Our Brand Is Crisis (2005)
85%RT Audience Score: 75%
Awards & Nominations: 2 nominations
Our Brand Is Crisis is a documentary that delves into the murky world of politics and public relations, exposing the disturbingly intertwined relationship between democracy and capitalism. While some critics found the film to be somewhat sloppy in its filmmaking craft, others praised it for its insightful and provocative nature. The movie manages to be both frightening and ironically funny, leaving viewers with a sense of unease about the role of American public-relations companies in foreign political campaigns. Overall, Our Brand Is Crisis is a must-see for anyone interested in politics, and a reminder of how easily idealism can run amok.
Our Brand is Crisis” is a documentary that explores the intersection of democracy and capitalism, and it’s both frightening and funny at times. While some critics found the filmmaking to be somewhat sloppy, others praised the film for its insightful and provocative look at the role of American public-relations companies in foreign political campaigns. Overall, it’s a riveting study of boneheaded intervention by James Carville consultants in Bolivian politics, and it’s definitely worth a watch for anyone interested in politics or mass communication. Plus, it’s almost as grotesque as Woody Allen’s “Bananas” – what’s not to love?
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Puerto Rico
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language including some sexual references
Year of Release
2015
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Datasat Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English, Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Sep 19, 2006
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, politics, Bolivia, election, campaign, political strategy, James Carville, Greenberg Carville Shrum, media assault team, Washington D.C., La Paz, Rachel Boynton, produced by Rachel Boynton, executive produced by Steven Shainberg, Robbie Kravis, Sanders Goodstein, reviewed by Courtney Fitzgerald, John Monaghan, Jeff Shannon, Michael Wilmington, Ty Burr, Tim Cogshell, Emanuel Levy, Eric Monder, Louis Proyect, David Cornelius, Bill White, Phil Villarreal, directed by Rachel Boynton, starring James Carville, Gonzalo “Goni” Sanchez de Lozada, MPAA rating, box office performance, budget, democracy, capitalism, mass communication, foreign political campaigns, American public-relations companies, boneheaded intervention, Woody Allen, Bananas
Worldwide gross: $8,527,658
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $10,644,806
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,951
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,160,829
US/Canada gross: $7,002,261
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $8,740,701
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,657
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,238,433
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $4,042,433
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,128
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $28,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $34,951,514
Production budget ranking: 1,058
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $18,821,390
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$43,128,099
ROI to date (est.): -80%
ROI ranking: 1,884
Rachel Boynton – Producer
Steven Shainberg – Executive Producer
Robbie Kravis – Executive Producer
Sanders Goodstein – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Rachel Boynton
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (40) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (3)
This documentary by first-time director Boynton proves democracy and capitalism are disturbingly intertwined.
September 22, 2020
Courtney Fitzgerald
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The movie is both frightening and ironically funny, sometimes both.
November 24, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
Subject matter dominates over filmmaking craft in Rachel Boynton’s somewhat sloppy but otherwise riveting documentary.
August 18, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Jeff Shannon
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Politics and mass communication are the volatile subjects of Rachel Boynton’s information-packed documentary.
July 27, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
It’s a galling and provocative experience to viewers of any political persuasion, and a reminder to the left of how easily idealism can run amok.
July 1, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Ty Burr
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
Insightful if not altogether objective.
June 24, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Tim Cogshell
Boxoffice Magazine
TOP CRITIC
February 1, 2013 | Rating: B+
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Our Brand Is Crisis is not just for political junkies and should be widely seen and discussed.
March 1, 2007
Eric Monder
Film Journal International
Absolutely riveting study of boneheaded intervention by James Carville consultants in Bolivian politics. Nearly as grotesque as Woody Allen’s “Bananas”.
October 4, 2006
Louis Proyect
rec.arts.movies.reviews
Crisis is angry and intrigued at the same time, and so are we.
September 20, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
David Cornelius
DVDTalk.com
Purporting to expose the role of American public-relations companies in foreign political campaigns, Our Brand Is Crisis is never more than a dull and confused film about Bolivia’s 2003 presidential election.
August 17, 2006 | Rating: C
Bill White
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
It’s tough not to root for them to succeed. That’s a testament to Boynton’s skill with the narrative.
July 27, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star…
Plot
In 2002, Bolivian politician Pedro Gallo hires American James Carville’s political consulting firm, Greenberg Carville Shrum, to help him win the 2002 Bolivian presidential election. GCS brings in Jane Bodine to manage the campaign in Bolivia. Battling her arch nemesis, the opposition’s political consultant Pat Candy.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about the film Our Brand Is Crisis.
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