Last Party 2000 (2001)

Filmed over the last six months of the 2000 Presidential election, Phillip Seymour Hoffman starts documenting the campaign at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, but spends ... See full summary »

Directors:

Rebecca Chaiklin, Donovan Leitch Jr. (as Donovan Leitch)

Stars:

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ben Harper, Noam Chomsky

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Self - Narrator
Ben Harper	...	Self
Noam Chomsky	...	Self
Harold Ford	...	Self (as Rep. Harold Ford Jr.)
Tim Robbins	...	Self
John Sellers	...	Self
Susan Sarandon	...	Self
Christopher Shays	...	Self (as Rep. Christopher Shays)
Bill Maher	...	Self
Rosie O'Donnell	...	Self
Melissa Etheridge	...	Self
Courtney Love	...	Self
Antonia Novello	...	Self (as Dr. Antonia Novella)
Rudy Giuliani	...	Self (as Mayor Rudolph Giuliani)
The Interpreters	...	Themselves

Storyline

Filmed over the last six months of the 2000 Presidential election, Phillip Seymour Hoffman starts documenting the campaign at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, but spends more time outside, in the street protests and police actions than in the orchestrated conventions. Hoffman shows an obvious distaste for money politics and the conservative right. He looks seedier and more disillusioned the campaign progresses. Eventually Hoffman seems most energized by the Ralph Nader campaign as an alternative to the nearly indistinguishable major parties. The high point of the film are the comments by Barney Frank who says that marches and demonstrations are largely a waste of time, and that the really effective political players such as the NRA and the AARP never bother with walk ins, sit-ins, shoot-ins or shuffles. In the interview with Jesse Jackson, Hoffman is too flustered to ask all of his questions.

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Plot Keywords:

campaign | election | 2000s | protest | democratic national convention | 

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Taglines:

An Uncensored Journey into Democracy in America.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Representative Barney Frank is first introduced on screen, he was mistakenly identified as a Republican. In fact, he is a Democrat.

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Quotes

[first title card]
Title Card: Democracy
[n]
Title Card:

• The principle of equality, rights, opportunity, and treatment

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Crazy Credits

In loving memory of Esther Goldman Buchthal who dedicated her life to making positive social change.

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Connections

Features The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986)

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Soundtracks

Over Yonder (Jonathan's Song)
(uncredited)
Written and Performed by Steve Earle

User Reviews

A bit better on a second viewing.

I am a liberal. The first viewing of this film presents some serious filmmaking problems. I had no problem with the sequential editing, but the editing in general was a problem. This is MTV style editing. Lots of fast cuts, unstable shots, and so forth. I got used to it, but it still makes it look as low-budget as it is. There is a heavy use of music. I understand that music is an important part of any movie, but this seems almost like there is too much of an emphasis on it. I watched this for a second time, and the movie worked a whole lot better, although the editing/camerawork bothered me again. I hardly view the end as being partisan. Equal amounts of gore/bush protesters are out. The only thing I see is that the Gore protesters are concerned about their votes not counting, and the Bush protesters seem to focus on the idea of Gore being a sore loser. If you view that in a partisan way, it'll be partisan. To me, it isn't.

The film is about the fact that the government does not represent everyone. I will concede that this film makes Nader out to be a hero. I found that I liked his ideas, although I would attribute some of that to his glorification in this film. The only thing that Hoffman outwardly seems to reject is the idea that all good will comes from religion. Otherwise, he really gives both sides an even view, and seems bored with the lack of content in either party.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 January 2003 (France)

Also Known As:

The Party's Over

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$24,652

Company Credits

Production Co:

Camouflage Productions Inc., Palisades Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color