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SWING VOTE
US, 2008, 120 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Costner, Madeleine Carroll, Paula Patten, Dennis Hopper, Kelsey Grammer, Stanley Tucci, George Lopez, Nathan Lane, Judge Reinhold, Mare Winningham, Bill Maher, Larry King, Willie Nelson, Mary Hart, Richard Petty.
Directed by Joshua Michael Stern.
There’s democracy and then there’s democracy. As the world looked on, the American public experienced the phenomenon of Florida’s voting procedures for the election of George W. Bush over Al Gore in 2000. There were further voting irregularities in Ohio in Bush’s 2004 re-election. These events were pored over by the media and some fascinating documentary feature films were made, all alarming in their exposure of procedures that were not above suspicion.
The makers of Swing Vote had the bright idea of taking these experiences to an extreme situation. It is a bright idea and it is explored very brightly and entertainingly. Of course, there is a tradition of good-natured American political films that inspire civic duty and a respect for the rights of the underdog. James Stewart as Jefferson Smith in 1939 became the cinema embodiment of this kind of politics of the people, for the people in Frank Capra’s Mr Smith Goes to Washington. That story has been re-made several times from Billy Jack Goes to Washington, to Goldie Hawn in Protocol, even to Reece Witherspoon’s Elle Wood in Legally Blonde 2. Now it is Kevin Costner’s turn.
The action of Swing Vote takes place over ten days in November. It opens on election day when conscientious and intelligent Molly wakes her bum of a father (Ernest ‘Bud’ Johnson) and urges him to vote. She presents her essay at school and is filmed for the TV news. He, meanwhile, loses his job at the egg factory – and forgets to pick up Molly and forgets to vote. She starts to do this for him but an accident with the lead to a cleaner coming out of its socket means that the vote was incomplete. And regulations state that Ernest Johnson has the right to cast his vote after ten days.
This is not just a right. It becomes crucial as the two candidates are on level pegging. The future of the United States depends on the vote of one ordinary man.
We are in a small town in New Mexico and soon everybody else is. There is the predictable media circus camped outside Bud’s trailer. Both candidates arrive in town and set up campaigns to woo Bud.
There is plenty of comedy and satire as the presidential hopefuls and their ambitious spin-doctor campaign managers get to work, as the TV pundits make their pronouncements, and as Bud rather enjoys being feted by everyone. It is Molly who tries to keep a sensible eye on things and on all the manoeuvres, including being disappointed by her TV reporter friend (Paula Patton).
But, this is a nice film and so everybody (with the notable exception of the campaign managers) has the chance to be their better selves.
Kevin Costner fits the role of Bud perfectly, believable as the ordinary US citizen who has not realised his potential and his dreams but loves his daughter who is certainly more capable than he. The role of the daughter could well have sabotaged the film were she one of those obnoxiously precocious know-it-all little girls. She is not thanks to a persuasive performance by the young Madeline Carroll. Kelsey Grammar is the incumbent president, Republican. Dennis Hopper is his Democrat rival. Both are spoofed and both have the chance to think more deeply about what they stand for – although there are two funny satirical commercials (one for Gay Marriage, the other for Pro-Life) when Bud in his TV interviews is interpreted as being in favour of these issues. Stanley Tucci and Nathan Lane are expert at being ruthless spin-doctors.
One trouble is that Kelsey Grammar comes across far more charismatically than Dennis Hopper and, if an election depended on this alone, the Republican candidate would be returned.
Made for the year of the 2008 election, maybe Swing Vote, which is voter-friendly but politics-lite, will encourage swinging and doubting votes that there vote means something.
1.A piece of Americana? 2008 release and the elections after George Bush? The experience of 2000 – and taking it to the limit? Audience interest in American politics?
2.The impact for Americans, at the end of the Bush era? Elections, the right to vote, the contract, the influence of a vote? The film as an exhortation? The title?
3.The New Mexico settings, the town, the small town, the house, the factory, the school, the voting area? Realistic?
4.The ordinary characters, ordinary Americans, poor, losing their jobs, hardships, broken families, the representatives of ordinary America? The threat from Mexicans coming in, taking jobs …?
5.The introduction to Bud, Kevin Costner and his screen presence, asleep, his drinking, age, his wife having left him, his relationship with Molly? The breakfast, driving her to school, the discussions about politics and his wariness of the teacher? At work in the factory, Walt and his friends, the jokes? His interview with the boss, going to school with him, being laid off, the television of his drinking, breaking the eggs, getting the sack? The issue of insourcing and Mexicans taking the American jobs? His drinking, playing pool, forgetting Molly, going to sleep in the car, arriving too late?
6.Molly, her age, strong, principled, her views, the talk about the teacher, reading her essay in class, Kate Madison hearing it? Conscientious? Putting the essay on TV, her friend at school? Waiting for her father, going in to vote, secretly, the electrical accident, her taking the piece from the voting slip?
7.Kelsey Grammer as the President of the United States, Martin Fox as his adviser, on the campaign trail and his style, in the White House, optimistic, cheerful, looking at the pictures of past presidents, his confidence in the voters? His staff and their work?
8.The contrast with Donald Greenleaf, Dennis Hopper’s style, Art Crumm and his being the spin doctor? The Democrat campaign, democratic principles, Donald’s wife, his work with the voters on the campaign trail?
9.The reporting of the votes on election day, the closeness of the two candidates, the information about New Mexico, Kate Madison and her seeing the cars, following, suspicious, getting the scoop? Her boss, his concern about the ratings, sacking the anchor, Kate and her trying to keep pace, trying to get an edge, the other journalists, her having the camera trained on Molly and Molly’s reaction? Ethical issues?
10.Bud, thinking that the officials were Social Security, Molly and her reaction? The discussion, the information, lying about the voting, Bud taking the oath, the ten days’ process for his voting?
11.The hordes of journalists, outside the house? The Secret Service and caring for Molly? The ten days, the media circus, following Bud wherever he went, the personalising of the issue? Reaction on television, the various anchors as themselves? The criticism of Bud and the world laughing at the United States? Bud and waving his arm from the car and seeing it on television? Molly seeing through the politicking?
12.Andy, Air Force One, inviting Bud, talking to him, friendly names, offering him the drink, explaining strategies, the bomb case and Bud’s reaction?
13.Don, the travelling, setting up his headquarters in the town, the discussion about fishing and his cue cards?
14.Martin Fox and his sinister approach, his exasperation, wanting to win? Pressurising Andy? Andy and his rethinking his situation? Art Crumm, wanting to win, becoming desperate? Exasperated with Don? Supporting his actions, the both doing spin, the advertisements leaping on particular causes?
15.The interviews with Bud, his comments about gay marriage – and the satire in the commercial and Andy’s presence? His saying things about life and the pro-life ad and Don appearing on it?
16.Kate, talking with Molly, her working out what had happened, her change of heart? Talking with Bud, her change of name, wanting to get out of the town? Helping with the letters? Molly and her answering the letters?
17.Bud, enjoying the celebrity, his friends and their reaction, their being on television, at the bar, wondering what would happen with the town afterwards?
18.Bud and his looking at the letters, conscientious, preparing his speech? His going on television, his declaration about himself, his wasted life, dreams, opportunities? His looking at each of the candidates? The first question and the challenge to America in the 21st century and people and their poverty?
19.The end, his going to vote, the uncertainty? The audience being left as to who they would vote for?