Inside ‘Mitt,’ Netflix’s All-Access Mitt Romney Documentary

[DonViejo]

The documentary Mitt, premiering at the Sundance Film Festival and being released on Netflix on Jan. 24, offers a behind-the-scenes look at Romney’s failed 2008 and 2012 campaigns. But what does it tell us about the man who could have been president?

It’s 11:15 on election night 2012, and things are looking grim for team Romney. The family of seven, along with several campaign aides, is huddled together in a cramped hotel suite. There’s Ann Romney, tears welling in her eyes, along with the family’s five strapping sons. In the center of the room is Mitt Romney. The Republican candidate for President of the United States is casually lounging on a cheap beige couch.

“It seems awfully early to call it … 69 percent?” he asks, followed by a nervous chuckle. “By the way, does somebody have a number for the president?” An aide assures Romney that they do. “OK, good. Hadn’t thought about that!” More awkward chuckling. “So … what do you think you say in a concession speech?” he says, scanning the room. Dead silence. The camera homes in on the face of Romney’s eldest son, Tagg, who looks like he’s been hit by a Mack truck. Romney, himself, looks stunned. His right hand is shaking uncontrollably.

The documentary Mitt, which will debut at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, follows Romney’s two failed presidential runs, beginning in Christmas 2006 through to his Presidential concession speech in 2012. Filmmaker Greg Whiteley (New York Doll) was granted unprecedented access to the Romney camp, trailing the ex-governor of Massachusetts for six years and capturing many private, behind-the-scenes moments with political advisers and family members.

After the election night letdown the film jumps back to Christmas 2006. The Romney family members are seated on couches inside their ritzy winter vacation home, where their father is polling the kids on the pros and cons of a potential presidential run.

“It would be a shame not to at least try,” says a teary-eyed Tagg. “And if you don’t win? We’ll still love you. The country may think of you as a laughingstock, and we’ll know the truth. And that’s okay. But I think you have a duty to your country—and to God—to see what comes of it.”

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http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/17/inside-mitt-netflix-s-all-access-mitt-romney-documentary.html

[upaloopa]

1. I find it so weird that they believed their own lies.

Every word of their campaign was a lie.
I thought that they had the intelligence to figure out that the majority wasn't buying it but no. The whole right that we fight against is living in a world that exists in their collective fantasy.

[trusty elf]

2. Did Mitt's son really say...

"The country may think of you as a laughingstock, and we'll know the truth."?

That seems a very awkward and embarrassing thing to say to your dad.

[Aristus]

3. Saying awkward and embarrassing things seems to be this family's specialty.

Certainly, it was awkward and embarrassing statements that sunk Rmoney's campaign.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. He was probably having face splattered in butter flashbacks. His inside voice was probably

all like "fuck you old man!".

[trusty elf]

5. I had forgotten about his shoving his sons faces into butter.

Weird! Par for the course though for a man who used to don police uniforms and hassle people.


[IMG][/IMG]

[NCLefty]

6. Ann “I believe it’s Mitt’s time... I think it’s our turn now,”

During that interview, Mitt was asked by ABC News' Diane Sawyer if he had a message for the president.

"Well, start packing. That's what I'd like to say."

[davidpdx]

7. Putting this on my list to see if I can get it

It looks interesting. I've been reading Double Down by Mark Halprin and the book also provides some background on both campaigns.