president.

"Mitt" is more like a collection of home video footage than a typical documentary. It shows Mitt Romney with his staff, family and friends, letting his guard down at a time when as a candidate he could rarely do so in public. This film may not change your opinion of Romney (Romney supporters will continue to think he should have won, President Obama supporters will think this validates him winning) but it will let you see a side of him that you haven't previously been able to.The movie obviously touches on politics, it is following a candidate through two presidential campaigns after all, and the Romney's do feel that Barack Obama is not a good fit for president, but the really does as good of a job as possible of being apolitical. There isn't a focus on "told you so" moments that some Romney advisers and supporters hoped there would be. While there is criticism of Romney's opponents and of the media, the film doesn't outright bash anyone.The main focus of the film is Mitt Romney's interactions with his family, and the tolls that a presidential campaign takes on someone and those around them. There are moments that are very personal, such as the family praying, and moments where family members reveal how incredibly difficult it is to go through the process of campaigning across the entire nation. I personally would have liked to see more of the strategy behind the campaign discussed, and more on the mechanics of traveling the country to run the campaign, but that wasn't what the focus of this was.I enjoyed "Mitt" and so did my friends who watched it with me, and our group spanned the political spectrum from left to right. If you are interested in seeing a glimpse behind the curtain of a campaign, or in seeing a candidate when they are relaxed and not having to put on a show, you should definitely check out "Mitt".