"Well I know what's right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin' me around
But I'll stand my ground and I won't back down."
- Tom Petty
The year is 2000 and the fate of Western democracy hinged on a few hundred dangling chads. Confused Jewish people voted for Pat Buchanan, thousands were turned away from the polls or erroneously purged from the voting rolls, and for a brief, incredibly long moment nobody knew who the hell was going to be the next Leader of the Free World. This is the world of Recount, an HBO Films presentation of the weirdest election in our history.
A number of performances here are worthy of note. Kevin Spacey as Ron Klain plays a tough political operative hell-bent on winning an election. Tom Wilkinson as James Baker is an equally tough political street fighter also intent on winning, and unafraid of a low blow or ten. And, one of the most over-the-top but fun performances must be Laura Dern's as Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris, a woman as happy to be thrust into the national spotlight as she is clueless once she gets there.
Movie Value: $6.50The plot twists and turns all on the reality of the actual events, which in a work of larger fiction would have seemed far too contrived to be believable. Who would've thought a movie about hanging chads would actually be watchable?