Saturday, June 21, 2008

Eleven weeks to Steal November

Author(s): Josh P.
Location: Chicago, IL

"Eleven Weeks to Steal November"

Directed by George Clooney
Written by George Clooney and Grant Heslov
Produced by Steven Spielberg, Grant Heslov and Barry Mendel
Cinematography by Newton Thomas Sigel
Edited by Stephen Mirrione
Music by James Newton Howard

Main Cast

George Clooney (Bill Fowler)
Thandie Newton (Cindy Johnson)
Alec Baldwin (Jim Domer)
Jodie Foster (Marge Pickett)
Tommy Lee Jones (Pres. Richard Harrison)
Martin Sheen (Sen. Alan Grant)
David Strathairn (Doug Wiesman)
Grant Heslov (Joseph Horrestein)

with special appearances as themselves:

Jon Stewart Stephen Colbert Tim Robbins Sean Penn Susan Surandon Corey Feldman Corey Haim Al Gore Bill O'Riely Oprah Winfrey Casey Affleck

Tagline: "In the fight for political office, all the colors run together"

Synopsis: Bill Fowler (Clooney) and Cindy Johnson (Newton) both have very important jobs to do. They are both campaign managers of opposing political parties for an upcoming presidential election, and being late August their game is in full swing. Bill, who has claimed to unofficially help elect four different presidents, is managing the campaign of the leading Republican candidate, South Carolina Senator Jim Domer (Baldwin) and Cindy is representing, for the Democrats, Illinois Governor Marge Pickett (Foster); Cindy has had eight congressional successes in elections and hopes for her first presidential with this one. Each of them also manages to get support from pretty high places: Domer has the backing from the current lame-duck president (Jones), and Pickett has the backing from the overly liberal California Senator Alan Grant (Sheen).

However, there is a complication between Bill and Cindy: they were once married and are now going through a nasty divorce. Their bitter fights also tends to get in the way of their jobs and causes unethical behavior. Each one is starting nasty rumors about each other's candidate. Bill says that Domer's gun-toting, pro-life persona once got him tossed in jail for the attempted murder of a transvestite (actually, it was his ex-wife, whom he called a “whore of men,” according to the Georgia Chronicle), and Cindy starts to exaggerate a sex scandal that Pickett had five years ago (it involved a limosuine and Casey Affleck, no need to ask anymore). Different media outlets have a frenzy at how out of control this election between these candidates seems to be going.

Finally, when election day approaches, everyone finds a huge surprise. Evidently, the majority of American's were finally fed up with the split morality of politics and actually elected an Independent team (Strathairn, Heslov) to the White House. It causes disappointment to the presidential candidates, but Bill and Cindy can only seem to laugh at the situation and can't wait until four more years when they can do it all over again.

What the Press would say:

George Clooney spins a witty and laughable commentary of today's political scene. Clooney as the writer, along with Grant Heslov, brings out quick one-liners and a sophisticated sense of humor in dialouge that is played out like a well orchestrated tennis match; Clooney the director impresses the audience with a great comic timing and a witty sense of direction that capitalizes on a biting political satire. Clooney also serves as a triple threat as an actor: he gives us a wonderful sense of wit and comic timing that makes us both snicker at the sophistication and bellylaugh at the unbelievable jokes. Thandie Newton also makes an impression as an overly zealous ex-wife whose bickering and insane ideas tickle us. Both Clooney and Newton have great chemistry with each other, and their situation is that more enjoyable and that much funnier. Clooney's influence, as well as that from producer Steven Spielberg, allowed the filmmakers to get a wide range of celbrity cameos, such as Oprah Winfrey who accepts Marge Pickett's national apology and Corey Haim and Corey Feldman who are used to create some “celebrity appeal” to the Republican Party, which isn't lacking from the opposite side. Clooney really provides a satirical gem. The campaign consideration:

Best Picture
Best Director: George Clooney
Best Actor: George Clooney
Best Actress: Thandie Newton
Best Original Screenplay: George Clooney and Grant Heslov
Best Film Editing
Best Original Score



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