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 & 39 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?

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

Politics would never be the same.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Heilemann: One of the two original writers of the book "Game Change", on which the film is based. The other is Mark Halperin. Both appear as the two reporters asking Steve Schmidt (Woody Harrelson) about Sarah Palin's (Julianne Moore's) "amniotic fluid".

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Goofs

After the phone call to Sarah Palin, the film cuts to August 27 in Sedona, Arizona. It shows a GMC Yukon driving along. The next shot shows a Chevrolet Suburban pulling up.

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Quotes

Nicolle Wallace: Do you think the Fed did the right thing in their dealing with the Bear Stearns collapse?
Sarah Palin: Our economy is hurting, and the federal government has not provided the sound oversight that we need and that we deserve. I think we need a little bit of reality from Wasilla Main Street there brought to Washington DC so that the people there can understand how the average working class family is viewing bureaucracy in the federal government.
Steve Schmidt: Governor, do you know what the Fed is?
Sarah Palin: In what respect, Charlie?
Steve Schmidt: No,...
[...]

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Connections

References 2008 Vice Presidential Debate (2008)

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Soundtracks

Delicious Surprise
Written by Beth Hart and Glen Burtnick
Performed by Jo Dee Messina
Courtesy of Curb Records

User Reviews

You betcha!!

Woody Harrelson is a lock for an Emmy nom, and more than likely Julianne Moore and Ed Harris get one as well. Palin may take issue with the moments in the movie that show her getting her diva on, but it's generally a very humanizing portrayal of her as a mom and wife who may have been in over her head but did her level best to soldier on. It's certainly not a caricature of her or a hatchet job. Moore, to her credit. seems to have gone out of her way to construct a reasonably balanced view of an extremely polarizing figure.

Had to love that line that Ed Harris delivers late in the movie where he tells Palin not to allow herself to be coopted by the Rush Limbaughs who will destroy the party. HBO couldn't have timed the TV premiere any better. Just lucky or prescient?

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