Everybody has been talking about this HBO movie, Game Change, for months now. We saw a teaser trailer back in December, and now the full-length trailer is out. Game Change is the movie about the 2008 election, only it’s not about how Pres. Obama became Pres. Obama or anything (or is it?), it’s just about the concentrated time frame of mid-August 2008 to November 2008, basically the last two-and-a-half months in the political landscape where EVERYTHING went crazy. And by crazy, I mean Sarah “Barracuda” Palin. Julianne Moore was cast as former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, and while I had my doubts about the casting, this trailer has eased my mind a little bit. Not only does Julianne seem to be doing a good-to-stellar job as Palin, Ed Harris really does look like John McCain here. Here’s the trailer:
You know what I like? I like that Julianne (and the film in general) deftly and smartly avoids making Palin into a caricature. Palin, by her own hand and by her opponents‘, can easily be made into a cartoon, a piece of fluff, a comedy bit, a party trick. The film seems to rely heavily on anecdotes that John Heilemann and Mark Halperin (authors of Game Change) compiled from disgruntled McCain staffers post-election. Is the portrait of Palin sympathetic? Probably not. But they haven’t made her into a punch line either.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Love, love Julianne Moore!
Ed Harris is a great actor. I love him in his other movies also, especially Apollo 13.
When I think back to the 2008 campaign, I remember taking Palin a lot more seriously at the time–I figured if McCain picked her she must be good…but then after the campaign she went off the deep end without his handlers.
I’ve read Game Changer (excellent book BTW!. The Republican national committee already had rejected McCain’s first two VP picks. (Joe Lieberman was a former democrat. Tom Ridge was pro-choice.) One of the aides had been fixated from the beginning on Sarah Palin and told McCain that it could be a good gamble. McCain loves to gamble and knew he was losing at that point. He thought Palin would be a risky choice that could help him win. And there wasn’t enough time to vet her properly since the RNC already rejected his first two choices.
That looks so freaking awesome!!! I will need to find friends that have HBO!
Dorothy, If you don’t find anyone on time, I can report it all to you!! 😉
The book, Game Change, has been hailed as quite accurate by both sides. And the movie apparently follows very faithfully the book, so you know we’ll be seeing a version as closer to the truth as it’ll ever be possible. Which I can’t wait for!
That being said, some of my friends from the Right (yeah, I have those, even being an Atheist!) have been saying that the “Era of Palin” had people doing and saying a whole lotta things, that have them shaking their heads after the fact at their own behavior.
One friend has said “I can’t believe how much I had to dumb myself down in order to defend my party, because of our support to Palin”. Yeah, I can see Russia from my house too.
Thanks!!! LOL. Maybe I will read the book.
I have a few right wing friends and am an atheist too. 🙂
Hope you enjoy it. It’s a fascinating read. Makes you realize that Hollywood and Washington have so much in common!
Gosh, I love Julianne.
Woody Harrelson looks very good here, too, and so does Ed Harris. Good job!
Wow. Great casting! Is it wrong to say that I kind of wish they had made her a little less likeable? Her new found “voice of the people” just sets my teeth on edge.
The 2008 presidential campaign was a nightmare that I don’t want to think about ever again, but I think Moore does a great job as Palin. I’m so glad that she doesn’t turn her into a caricature. I am not a Palin supporter but I definitely became tired of the sexist attacks made against her. She became an accidental celebrity though McCain’s choice in making her his VP candidate. She has used her fame since the election to rake in millions of dollars. I don’t believe she is a complete nitwit and I also believe she is much more complex than what the media has made her out to be.
Wow. Way to go Julianne Moore. The casting and acting appears to be pretty decent with this one. Def going to watch.
I absolutely loathe Sarah Palin and I definitely don’t plan to watch this, no matter how great a performance it might reveal for Julianne Moore. I just can’t believe they are giving this unworthy narcissist anymore attention.
Julianne is nearing Streep’s level and I love it!
moore seems to be missing the tough edge that palin has as part of her personality. regardless, can’t wait to watch.
love the addition of ‘american woman’ song. great choice.
I was actually thinking just the opposite…that she had a little too tough an edge to pull it off. Based on the trailer, anyway.
I can’t wait to see this. I wasn’t sure what I thought about Moore’s accent either but this trailer just made it look like a must see. Plus, Woody!
Also, anyone click on the Eastbound and Down trailer afterward? hahah I am totally stoked about season 3 too.
When HBO does a movie…THEY DO NOT PLAY!!! And nobody…and I mean NOBODY does geo-corporate/political fact based movies BETTER than HBO…
So…this will be a treat!
True! Their shows are among the best too. True Blood. Game of Thrones. Boardwalk Empire, Big Love, Band of Brothers, SATC, Sopranos, Six Feet Under and the list goes on…
@Lisa, that is very true. Just Too Big To Fail, Temple Grandin, the brilliant Recount (about the 2000 Presidential election in the United States, and how W. had truly won the election), all those movies are promising that Game Changer would be amazing to watch too.
I can’t wait to see their take on that situation, after reading the book, I was left flabbergasted at how delusional we are in regards to American politics!
I’m looking forward to it, mainly because the cast is great (and I never got around to reading that book). The hair and makeup departments did a great job on this, very convincing.
it’s weird to see Ed Harris and Julianne Moore both with brown contacts in. Especially Ed – his eyes are so so blue normally! But it really helps make them into their characters.
McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin showed how insecure he was as a leader and the Palin selection doomed his presidency. If McCain was secure,he would have selected a strong V.P. choice like Romney.
Palin is just an opportunist who is milking her 15 minutes of fame. I have never heard of a governor leaving only 2 years into their term.
woah, in the thumbnail I thought it WAS Sarah Palin.
I totally would go and see it in a theatre.
Is it bad of me to say that Tina Fey does it better? LOL But I think it’s even worse of me to say that I want to see this movie, but I won’t because I don’t want to support ANYTHING Palin. HATE her.
It’s so eery how much Ed Harris looks like John McCain in this!
so glad to see ed harris in a great role!