check in if you have not seen Game Change

[hfojvt]

Also, what is the back-story to this movie? Is it any more real than, say "Primary Colors"? (another movie I never saw)

So far the threads I have read here, all seem to take as a given that the movie is telling the story of "what really happened", but who wrote that story? Further, in my experience with movies based on books - they never get it right. Heck even with TV shows and comic books they don't get it right. I got about twenty minutes into "Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy" for one example, before I turned it off in disgust as being false to the books I loved. (Of course, the books were based on radio shows and maybe, just maybe, the movie was true to the radio shows.)

It should be well known here that there is much put into print that is loaded with phlogiston. A bunch of made up b.s. and half truths. (and I am not just talking about my own posts) Is a movie, which so often is not even true to what was written, likely to be factual?

[MarianJack]

1. We don't have cable.

We have Netflix streaming through our WII. When I get a job we'll add Hulu Plus.

Don't miss cable. Don't want cable. Same goes for DirectTV or Dish Network.

We'll see "Game Change" when it comes onto one of those services or to Redbox. if not, ah well.

PEACE!

[hfojvt]

3. Well, without cable

I never would have seen "Sean of the Dead"

And having seen that is just about the only thing that has made my life worth living.

[MarianJack]

37. Well THIS old fart...

...has never even HEARD of "Sean of the Dead".

WOW, I guess I really AM an old fart!

PEACE!

[madokie]

44. Neither has this OLD FART

[MarianJack]

61. Cool!

We old farts have to remain united.

I would have said "stick together", but I found the visual just a tad bit disturbing.

PEACE!

[madokie]

64. LOL

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Don't get HBO but would like to see it.

I did read the book. It seemed to be pretty well sourced.

[lpbk2713]

4. Don't get HBO

And frankly, I know all I care to know about the halfwit half Governor.

[GodlessBiker]

5. Don't get HBO.

[hfojvt]

6. I did not even know it was on HBO

I kind of assumed it was in theaters, which I don't patronize either.

I don't even get cable TV, so I didn't see any ads for the movie.

[jannyk]

7. No Cable

[Joe Shlabotnik]

8. No interest whatsoever.

Maybe because there's already way too much drama in politics, I can live without seeing political dramas. But for that matter I was never much of a 'west-wing' type of fan either. (Agree whole heartedly about Shaun of the dead!)

[LadyHawkAZ]

9. Have HBO, not interested in watching GC

[blaze]

10. No HBO here nt

[Ruby the Liberal]

11. No HBO, and sorry for my ignorance, but what is "phlogiston"?

[pokerfan]

15. phlogiston

phlo·gis·ton    [floh-jis-ton, -tuhn]
noun
a nonexistent chemical that, prior to the discovery of oxygen, was thought to be released during combustion.
Origin:
1720–30; < Neo-Latin: inflammability, noun use of Greek phlogistón, neuter of phlogistós inflammable, burnt up; see phlogistic
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/phlogiston

[Ruby the Liberal]

19. Yeah, I have google too - can you put that in context?

[hfojvt]

20. a "nonexistent chemical"

Similar to other non-existent things that are written in stories printed in newspapers and books.

Perhaps a more polite phrase than B.S. but unlike a B.S-er, the person talking about phlogiston may sincerely believe it is really in there. In the context that a person who says "X is true" can either be lying (which is harder to prove) or just plain wrong. There was no phlogiston, but people who wrote about it perhasp sincerely thought there was.

[CTyankee]

39. Me, I'd just as soon go to Ruritania than France.

Or what used to be called Ruritania. I think it is somewhere near the Ruhr valley, hence its name, but I'm not sure. I am sure, tho, that Ruritanians have their own currency (not the Euro) and that's probably a good thing! I think there are castles and stuff in Ruritania and maybe vampires (no, wait, that's in Transylvania). Whatever...

[csziggy]

46. I've always wanted to go to the Duchy of Grand Fenwick

It looks like such a lovely place to visit though I'd want to go in the summer because of the location in the Alps. Since the principle language is English, I wouldn't even have to learn any phrases to travel there!

[CTyankee]

51. Is that near Genovia?

They have the prettiest princess there. She looks a lot like Anne Hathaway...

[csziggy]

65. It borders France and Switzerland

I'm afraid the Duchess Gloriana XII (on the right) looks nothing like Anne Hathaway. In fact, she reminds me of a French detective. Or a certain Herr Doktor who went to work for the American Defense Department.


I do like their flag, though.

[CTyankee]

66. well, then, I'll pass. I much prefer Genovia. The people are prettier there...

[tammywammy]

12. Game Change is a book

http://www.amazon.com/Game-Change-Clintons-McCain-Lifetime/dp/0061733644/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331447264&sr=8-1

I read the book soon after it came out, it was interesting. I don't get HBO.

[hfojvt]

21. Ah yes, I saw that in another thread

by Mark Halperin.

[progress2k12nbynd]

13. I have no interest in relying on HBO for my history...

Fairly shocked that so many DU'ers do.

[ohheckyeah]

26. No we don't.

The movie only confirmed what was already written in the book by the people who were part of the campaign.

[pokerfan]

14. Haven't had HBO since 6FU

but I have read the book and thought it was quite good. You can read an excerpt here:

'Game Change' portrays Sarah Palin as ignoramus; believed Saddam was behind 9/11

The morning of her ill-fated CBS interview with Katie Couric, Palin - "her eyes glassy and dead" - was unresponsive to attempts to prep her as she was being made up.

"As they were about to set off to meet Couric, Palin announced 'I hate this makeup' - smearing it off her face, messing up her hair, complaining she looked fat," the book relates.

Palin went on to give answers to Couric that were so incoherent the interview permanently damaged her.

Palin went into a tailspin. She stopped eating or sleeping and drank only a half a can of diet soda a day, recounts the book written by John Heilemann of New York magazine and Mark Halperin of Time magazine.

"When her aides tried to quiz her she would routinely shut down - chin on her chest, arms folded, eyes cast to the floor, speechless and motionless, lost in what those around her described as a kind of catatonic stupor," the book says.

[Kalidurga]

17. It looks like she did her own make up

she doesn't really look fat. But, she is definitely incoherent. Hard to watch actually. She is clearly out of her element. She wants to be up on stage just spouting talking points and Couric won't let her do that, she seems frustrated by this.

[hfojvt]

23. it seems there was very little discussion of the book on DU

be interesting to hear from more people who have seen both.

[pamela]

16. Haven't seen the movie yet but loved the book.

I think it's a "must read" for political junkies. The main sources for the information on Palin and McCain were Steve Schmidt and Nicole Wallace (McCain/Palin staffers) so I would think it is pretty accurate. They really had nothing to gain by coming forward with this information, in fact it was very detrimental to their own careers to do so.

Primary Colors was a fictionalized account of a fictionalized Clinton. Game Change is non-fiction. They spoke to hundreds of campaign insiders and were given access to the campaigns under the condition that they would not report any of what they learned until after the election. The book covers the Clinton, Obama and Edwards campaigns as well. I think my favorite thing about the book is how it exposes the media and the insanity of the 24 hour news cycle.

[Chipper Chat]

18. No HBO, but I'll watch it when it comes out on video.

A previous HBO political movie: "Recount" is simply fabulous. If you havent seen it you should.

[cherokeeprogressive]

22. I watch movies for the purpose of being entertained.

I don't eat, breathe, and live my political ideology 24/7. For those reasons, Primary Colors, Game Change, and anything produced by Michael Moore aren't on my "must see" list.

I read all the Hitchhiker books as well, and the movie was, well, it wasn't.

[hfojvt]

25. I thought Moore's movies were good

the ones I saw anyway - Bowling for Columbine, Sicko and Fahrenheit 9/11, all of which I own. Didn't agree with all of it, but interesting nonetheless. I like movies that do more than just entertain. Movies like "It's a Wonderful Life" or "Star Trek IV" or "Iron Giant" or "V for Vendetta" or "John Q" do more than just entertain. They inspire. Also, the PBS series "Eyes on the Prize" about the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, which I got from the library, was pretty amazing.

However, I think it is dangerous to think that movies are factual. I have noticed how often they get things in the book wrong. Even with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The movie was made more violent than the book. In the movie Hermione punches Malfoy. In the book, she only slaps him. In the movie, there is a big fight between the werewolf and Sirius Black in dog form, whereas the book mention that Black and the others converted into animals so they could hang out with Lupin, because a werewolf was no danger to animals. Okay, now I checked and there is a brief fight in the book, as the dog pulls the werewolf away from the kids, but then the werewolf runs off. In the movie, only Hermione's howling distracts the werewolf from killing Black and then the hippogriff also gets into it with the werewolf. Much more exiting that way, I guess, but not accurate to what was written.

[Voice for Peace]

32. Moore's movies are extremely entertaining, superbly enjoyable for that alone

[mainer]

24. Forgot to Tivo and then left the country

Am hoping there'll be lots of reruns when i get home.

[Major Hogwash]

27. The movie has more facts than the book.

The writers for the movie had more time to research Sister Sarah than the authors of the book.
So, they added little pieces and parts that the authors of the book didn't have.
Some big chunks, too.

The producer of the movie worked closely with the authors of the book and also with insiders and some former staff members of McCain's staff.

The movie is mindblowing.

Julianne Moore's performance as Sister Sarah will win an Emmy easily, in my opinion. She didn't just imitate Sister Sarah, or mimick her, she captured her essence.
The ultimate goal of an actor, indeed, the pinnacle of acting.
It may be the best performance by an actor I have ever witnessed in my life.

Woody Harrelson's performance is stellar. I have never seen him in a better role.
Ed Harris was outstanding. Not only was he credible, he was convincing as McCain.
Several other actors in lesser parts were very believeable, totally realistic, and there is no forced drama.

Democrats will view this movie and their jaws will hit the floor in utter disbelief at the sheer chaos that ran rampant in the McCain campaign.
Republicans will view this movie and probably hit the ceiling in anger, disgust, and total amazement when they see just how bad the McCain campaign was managed in 2008.
And when they realize just how big of a mistake it was to their campaign to pick Sister Sarah to be McCain's running mate.

I'm saying this now so that whatever McCain says later about this movie will not have an affect on my review of this movie.
There is no doubt this movie has much historical significance.
Sister Sarah was totally unqualified and unprepared for political office, any political office. The movie totally tears away the facade of her being a political force to be contended with.
She was a puppet, a figurehead promoted by bigger monied interests that bankrolled her way into office in Alaska.

McCain should never, ever have selected her as his running mate.
That becomes painfully obvious as the movie progresses.
It becomes the nightmare of any political campaign, a candidate who is out of control, and full of herself. As Sister Sarah comes to think that she is the star of the show, her histrionic instincts take over and she goes off message, again and again and again. She habitually acts too stupid to just read the prepared scripts written for her by professional handlers to protect her image.

The book was good.
But, the movie was better.
More time and more research helped that, I'm sure.
But, the performances by these actors was unreal.

Sister Sarah was the kiss of death for the McCain campaign.
And she gave the Republican party a long, deep wet french kiss, that she didn't want to end, as thanks for choosing her to be a part of it.

[Ineeda]

33. Thanks for this....

and just think: Millions of people were (and still are) enchanted by her and actually voted for her, more than they did for McCain.
Verry scary.

[Tennessee Gal]

36. Thanks for the review.

You pretty much said what I had thought all along.

The McCain campaign, and therefore John McCain himself, did this country a tremendous disservice by selecting Palin and bringing this country too closely to what would/could have been a disaster waiting to happen. It was as irresponsible as I have ever witnessed in the sheer idiocy of the selection of a Vice Presidential running mate. Even the selection of Dan Quayle does not remotely come close.

That is why I lost ALL respect for John McCain. I hold him personally responsible for the rise of the Palinistas of this country and the teabaggery foolishness that has infiltrated Congress, resulting in the loss of any semblance of reasonableness, integrity, or concern for doing what is best on almost all issues. The House now has the lowest approval rating of any in our history and nothing is being accomplished.

Why did John McCain do this? Was it a last gasp attempt in the desperation of a failing candidacy to revive something already on life support? Did he really think that Palin was intellectually fit or politically viable? If so, he is dumber than the most casual observer.

[Strelnikov_]

49. A review of your review

Julianne Moore's performance as Sister Sarah will win an Emmy easily, in my opinion.

Could not agree more. Especially liked how she captured the vacant look when Sister Sarah goes into vapor lock from mental overload.

Woody Harrelson's performance is stellar.

Woody was on fire.

. . when they see just how bad the McCain campaign was managed in 2008.

Seemed like it was managed as well as could be, until they signed on a modern day Sid Vicious as a running mate.

She was a puppet, a figurehead promoted by bigger monied interests that bankrolled her way into office in Alaska.

She was not only so far beyond her abilities (a Governor that does not know what the Fed even is?), she is f'n batshit.

[Nevernose]

57. That's not really fair to Sid Vicious

He never pretended to be something he wasn't (even he said he was a shitty bass player).

[Rincewind]

28. I have cable,

but I don't get HBO.

[PuffedMica]

29. Nope, and probably never will

[RiffRandell]

30. I recorded it.

Maybe will watch it tonight.

[Flashmann]

31. I have HBO,but

no intention of watching,what I expect to be a steaming turd of a movie,about a sack of shit.....

[SmellyFeet]

55. Your loss then... n/t

[HopeHoops]

34. Not yet.

[NMDemDist2]

35. we DVR'd it, cuz it's Dad's 80th b-day and they're here to visit

we'll watch it Wednesday

[Honeycombe8]

38. I dropped HBO because of cost. nt

[Motown_Johnny]

40. no cable here

[eShirl]

41. We'll have to wait until it hits amazon on-demand, hulu plus, or youtube.

We dropped cable years ago, and picked up a Roku when we lost analog TV signals. But we never did have HBO anyway....

[CTyankee]

42. they might rerun it on HBO. I hope so. It played during my sleep time, which is 8:30-3:30.

Last edited Sun Mar 11, 2012, 02:06 PM - Edit history (1)

As I have gotten older, my sleep patterns have changed...so I am hoping for a screening perhaps in the afternoon.

Edit to add: whoops, sure enough, it's on at 7 pm tonight! That was fast!

[DippyDem]

43. Don't wanna pay for HBO.

[lunatica]

45. Wow! That was deep!

Is ignorance really bliss? And is willful ignorance better?

[Paladin]

47. The Movie Is Good. Highly Recommended.

Just don't buy into the current talk that it will make you sympathize with Palin. No way, no how. The person you end up feeling some (limited) sympathy for is John McCain. He's a coarse old war-monger, but the movie confirms that he has a hell of a lot more principles than the current bunch of Repub presidential candidates---not that that's saying much.....

[certainot]

48. i haven't seen it but i will be surprised if it makes any connection to RW radio or limbaugh, which

would be a shame.

the question couric should have asked her was "which talkers do you and todd listen to most?" or "who is your favorite talker?" instead of "what do you read?".

and i'll bet there was no reference to the fact that her candidacy was announced minutes before limbaugh's show started on the friday before the GOP con convention. or the possibility that was done so that limbaugh could announce it to the teabag/dittohead world and use it as the excuse to finally endorse mccain without losing face. or that if mccain had been allowed to choose his first choices, lieberman or pawlenty, limbaugh would probably not been able to justify his support and the convention would have been a disaster. and so on.

[Paladin]

54. You Lose.

In the closing moments of the movie, McCain counsels Palin to stay clear of Limbaugh and those like him......

[certainot]

59. glad to hear that, thanks. he knew.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

56. The only reference to Limbaugh that I recall in the movie

(although there may have been others) was towards the end when McCain was leaving Palin backstage and headed before the cameras to give his concession speech. He quickly came back and kissed Palin on the cheek telling her that she was now a leader of the party and to beware being co-opted by Limbaugh "and the other extremists".

[certainot]

60. too late! i suspect rove and others were pretty pissed at limbaugh. rush told a story, with glee,

of his visit to the white house for a private lunch alone with bush and andrew card a week before bush was leaving, and they gave him a chocolate microphone. and i was thinking with bush's sense of humor, after card told him they still needed rush and he couldn't shoot him, that might have been him saying here suck on this for the next four years.

[Giantsfootball10]

50. Don't have HBO

Want to see Game Change though.

[RebelOne]

53. Want to see it. But also, no HBO. n/t

[tosh]

52. It's set to record tonight.

[WilliamPitt]

58. Don't have HBO

I remember 2008. Don't need to see the movie version.

[julian09]

62. Can you get HBO as a one time event pay per view, without subscription?

just for Game Change.

[SteveG]

63. Don't have HBO

Though I will likely see it when it comes out in Redbox.

[BiggJawn]

67. What's "Game Change"?

Wasn't in the listings, guess it wasn't released here. Everybody's showing "John Carter".

[tabbycat31]

68. want to but don't have HBO

[backscatter712]

69. Not yet, though I have obtained it through extra-legal methods...

[donheld]

70. I have no intentions to see it.