Game Change (2012)

Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska becomes Senator John McCain's running mate in the 2008 Presidential election.

Director:

Jay Roach

Writers:

Danny Strong, Mark Halperin (book)

Stars:

Ed Harris, Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 28 wins & 40 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julianne Moore	...	Sarah Palin
Woody Harrelson	...	Steve Schmidt
Ed Harris	...	John McCain
Peter MacNicol	...	Rick Davis
Jamey Sheridan	...	Mark Salter
Sarah Paulson	...	Nicolle Wallace
Ron Livingston	...	Mark Wallace
David Barry Gray	...	Todd Palin
Larry Sullivan	...	Chris Edwards
Mikal Evans	...	Bexie Nobles
Colby French	...	Tucker Eskew
Bruce Altman	...	Fred Davis
Spencer Garrett	...	Steve Biegun
Brian Howe	...	Randy Scheunemann
John Rothman	...	A.B. Culvahouse

Storyline

Summer, 2008: John McCain secures the nomination, but polls behind Barack Obama. Strategist Steve Schmidt suggests a game changer: picking a conservative female with media savvy, unknown Alaska governor Sarah Palin, as vice president. She's an immediate hit and a quick study - the gap closes. Then, Tina Fey's impersonation, a raft of criticism, and missing her family send Palin into a near-catatonic state: she doesn't prepare for her Katie Couric interview and bombs. Schmidt searches for an answer: don't expect her to learn the issues, but give her a script. Palin does well in the debate with Biden; she finds her voice, goes off script, and goes rogue. A mistake?

---

Plot Keywords:

american politics | cell phone | down syndrome | presidential election | 21st century | 

---

Taglines:

Politics would never be the same.

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

---

Certificate:

TV-MA

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film won 5 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special, Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie - Julianne Moore, Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special and Outstanding Miniseries or Movie.

---

Goofs

Steve Schmidt tells Sarah Palin that if everything goes according to plan, her Secret Service agents will be with her for the rest of her life. Vice presidents only receive Secret Service protection for six months after leaving office, and even if she were to succeed John McCain as president the protection would last for ten years after leaving office. Lifetime protection would not be reestablished until 2013.

---

Quotes

Steve Schmidt: There are unknowns with Palin, and, ah, certainly it could go bad. But if it were me, I'd rather lose by ten points going for the win than lose by one point and look back and say "Goddamn, we should have gone for the win".
Mark Salter: Our slogan's "Country First". Lieberman and Pawlenty are "Country First" choices. Sarah Palin will be perceived as a self-serving political maneuver.
[pause]
Mark Salter: You many not only lose the election, John... you just might lose your reputation right along with it.
John McCain: I'm not running for ...
[...]

---

Connections

References CBS Evening News with Katie Couric (2006)

---

Soundtracks

Up!
Written by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain
Performed by Shania Twain
Courtesy of Mercury Nashville Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Moore is Palin!

Review: Game Change (HBO)

"Recount" creator Jay Roach returns to the politico ring with "Game Change" starring Woody Harrelson as Steve Schmidt, the man behind John McCain's 2008 run for the White House. A straight recount of the vetting of Sarah Palin to the VP post and it's compelling to see Julianne Moore be Sarah Palin (I forgot there was an actress playing her shortly into the movie). Ed Harris fills McCain's shoes with a respectful performance with dignity. All the actors are great, but Moore is absolutely stunning in the dramatic scenes. Roach presents some great moments in history as Palin watches Tina Fey doing an impression of her on SNL (surreal to watch an actor as Palin watching Fey doing Palin). I thought the film makers did a great balance, showing Schmidt as a flawed man who made the mistake of choosing an independent minded woman who has a few major flaws of her own (she is as misinformed as most of the right wing base). Great movie and Moore made me forget she was acting, a perfect performance!

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site - HBO

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Game Change

Filming Locations:

Brooklandville, Maryland, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Films, Playtone, Everyman Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1