Our Brand Is Crisis | Rotten Tomatoes

Our Brand Is Crisis

2005

1 hr. 25 min.

Documentary

List

93%

40 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Bolivia is on the brink of a violent coup d'etat, but that can't stop the political strategy team of GCS -- Greenberg Carville Shrum -- from putting together a slick American style re-election campaign for unpopular presidential candidate Gonzalo "Goni" Sanchez de Lozada. Featuring unprecedented access, this documentary follows Clinton administration political strategist James Carville as he leads a media assault team from the back rooms of Washington, D.C., to La Paz, the capital of Bolivia.

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Critics Consensus

Riveting and enraging, Our Brand Is Crisis peers behind the curtain of modern political campaigning and reveals a story that should be seen by citizens of all persuasions.

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Audience Member

Despite being outdated, this is a really fascinating look at how capitalism can't buy you democracy. The film follows a presidential election in Bolivia and a candidate who has democratic intentions, but is woefully out of touch with the people. "Goni" is Bolivian, but schooled in America and hires Greenberg Carville Shrum, the political strategy agency fronted by politico James Carville, to tell him how to win without having to actually get his hands dirty. He must have paid a pretty penny for their services and in the end he does win, but with a paltry 22% of the vote. His governing of the other 88% doesn't go well either. Rachel Boynton's documentary is infinitely better and more interesting than the horrible Sandra Bullock vehicle. Our Brand is Crisis is still relevant and eye opening nearly 20 years on since the USA insists on continuing with its white saviour complex - for better or worse, for altruism and profit.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Documental controversista para los bolivianos, pues no solo expone las tretas y de campaña del partido de Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada, sino su verdadera personalidad. Sin mencionar el daño que les provocó y que sigue en sus memorias, demostrando lamentablemente que sin importar la marca extrangera o nacional de un partido, no hay presidente que le haga bien a Bolivia.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Ahh the American spirit of winning no matter what the cost. This doc really gives a glimpse at the topic of political consulting and its true cost. If nothing else, interesting to see the process and results of failed strategy but sadness from what resulted.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Our Brand is Crisis isn't (shouldn't be) suprising or exciting. It's a political Mondo. It's sad, I suppose, but it shouldn't teach you anything. It's only truly special becasue it's so intimate.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

This is intense and amazing documentary.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

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Audience Member

Fun documentary for starting conversations on political consulting. "Arrogant" hardly begins to describe James Carville's team in Bolivia..."hubris-tastic" comes to mind. This film is also a good reminder that it's not just the sides of political issues that we should argue about, but the very choice of those issues.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

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Courtney Fitzgerald

Austin Chronicle

This documentary by first-time director Boynton proves democracy and capitalism are disturbingly intertwined.

Sep 22, 2020

Full Review

John Monaghan

Detroit Free Press

The movie is both frightening and ironically funny, sometimes both.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 24, 2006

Full Review

Jeff Shannon

Seattle Times

Subject matter dominates over filmmaking craft in Rachel Boynton's somewhat sloppy but otherwise riveting documentary.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 18, 2006

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: B+

Feb 1, 2013

Full Review

Eric Monder

Film Journal International

Our Brand Is Crisis is not just for political junkies and should be widely seen and discussed.

Mar 1, 2007

Full Review

Louis Proyect

rec.arts.movies.reviews

Absolutely riveting study of boneheaded intervention by James Carville consultants in Bolivian politics. Nearly as grotesque as Woody Allen's "Bananas".

Oct 4, 2006

Full Review

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Synopsis

Bolivia is on the brink of a violent coup d'etat, but that can't stop the political strategy team of GCS -- Greenberg Carville Shrum -- from putting together a slick American style re-election campaign for unpopular presidential candidate Gonzalo "Goni" Sanchez de Lozada. Featuring unprecedented access, this documentary follows Clinton administration political strategist James Carville as he leads a media assault team from the back rooms of Washington, D.C., to La Paz, the capital of Bolivia.

Director: Rachel Boynton
Executive Producer: Steven Shainberg, Robbie Kravis, Sanders Goodstein
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Mar 1, 2006
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 11, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $166.3K