If you tuned in to HBO's "Game Change" focused on John McCain and Sarah Palin's 2008 presidential bid last weekend, gear up for another political film Thursday night, this time profiling Barack Obama's time in office.
Davis Guggenheim's 17-minute documentary on President Obama entitled "The Road We've Traveled" debuts at more than 300 campaign screenings nationwide, and streams live on BarackObama.com at 8:00 p.m. EST.
At the premieres, David Axelrod will take questions via Adobe Connect web conferencing software.
Guggenheim is the same director who put together hit documentaries Waiting for Superman and An Inconvenient Truth.
From the previews, this looks like nothing more than a propaganda film. The trailer casts President Obama's first term in office as a story "about determination and progress." Narrated by Tom Hanks, and using evocative music and still footage, the film profiles the Obama administration's responses to the economic crisis, the near-collapse of the auto industry, and the health care fight.
The story is "told by those who saw it happen," featuring interviews with Vice President Biden, political aide David Axelrod, and former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.
There is also a portion of the film that focuses on the mission that killed Osama bin Laden. Apparently, former President Bill Clinton watched the clip and responded: "He took the harder and more honorable path. When I saw what had happened, I thought to myself, I hope that's the call I would have made."
The movie is already getting negative responses from Republicans.
The Republican National Committee created a mock poster criticizing the film, which reads: "After Four Years, The Only Bad Thing They Found About Their Time in Office Was That It Was Just Too Good." The statement pokes fun at Guggenheim, who told CNN's Piers Morgan that the only negative he found in Obama was "that there were too many accomplishments."
The GOP says the film neglects to feature the "13 million unemployed Americans, three record deficits and a coherent energy policy."
Republican spokesperson Kirsten Kukowski said Americans don't need a movie to learn about the president's record. "Unfortunately Americans feel Obama's accomplishments each and every day after President Obama led our country to higher unemployment, record debt, and higher gas prices," Kukowski said.
Photo Credit: The U.S. Army
