Swing Vote (2008)

Waste of time

Undescribable Perfection

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner) is an apathetic slacker drunk who can't even keep his job at the chicken egg factory. It's 2004 presidential election, and he promises his daughter Molly (Madeline Carroll) that he will vote for her school project. He has a bug about jury duty, and is not happy to vote. On election day, Bud gets fired and drink away the day. Molly faithfully waited for him at the polling station. She eventually sneaks in to try to vote for him. However, the machine's cord was pulled and her vote was lost by the machine. The election is a close one, and it all boils down to an unaccounted vote from Molly in place of Bud. Now everybody is pitching Bud for that decisive vote.This is a civics lesson more than a comedy. Bud is not a likable guy. Then you add all those political wonks and TV people. It becomes an avalanche of wonky characters all geared to the heavy handed message of every vote counts. The best thing about this movie is Bud's relationship with his daughter. If it was more about that, the civics lesson could be learned with a lighter touch. Madeline Carroll is the best one of them all. More than anything, this movie suffers from a general political fatigue. It's much better as a movie about a struggling father daughter relationship.

I hated this film, I was looking for substance, there wasn't any. Politics effects all of our lives, the trouble is most American's and the English are largely sheep when it comes to politics, Kosner's character was worse than a sheep.Our political parties in both the States and here in England get away with much.Kosner's character is the reason why.I ask all American's reading my review, to ask yourself one question. are you like Kevin Kosners character in this film ?.If your answer is yes, then this is why you have the America you have.

The supremely improbable notion that one middle-aged slacker might hold the supreme say in who will become the next president of the United States is basic premise of this film. Yet, once you accept this far-fetched situation, Swing Vote becomes a comedy that has its poignant moments and contains a message. Kevin Costner turns a great performance as Bud, a single father who has trouble getting up in the morning, let alone keep a job or take care of his young daughter. Madeline Carroll plays his daughter Molly, who has been forced to grow up to take care of herself and her dad. She's idealistic, engaged yet fragile due to the insecurity of having a difficult home situation.What makes Swing Vote work is that, much like a modern day Fairy Tale, it is at time funny, at times intensely dramatic. The situation is implausible but the problems are real. Bud shows signs of alcoholism and we clearly sense that Molly doesn't always get even the basics of three healthy meals and a minimum of parental supervision. The swing vote situation serves as the catalyst for Bud to be confronted with himself and his ways. He has 10 days before voting and deciding single-handedly who will be the next President. The two candidates fly in with an army of advisors, security and transform the small southern town Bud lives in into a circus under heavy media presence. There are scenes in Swing vote that are rather sad. The film doesn't hold anything when it comes to Molly's difficult situation with her parents for instance. Yet the film contains a few laugh-out loud moment when both republicans and democrats are willing to turn their traditional platforms totally upside down to please Bud and get his vote. It's just hilarious seeing the republican president putting the environment as a priority, and watching the democrat candidate turn pro-life. Many social issues are mentioned, but always brushed over. The writing and direction making sure not to take too much of a stance on the issues and simply recognizing they are meaningful and relevant. If Swing Vote has a fault, it is perhaps to push too far and make us believe everybody involved, not just Bud, is transformed by this experience. On top of bud, several politicians and journalists also begin to act in ways that demand you suspend disbelief and it all wraps up a little too nicely.At its heart, Swing Vote is about looking beyond your selfish needs and caring. Caring for others around you, caring about issues and recognizing that, although you may only be one person, you can make a difference. The movie is certainly not meant to be taken literally but the metaphor is valid.This is an enjoyable film and young actress Madeline Carroll is somewhat of a revelation. She probably has a bright future in Hollywood should she improve on that. As for Costner, after the amazing Mr. Brooks, this is a second film that may signal a genuine comeback for this actor who was once synonymous with quality projects.

I remember back last fall while I was watching the hour on CBC, George Stroumboulopoulos did an interview with Kevin Costner about his new movie, Swing Vote. As you can probably guess, the film is about one man who is given the fate of the US presidency because of a miss vote. Well when I heard what he said about the film I was expecting it to be a very simple predictable film. Well, on the outside it was. It was very predictable, and very funny. But the writing was absolutely fantastic. The dialogue was witty, and characters delivered it well, and overall the film showed some really great values about what is wrong with politics in the states.Kevin Costner played Ernest "Bud" Johnson, an alcoholic, single father with a 10 year old daughter who is much, much smarter then her father. Being so politically apathetic, when Bud gets laid off on election day, he goes to the neighborhood bar and gets completely wasted while forgetting about his promise to his daughter to vote. This causes a bit of a dilemma for Molly (his daughter). She, being so politically minded, makes a stupid move and tries to vote for her father. While in the voting booth, a freak accident causes the computer to be reset and the vote to not be counted. In the mean time, the election gets to be very close. So close that Buds county becomes the one that will decide the election. During a moment of panic Bud and Molly lie and say that Bud voted instead of Molly and gave Bud the chance to re cast his vote.There were a couple of reasons that this movie was as good as it was. One was the acting, Kevin Costner took a very simple character (Joe the Plumber meets Bill Engvall kind of guy) and made you care about him. He had all the faults you could expect and still came out looking good. His daughter, played by Madeline Carrol, was just as good if not better then the rest of the cast. She was very reminiscent of Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine. The rest of cast were great as well with the standouts being the presidential candidates, played by Kelsey Grammar and Dennis Hopper.The other thing that made this movie great was its political satire. Throughout the movie, there were interviews done with Bud to see what mattered to him. Along with each interview a new political add was unveiled. For instance, when Bud said that he was pro gay rights, Kelsey Grammar and the Republicans made an add supporting gay rights. Then Bud inadvertently implies that he is pro life, the Democrats make an anti abortion add. The satire (although completely predictable) shows exactly what is wrong with politics. To much focus on PR and not enough on what will actually help the world. It really says something about our political situation and it is perfectly summed up in Bud's final speech. He says, "America needs someone who is bigger then their speeches." Overall the film was really great, and despite its predictability it was a good feel good movie. I warn any parents who want their kids to see the film to watch out for the language cause Bud can be a bit fowl. 8/10 stars.