Swing Vote (2008)

best movie i've ever seen.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

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.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Continuing my plan to watch every movie in Kevin Costner's filmography in order, I come to Swing Vote (2008)Plot In A Paragraph: In an unbelievable and remarkable turn-of-events, the result of the presidential election comes down to one man's vote.I will admit from the off, I have never taken to this movie, this was only the third time I have watched it. Along with Rumour Has It and The Upside Of Anger, this is a movie I never take off the shelf. The concept is ridiculous, and I have just never got it. But given what is going on in the world at the moment, it became an interesting time to watch it. There are two sides to KC's performance, he is quirky when drunk, however before his deciding vote. KC delivers a Capraesque speech, with dignity. KC has always made a convincing everyman, and here is no different. Young Madeline Carroll is simply superb, she is heartbreaking as she tearfully defends her father to her classmates, it's one of the most powerful scenes in the movie. In fact the whole movie is well cast. I like all of the supporting cast of Kelsey Grammar, Stanley Tucci, Nathan Lane and Dennis Hopper.If Swing Vote has a message, it's that "every vote counts," but it also has quite a bit to say about what both parties will do to get that vote. In these current times, it is interesting to see that both candidates would sell their mothers to win the election. (I found myself wondering what Trump and Clinton would do in this situation) It also makes it clear the politicians don't tell the truth, but say what they think voters want to hear. And the press helps them a great deal. The movie also gives a realistic view of reporters on the campaign trail. They're not nice people who will do anything for a story. Except of course the one who gives up the story because she has a good heart (as unrealistic as how the actual vote comes down to Bud) For a movie about politics, Swing Vote is careful not to take one side or the other. The movie is neither anti-Democrat nor anti-Republican. Before watching this today I'd have said it was a 6/10, but today I found a slightly newer appreciation for it. 7/10

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.

Even though this film is highly unlikely to ever happen in real life, the overall story and plot of this film is really good! It gives you the opportunity to think about all the possible things that would happen if something like this ever did take place in real life! Now lets be realistic.... If ONE man had to decide the winner of the Presidential election, then that means EVERYBODY in America voted except ONE man!........... really?! That's next to impossible! Even though this film is unlikely to ever happen, I would still highly recommend seeing this film. It is well-made and brings up some really solid and controversial questions and topics that every American should think about.Give it a try! You may just fall in love with this film.

A wonderful movie that works well on at least two main levels- the first level humorously depicting the intense pressure on political figures in the American race to the Presidency and the lengths the fictional front runners go trying to persuade the 'last' voter (who could really care less) to ultimately choose the winner of the Presidential Election. The second level, the entirely believable and magnificently acted interaction between Costner's redneck 'last' voter and his smart,thoroughly wonderful daughter. What a pleasure to see such a wonderful performance from a rising young star and the solid performance equally matched by Costner in his. Ms.Carroll dances with delicate emotional issues in an entirely natural way perfectly evoking in the audience the awkward intensity of adolescence. We laughed with her and felt the emotional intensity of the film's sadder moments through her eyes with perfect clarity. A truly great performance in one so young.Kevin Costner's relationship to the tiny female character was brilliantly performed though (without spoiling the movie if you missed it) tended to invoke a feelings of disapproving anger for his character's apathetic acceptance of his personal faults and general low life stupidity. The audience squirms in their seats wondering how he could do this when he shares a life with his ever so smart, endearing, supportive young daughter? The final sequence; the actual conclusion toward which all this pathos and humorous counterpoint is leading, sets a bout a chain of events that would make a Disney movie director proud. The feel good ending was an absolute dramatic necessity however and I for one am pleased to report that it left me totally satisfied.This movie is highly underrated and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to experience a movie with a solid plot, excellent acting by all and a host of extras. The music was wonderfully chosen as well. In short, what are you waiting for? Go see this movie.