Grassroots (2012)

After losing his job, a journalist reluctantly agrees to help his oddball friend with his bid to earn a seat on the Seattle City Council.

Director:

Stephen Gyllenhaal

Writers:

Phil Campbell (book), Stephen Gyllenhaal (screenplay),

Stars:

Cobie Smulders, Jason Biggs, Lauren Ambrose

Cast

Credited cast:
Cobie Smulders	...	Clair
Jason Biggs	...	Phil Campbell
Lauren Ambrose	...	Emily Bowen
Christopher McDonald	...	Jim Tripp
Joel David Moore	...	Grant Cogswell
Michael Nardelli	...	Willis
Cedric the Entertainer	...	Richard McIver
Tom Arnold	...	Tommy
Emily Bergl	...	Theresa Glendon
Todd Stashwick	...	Nick Ricochet
Russell Hodgkinson	...	Pernell Alden
D.C. Pierson	...	Wayne
Basil Harris	...	News Producer
Noah Harpster	...	Marvin
Lance Rosen	...	ACLU Lawyer

Storyline

After losing his job, a journalist reluctantly agrees to help his oddball friend with his bid to earn a seat on the Seattle City Council.

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Taglines:

Democracy with a smile

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language and brief drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 November 2012 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Od podstaw

Filming Locations:

Seattle, Washington, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$6,497 (USA) (22 June 2012)

Gross:

$6,497 (USA) (22 June 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Votiv Films, MRB Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

In promotional YouTube videos you can see cameo appearances by Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, his spokesperson Aaron Pickus and Cary Moon, director of the People's Waterfront Coalition. Grant Cogswell wrote a feature-length story in the Seattle alt-weekly The Stranger about how McGinn, Pickus, Moon and many others were carrying his vision of a more equitable and sustainable transportation system. They are featured in a monorail scene and are sitting in the background, chatting with other passengers.

User Reviews

Go See the Film

I'm not a reviewer but I felt compelled to add something here because the reviews I read by professional critics were completely disconnected to the experience I had in the theater.

I saw the film in NY and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's entertainment value I'd rate as good/very good. Where the film stands out, however, is in how it is value as an inspirational story of real life events and the fact is shmucks like ourselves can have an impact in an election in a major city with enough effort. That is what the film, I think is trying to be... not a political version of "Road Trip."

I really enjoyed how the film showed that effort I mentioned, made you feel it and did not try to make it glossy or pretty. It felt like a drama that was a documentary. It is a real example of something that happened in America that we as citizens need to watch so we can learn (and take inspiration) from those who have tried to do something that would seem impossible and possibly succeed, especially when running on an issue you can rally people around).

If there's anything we can learn from something like this is that a grassroots effort should not be so hard. The individuals making the effort should not have to make such great personal sacrifices, and that can only be done when marketing a movement isn't so darn hard.