Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story (2008)

Before there was Karl Rove (or even James Carville) there was Lee Atwater. The South Carolina reared Atwater was a force in the national organization of College Republicans in the 1970's, and even ran Vietnam War General William Westmoreland's campaign for governor of that state at the age of 23. He worked his way up in the Reagen White house and ran George H. W. Bush's 1988 presidential campaign, and is widely considered responsible for the infamous Willie Horton ad. After that election and not yet 40 Atwater was named chairman of the RNC, he used that position to continue his strong arm political tactics, hob nob with celebrities, and even record a Grammy nominated blues album with B.B. King. A brain tumor took Atwater's life in 1991 and perhaps most fascinating of all was the mans reported change of heart and regret for his actions late in life, though whether he really meant any of his apologies or was just hedging his beats for the afterlife is left an open question. A sad, strange life, but not quite as fascinating of a documentary as I had hopped. Three out of Five. Film was released in Sweden under the title America's Evilest Man.