The Hunting Of The President Review
by Robin Clifford (robin AT reelingreviews DOT com)July 12th, 2004
"The Hunting of the President"
The documentary, by Nickolas Perry and Harry Thomason based on the book by Joe Conason and Gene Lyons, opens with the 1999 impeachment hearings of Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States. What follows is the chronology of events, starting in 1989, of serious efforts by many groups whose sole task was to destroy Bill Clinton in "The Hunting of the
President."
We are all aware of the many and various scandals that have been associated with former president Bill Clinton starting years before his ascension to the Oval Office. The alleged 12 year affair with Jennifer Flowers; the "Troopergate" scandal with the state cops testifying about Clinton's peccadilloes; the inexplicable affair with Paula Jones; Whitewater; the Ken Starr independent council's witch hunt; and, most popular, the Monica Lewinski scandal. Perry and Thomason take these events, dissects and analyzes each and come up with a sort of loose conspiracy theory.
While it is always interesting and satisfying to the left leaning mind to think that all bad things in government and corporations are due to conspiracies, I don't think the documakers prove the case of such against Bill Clinton. What the do prove is that Bill Clinton, intentionally or not, made many enemies since his start in politics by his own lack of loyalty in favor of his political, and other, ambitions. What is amazing about the film are the number of groups whose only mission in life was to assassinate William Jefferson Clinton – at least, politically.
The filmmakers give even shrift to each of the remarkable list of scandals. The Jennifer Flowers affair triggers the attack by conservative forces in Arkansas against then-governor Clinton as we are introduced to shadowy figures helping Flowers from behind the curtain. "Troopergate," to all intent and purpose, was a manufactured plot with two goals: make money and get revenge against the governor for not repaying the state troopers' loyalty with presidential perks.
However, the meat of "The Hunting of the President" is with the Whitewater scandal and the subsequent investigation made by independent council Ken Starr. If you remember, Bill and Hillary were involved in an Arkansas land development deal with Jim and Susan McDougal. Things didn't go correctly and there were allegations of improprieties by the president and Mrs. Clinton. This prompted the Whitewater investigation, Ken Starr and over $50 million to prove the president's culpability in the scandal. But, as reporter Ginny Campbell put it, "I'm trying to tell my editors, there's no there there!"
Things take on a more ludicrous tone with the Monica affair, showing the lengths the media will go to in order to promote scandal over real news. This indictment against the press for sensationalizing the scandals is well placed. Perry and Thomason do not, by any means, try to whitewash Bill Clinton's actions and personal misdeeds. They do build the case that there were those out to get the former president. Despite their efforts, Mr. Clinton was twice elected to the nation's highest office. The film speculates what Bill Clinton might have done as president if he did not have to face the time consuming and stressful defense against unfounded charges. It makes you wonder.
While the information content, clear chronology and pacing are all well done there is one big false step the documakers make. Throughout "The Hunting of the President" there is the frequent and inappropriate use of non-sequitur cutaway shots throughout the otherwise serious film. By cutting to a close up of a smiling man or a grandmother type – for no discernable reason – distracted from the otherwise well-researched and executed visual document. I also had trouble with the use of rock and pop music over the proceeds, especially when the lack of score would be more effective. While "The Hunting..." is an otherwise solidly made documentary these little nit picks keep it from being on top of my best documentary list. I give it a B.
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