Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

not horrible nor great

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

James Baker (Tom Wilkinson) It was, for me, the most interesting character. What was striking about him was the contrast between his loyalty for Bush senior, a commendable trait, and his actions directed towards the blocking of a fundamental process in a democracy: elections. It was sad to see a man, who in the process of becoming friend with another, lost sight of fundamental values and principles. He is also a man who thinks about himself (like Ben Ginsberg—Bob Balaban) that he is worthy and honorable, a fact clearly rebutted by his actions. He made every effort necessary in order to hinder the finding of truth about the votes. He practically blocked the validation of hundreds of votes of his fellow citizens and all this without any feeling of remorse.Mac Stipanovich (Bruce McGill) Mac „the Knife" is a mercenary. Is interested only in making people to behave favorable to the interest of the people who pay him. Is not interested in doing the right thing, doesn't have a guilty conscience, his mission is simple and he does it effectively. You can wonder how can this kind of people can live with themselves (the ones who were lobbying for tobacco, alcohol, now the war on drugs...) Mark Herron (Adam LeFevre) He is the idealist in this movie. A man who makes sacrifices in order to do the right thing. He is fired from his law firm because in Florida the majority of law firms have as their clients republicans and they don't want to jeopardize those business contracts.Clay Roberts (Gary Basaraba) He's a republican who wants to fallow the law. He is one of the few who still believe that the new president must be the one who has the largest number of votes. He is also for the extension of the time needed to finalize the manual counting of votes. Nevertheless he acted in such a way as to influence the Judge Charles Burton in the direction desired by the republicans. The law is interpreted in such a way as to favor the republicans.Ron Klain (Kevin Spacey) He seems interested in the truth, we see this early on in the movie, he constantly repeats that the right to vote is fundamental in a democracy and every vote counts. Despite the fact that he is fired from the position of chief of staff, he stays with the campaign. He is the one who expresses the stake of their actions: is important to know the truth about the votes, but even he insists that the counting to take place in the most liberal counties in Florida.

Certainly, this film has one goal in mind. It's to tell a real life story, if maybe dramatized, but clearly the filmmakers saw some dramatic potential in it. They may have been right, as the story is pretty intriguing even if the film was told in a matter-of-fact way. The performances are all exquisite, so great seeing Kevin Spacey, Tom Wilkinson, and especially Laura Dern, one of my favorites, giving some truly great showy work in this, showy in a humanized way that comes across somehow realistic and still in line with the melodramatic sort of tones the film is aiming for at times. The film is very solid, although maybe not really that great, but certainly entertaining enough.

Recount (2008)A fairly gripping political drama, well acted, and of course with historic filling. I realized just as the credits ran, however, that what had me going throughout was the events, the history, the reliving of a time that seemed to intense an unjust (or at least dubiously just). It wasn't the movie that drove the event, but the other way around.And so it is with this kind of re-enactment of a big event. However, there is a sudden letdown after all. I mean, after all, what else is there? Knowing what happened and visualizing it anew isn't quite great cinema. Even though this is a great telling of those facts. Which is how you come to appreciate and judge it by the end. And it's not enough.I watched it with someone who didn't live in the U.S. at the time, and had little information about the contested Gore v. Bush election battles. And without me explaining certain events it hovered as an abstract comment on the insider problems of election process. That sounds pretty dull, doesn't it? (She was asleep by the end, and I was not, which says something, but not everything.) Because in fact the contents are pretty dull stuff.Which makes the movie more remarkable, I suppose—it makes exciting what is a legal maneuvering, office room discussion, telephone call kind of movie. The fact it ever happened is no surprising, given the other options in other countries. But the details are astounding, and those details—from the people cheering when the votes won't get counted to the concession, finally, by the loser—are all telling. About the system, about human nature.And about rising above to find our better natures. Some of us, some of the time.

From Emmy winning director Jay Roach (Austin Powers, Meet the Parents), this is quite an interesting politics drama (apparently documentary). Basically, it is November 2000, and it is nearing the final results for the U.S. presidential election (George Bush vs. Al Gore). The final results of Florida are broadcast, but the ballot numbers do not add up, and a series of recounts begin to find the correct amount that will determine who Florida voted to be President. Lead adviser of the Democrat, Gore, is Ron Klain (Emmy and Golden Globe nominated Kevin Spacey), who is getting all help from grandees Warren Christopher (John Hurt) and James Baker (Emmy and Golden Globe nominated Tom Wilkinson). Self-serving Secretary of State for Florida, and then laughing stock, Katherine Harris (Emmy and Golden Globe nominated Laura Dern) has a lot to answer for also. All the recounting isn't completed, and it wouldn't have made much difference, Bush still became President of the United States. Also starring Emmy nominated Bob Balaban as Ben Ginsberg, Ed Begley Jr. as David Boies, Emmy and Golden Globe nominated Denis Leary as Michael Whouley and Bruce McGill as Mac Stipanovich. You do have to pay quite a bit of attention to understand the recount stuff, and why the numbers weren't accurate, but you can still conjure up the story, and enjoy the performances from some great stars. It won the Emmys for Outstanding Made for Television Movie and Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing, and it was nominated for Outstanding Art Direction, Outstanding Casting and Outstanding Writing, and it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. Very good!