This week we rented Our Brand Is Crisis, a political comedy, drama starring Sandra Bullock; Billy Bob Thornton and Anthony Mackie.
This film was inspired by a documentary of the same name from filmmaker Rachel Boynton.
In the film, we follow Jane (Bullock) who had been a successful political consultant helping many candidates win their campaigns. She has retired from running these campaigns after a run of particular hard fought campaigns with rival Pat Candy (Thornton) all ending in defeat.
She has retired from running these campaigns after a run of particular hard fought campaigns with rival Pat Candy (Thornton) all ending in defeat.
When Pedro Castillo (Joaquim de Almeida) is looking for a firm to help manage his campaign in Bolivia, the firm he hires, send a team including Ben (Mackie); Nell (Ann Dowd) and Richard (Scoot McNairy) to bring Jane out of retirement.
Jane agrees, and after having to adjust to the Bolivian weather, she then learns she will be once again up against her nemesis Pat Candy!
What then occurs is both parties taking the attitude that to win the election will be through smear campaigns, which involve adjusting photos to include Nazi war criminals; Promising that monies will not leave Bolivia; Releasing slanderous flyers; Jane even lays a trap that will see the opposition use a speech she claims to have written but is actually one of Goebbels, the Nazi Propaganda speaker!
Jane works hard to end her run of defeats against Pat, whilst also believing that she has the best candidate for the role.
What follows is a political battle that will go down to the last day of voting. Will the best candidate win and more importantly will they keep the promises that have made up their agenda to be chosen as the worthy winner?
The film has a great script from Peter Straughan, as you would expect from the writer of films such as Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy and The Men Who Stare At Goats with the film directed by David Gordon Green, best known for Pineapple Express.
Bullock and Thornton are excellent in their leads, with the rest of the cast giving great support.
The film feels fresh, given the current circumstances with accusations of lies around Brexit and the US presidential campaign, whilst there are many other great political films, this is a great watch, which we would recommend
The film is rated 15 and has a run time of 1 hour 47 mins
You can view the trailer at the film’s website here:
You can find the film at Amazon here:
Never miss a BMAF blog. Receive email notifications when new posts are published by entering your email address in the subscription box on the top right-hand side of this page.
You can also like us on Facebook for more film related content www.facebook.com/barkingmadaboutfilms/