“For all the nastiness of this year’s presidential campaign, the downward spiral into ever-meaner electioneering really started about 20 years ago…“Boogie Man,” a new film by Stefan Forbes, details Mr. Atwater’s impish, strangely seductive charm, his mean boogie guitar and mostly his political chicanery. A lot of the latter sounds very familiar to anyone following the 2008 campaign.” - click for full New York Times Editorial
“In the can’t-look-away documentary “Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story,” the career of the wildly successful, and wildly controversial, late Republican political operative comes back to us in ways that are funny, sad and mean. There is more than one moment in this film that will likely pop your jaw open…Wow.” - click for Neely Tucker’s Washington Post #1 Can’t Miss Pick review
Stefan Forbes’ incisive portrait of the late, infamous Republican consultant is a chronicle of how the culture war took over American politics. As such, it could scarcely be more timely. (Karl Rove was Atwater’s protégé.)…In terrific clips, we see the scampish gleam of mischief that shot out of Atwater’s steely eyes, giving him the look of a honky-tonk Daniel Craig. His great strategy, and legacy, was the art of lying out in the open. He saw that character assassination invades media like an airborne virus — that even a lie can become its own ”truth.” click for review by Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
“Atwater’s spirit roars back to life…a compelling portrait…bracing…worth watching. The movie isn’t a knee-jerk lefty hit job. In fact, it shows that Atwater was a runaway success not just because he was a devious political operator, but because, in the words of one liberal reporter Forbes interviewed, the sass-talking, guitar-playing Atwater “was the most fun man I ever met.” - click for full article by Patrick Goldstein, LA Times
“Generous in spirit and nimble in technique, this riveting documentary about the Republican operative (who died of a brain tumor in 1991) reveals a scrappy genius rife with contradictions.” - Jeannette Catsoulis, NY Times Critic’s Pick
“A compelling portrait…Stefan Forbes’ film is a fascinating study with telling interviews.” - UK Telegraph
“A cunning and brilliantly edited documentary” - The Montreal Gazette
“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, LA Times
“Dazzling” - Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald
“A fascinating portrait of an almost likable rogue…It makes a companion piece to Oliver Stone’s W…a remarkable portrait…heartbreaking.” - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
“Astonishing and compelling” - Jeffrey Lyons, Reel Talk
“Excellent…astounding…will stick to your ribs like molasses on barbecue.” – Linda Stasi, NY Post
“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, Film.com
“Fascinating!” - Ella Taylor, LA Weekly Critic’s Pick
“This finely crafted political biography dissects and explains the nastiness of US politics during the past three decades like nothing I have read or viewed. It nails down every claim it makes…it will make you seethe. Don’t miss this documentary.” – David Zurawik, Baltimore Sun
“An excellent and frightening documentary” - Gerald Peary, Boston Phoenix
“Immensely relevant, compelling…Honestly, every adult in America should see it before casting another vote.” - Elizabeth Weitzman, NY Daily News
“Stefan Forbes’ incisive portrait of the late, infamous Republican consultant is a chronicle of how the culture war took over American politics. As such, it could scarcely be more timely…terrific!” - Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
“Wholly engrossing” - London Sunday Times
“One of the very best political documentary films…powerful and strangely moving…Avoiding the didactic tone of too many political films, director Stefan Forbes has created a fascinating biopic…a terribly relevant warning about what is coming as Atwater’s heirs unveil the distortions and distractions they hope will elect John McCain.” - Joe Conason, NY Observer
“A compelling portrait of one of the great con men of modern American politics…bracing…worth watching…why are we so easily manipulated into voting our fears?” - Patrick Goldstein, LA Times
“Scalpel-sharp…induces shivers.” - Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle
“Can you understand American politics if you don’t understand Lee Atwater? I believe not.” - Tucker Eskew, Senior McCain/Palin Advisor
“A model of sharp pacing. Lensing and interviewees are faultless.” - Variety
“[It] captured Lee perfectly! He was a complicated man with a fascinating story. It would have been easy to make him only a villain and shallow…[this is] a far more complete story.” - Ed Rollins, legendary Republican campaign manager
“Amazing” - Doug Polisin, Movie Maker Magazine
“An excellent and frightening documentary” - Gerald Peary, The Boston Phoenix
“Mesmerizing, remarkable…a sensationally entertaining doc… it could cash in on election fever and rope in some true believers on both sides, perhaps even drawing Oscar’s attention…writer/director Stefan Forbes has crafted one of the most useful and eye-opening political documentaries of our times.” - BoxOffice.com
“I thought I’d seen enough of American electoral politics until I watched Boogie Man. This is a superb film - caustic, humorous and totally unforgiving.” - Nick Fraser, BBC Commissioning Editor
“A masterpiece” - Thom Hartmann, The Thom Hartmann Show
“Rambunctious…eye-opening” - The New York Sun
“Phenomenally good. A riveting look into the life and mind of Lee Atwater, the mastermind of contemporary slash-and-burn politics.” - Drew Westen, author, The Political Brain
“Intense…compelling…will touch hearts on both sides of the aisle.” - Christian Toto, The Washington Times
“A timely exploration of the rise of the Right, the forces shaping modern politics, and a humanistic, mirror-like indictment of American repression, power-lust, and complicity. Without a trace of pandering, Forbes takes us on a riotous journey through the last few decades in search of our collective American soul.” - Taylor Segrest, Documentary Magazine
“A provocative, timely, and compelling film.” - Barbara Kopple
“Gov’t. Mule and Lightning Hopkins are part of the coolest blues soundtrack you will ever hear on a political documentary.” - Ian Johns, London Observer