Knife Fight (2012)

A political strategist juggling three clients questions whether or not to take the high road as the ugly side of his work begins to haunt him.

Director:

Bill Guttentag

Writers:

Bill Guttentag, Chris Lehane

Stars:

Rob Lowe, Jamie Chung, Julie Bowen

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rob Lowe	...	Paul Turner
Julie Bowen	...	Peaches O'Dell
Saffron Burrows	...	Sophia
Jamie Chung	...	Kerstin Rhee
David Harbour	...	Stephen Green
Eric McCormack	...	Larry Becker
Jennifer Morrison	...	Angela Anderson
Carrie-Anne Moss	...	Penelope Nelson
Richard Schiff	...	Dimitris Vargas
Amanda Crew	...	Helena St. John
Michelle Krusiec	...	Shannon Haung
Chris Mulkey	...	Roger Fillmore
Davey Havok	...	Jimmy McSorley
Eddie George	...	Tony Blanchard
Brooke Newton	...	Tawny Shearson

Storyline

If a political candidate is personally flawed, but stands to make a positive difference in millions of lives, would you help him win? That question looms over the life of "true believer" Paul Turner (Rob Lowe), a savvy strategist sharply maneuvering politicians out of scandal and into public office. With the help of a bright young assistant (Jamie Chung) and a seedy operative (Richard Schiff), Turner spins every news cycle and a shrewd reporter (Julie Bowen) on behalf of his clients: a philandering Kentucky governor (Eric McCormick), a blackmailed California senator (David Harbour), and an idealistic doctor turned gubernatorial candidate (Carrie-Anne Moss). When the ugly side of Turner's work begins to haunt him, he learns that even in the bloodiest of battles, sometimes you have to fight clean.

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Plot Keywords:

politics | political communication | elections | political news | political scandal | 

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Taglines:

Ready. Aim. Win.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

The director originally wanted to make this movie a documentary about political strategists and their pivotal role in modern American politics.

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Quotes

Paul Turner: You don't get the outsized talent without the outsized weakness.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Julie Bowen/Rocket City Rednecks/Milo Greene (2012)

User Reviews

Don't pay to watch it

This movie is pretty much what you'd expect from liberal Hollywood. They get their share of cheap shots in at conservatives, Tea Party, etc. The campaign staff try to convey they pull dirty rotten tricks for both sides and then have an epiphany by the end of the movie. Hillary Clinton's real-life campaign corruption makes renting this movie a complete waste of money and makes this movie look like a complete fairy tale. I have to write ten lines of text for the review, so here I go. Not one of Rob Lowe's better movies. There is really nothing shocking about their behavior or low-life tactics unless you are an ill- informed, low information liberal.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 January 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Knife Fight

Filming Locations:

Bay Area, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$5,661

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,661

Company Credits

Production Co:

Divisadero Pictures, Knife Fight

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color