Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story

Name: Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story
Director: Stefan Forbes
Released: 2008

Stefan Forbes 2008

BOOGIE MAN brilliantly explains the transformation American politics through the life of controversial strategist Lee Atwater, a blues-playing rogue whose rambunctious rise from hard-knuckled southern political strategist to Chairman of the GOP made him a household name. Atwater pioneered the modern GOP politics of fear and resentment, won the controversial 1988 Presidential Campaign, mentored Karl Rove and George W. Bush, and birthed the Tea Party and Donald Trump.
With stunning never-before-seen footage, BOOGIE MAN is an eye-opening look at America’s obsession with winning at all costs, our deepest fears, and our political system’s disturbing descent into division and hatred.

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Running Time:

88 min.

Spoken Languages:

English

Subtitles:

English

Directors:

Stefan Forbes

Producers:

Stefan Forbes, Noland Walker, Tia Wou

Cinematographers:

Stefan Forbes

Editors:

Stefan Forbes

Production Companies:

InterPositive Media, LLC

African American Studies

Religion and Spiritual..

Society

Press

Baltimore Sun

“Don't think the political war is over and be so foolish to believe that you can afford to miss it. This finely crafted political biography dissects and explains the nastiness of US politics during the past three decades like nothing I have ever read or viewed.”

David Zurawik
NY Times Critic's Pick

"Generous in spirit and nimble in technique, Stefan Forbes's riveting documentary about the Republican operative reveals a scrappy genius rife with contradictions."

Jeannette Catsoulis
UK Telegraph

"Astonishing...a compelling, fascinating portrait...Part of an unprecedented clutch of heavyweight political films from Hollywood."
Washington Post #1 Can't Miss Pick

"In the can't-look-away documentary "Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story," there is more than one moment that will likely pop your jaw open...Wow."

Neely Tucker
The Montreal Gazette

"A cunning and brilliantly edited documentary"
LA Times

"It will evoke blood-spitting rage or resounding awe. Either way, it's a hugely entertaining, efficiently crafted documentary about a ruthless, if undeniably clever, American political force."

Gary Goldstein
Boston Herald

"Dazzling"

Stephen Schaefer
Chicago Sun-Times

"A fascinating portrait of an almost likable rogue...It makes a companion piece to Oliver Stone's W...a remarkable portrait...heartbreaking."

Roger Ebert
Reel Talk

"Astonishing and compelling"

Jeffrey Lyons
NY Post

“Excellent...astounding…will stick to your ribs like molasses on barbecue.”

Linda Stasi
Film.com

"Director Stefan Forbes has assembled a brilliantly complex portrait that shines an unnerving light on the man who painted the landscape of contemporary American politics."

Johnathan F. Richards
LA Weekly Critic's Pick

"Fascinating!"

Ella Taylor

Festival Participation

Full Frame - 2008
Los Angeles Film Festival - 2008
Austin Film - 2008
Mill Valley Film - 2008
Impact Film at Democratic and Republican National Conventions

Additional Materials

Distribution Company

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TV Interviews:

MSNBC’s Morning Joe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXZn-Vafi8Q&feature=emb_title

Radio Interviews:

On NPR’s Fresh Air: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95898610

The Treatment with Elvis Mitchell: https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/the-treatment/stefan-forbes

PBS Frontline: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/atwater/etc/qa.html

PRI’s The Takeaway (scroll down): http://www.thetakeaway.org/stories/2008/nov/10/
NPR’s Talk of The Nation: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94931206
NPR’s On The Media – “The Dirty South”:
https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2012/01/21/145574138/dirty-politics-as-usual-in-south

Articles:

https://www.documentary.org/feature/getting-down-boogie-man-nonpartisan-look-lee-atwater

Trump Syllabus 2.0

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