Ed Harris may not be a dead-on John McCain, but Julianne
Moore is so convincing as Sarah Palin that, while watching the film, I frequently
forgot it was her. What’s great about it
is that it isn’t just an impersonation of the sketch comedy variety; the Palin
character is absorbed by Moore
so completely that it ceases to matter how well you even know Palin. The key to it is that you see her behind-the
scenes and in casual moments, not just in front of microphones, so it all seems
consistent and perfectly believable. Game Change is HBO’s follow-up to its
other semi-satirical political drama Recount
– (about the 2000 election dispute), which was also directed by Jay
Roach. The film gets top marks in my
view because it doesn’t take the easy way out by making this a mere hatchet job
on Palin, McCain or Republicans in general, even though I’m taking the liberty
of assuming that there may have been only one or two Republicans involved in
the entire production; (maybe a gaffer or someone in catering). McCain comes off as a thoughtful man
genuinely trying to run an honorable campaign.
The problem is, he wants to win; therefore his team abruptly recruits
Palin without properly vetting her.
Palin is generally uninformed but not stupid, and – (as with Bush in
Oliver Stone’s W) – her faith is surprisingly
portrayed as sincere rather than a show for the so-called “base” of the party.
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