2023 Vox Media, LLC. Joaquim de Almeida - Castillo. She just needs to hear him deny it. They plead with him that any negotiations with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) be preceded by a referendum so the people can decide. A timeline of the (alleged) drama involving Olivia Wilde, Harry Styles, and Florence Pugh. She finally just decided to get off the carousel. There are very occasional crude sexual references. Then Jane figures out a hook: To make Castillo more attractive than the frontrunner (a young, engaged populist who represents hope and change), she has to sell the idea that the country doesnt need someone, well, likable. She is approached by Candy, who tells her hes surprised shes working on an unwinnable campaign. He cant reconcile that her success also makes her a bad person. Bullock plays Calamity Jane Bodine, a legendary practitioner of the dark political arts who comes out of semi-retirement to navigate the hapless ex-president back to the top job. In 2002, Bolivian politician Pedro Castillo hires an American political consulting firm (based on James Carville's Greenberg Carville Shrum firm) to help him win the 2002 Bolivian presidential election. GCS brings in Jane Bodine to manage the campaign in Bolivia--battling her arch-nemesis, the opposition's political consultant Pat Candy. Montage of the press reporting throughout the day. At another commercial set inside a warehouse, several llamas are there, and Castillo is set to compare the future of Bolivia with llamas, who work hard. [24], On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 35% based on 147 reviews, with an average rating of 5.3/10. [11] More casting was also announced, which included Reynaldo Pacheco, Dominic Flores, Louis Arcella, and Octavio Gmez. A bra is used as a slingshot, and two shirtless men are briefly shown. Either the character repents, and you have a cornball ending, or the character doesnt, and you have a soapy endorsement of sociopathy. Terms of Service apply. The film stars Sandra Bullock, Scoot McNairy, Billy Bob Thornton, Anthony Mackie, Ann Dowd and Joaquim de Almeida. Our Brand Is Crisis review - dirty political dealings in South America. She cares about winning, and the movie reinforces the narrative that politics is just a game. Jane also has to get Castillo to be totally transparent to her to uncover those skeletons that she might need to deal with, being transparent which he may not be willing to be, not realizing that her own skeletons might pop out to play. She tells Nell she needs to pull some string with her contacts at the Bolivian State Department, in order to take votes from Castillo, and give them to Volasco (another candidate). What sealed the deal was that she will be coming up against her long-time arch-nemesis, Pat Candy. The deception disgusts her. The film gives a fictionalized account of the involvement of American political campaign strategists Greenberg Carville Shrum (GCS) in the 2002 Bolivian presidential election. [10] On October 13, 2014, Participant Media announced that they would co-finance the film with Warner, while Jeffrey Skoll and Jonathan King would executive produce, along with Bullock and Stuart M. Their main tactic is to emphasize the many problems of the economy and present Castillo as the solution. Eduardo, a young volunteer of the Castillo campaign, is deeply impressed by this show of commitment. She meets the campaign team but stays in the background at the first meeting, clearly feeling ill. Have they learned nothing? She can quote appropriate nuggets of wisdom from Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" and from the world's leaders and thinkers. He wants to find triumph in a tale that should be satiric at best and depressing at worst. Smoke too much? I think you pull it, Joshua Jackson says to Lizzy Caplan sensually. Right before the debate with the 3 leading candidates, Jane is sitting alone in the lecture hall, reading Faust by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, and is soon joined by Candy. Cut back to the interview that opened the film. Is it money? Castillo promises the people that will happen if hes elected. Jane has accepted the offer and their plane lands in La Paz, Bolivia, which has an elevation of nearly 12,000 feet above sea level. Back at Janes hotel, Ben calls and informs her there will be a protest downtown. Jane is talking with Nell, and insults her about her dedication to the campaign. Cyril Ramaphosa's ANC Renew22 grouping believes Eastern Cape . At the start of the campaign, which he's hired an American consulting firm to run, he is 28 points behind in the polls and running sixth in the crowded field, he, a globalist, largely seen by the indigenous poor majority, representing approximately 50 percent of the population, as being an elitist, out of touch with their needs and thus generally disliked as a personality. She is then seen in the middle of the protest, and sees Eddie. Bush strategist Lee Atwater, who by his own reported deathbed admission was an unholy monster, and to this day keeps afloat the brand of George W. Bush strategist Karl Rove. It starts out with big promises and ends up with jackshit happening.". Our Brand is Crisis review: While the film is heart-warmingly centered on Bullock, she is at her best neurotic, desperate, redeemable self. Its very obvious when shes going to do it, so it would be easy for viewers to close their eyes until all the yelling and laughter dies down. It needs a strongman who can handle a crisis. This is the meaning of the title. When the gunfire stops, the camera moves in on a boy sitting on the steps of a building, his head partly covered by his coat as if hes grabbing a nap. "- Castillo: This llama will lead us toward prosperity. Principal photography began on September 29, 2014, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Does he drink too much? When she starts giving it back to himpsyching him outthe movie gets really good. Later shell claim he got the room intentionally to get under her skin. (The daughter killed herself as a result.). He denies being a member of the cult. Once a political idealist, she increasingly was a strategist for hire outwardly not caring about the actual politics of her boss. She introduces LeBlanc (Zoe Kazan), a young investigator who is hired to dig up dirt on Rivera. While Rivera is still speaking aboard a train, Jane poses as a worker for the Rivera campaign and tells the conductor the speech is over. Rivera is on, holding two babies during a campaign stop, confessing how hes doubly lucky, and promises to run a positive campaign. A knock on the door reveals Eddie, saddened and angry, who tells her about the IMF plan. [5] On September 11, Scoot McNairy was added to the cast. I can barely imagine the humiliation! Jane says the llama cant stand the commercial so badly, he killed himself. Our Brand is Crisis hits a lot of clunky notes and the end is unforgivably cornball, but its still one of the liveliest political black comedies Ive seen in a while. The crisis, when it came . Answer. Carvilles troops were dispatched to La Paz in 02 to consolidate the great victory of liberalism and democracy as they and their sponsors and benefactors understand those things and to resist the rising tide of Latin American leftism represented in Bolivia by the indigenous political leader Evo Morales, Gonis leading opponent. The reality of U.S. politics is dominated not so much by incompetent leaders as mortals who lack the requisite superpowers needed to steer the ship of state. Although she was once a wunderkind of the political strategy community, she lost her last four campaigns, the speculation that being the reason she dropped out of sight. Um, yes. Castillo and the campaign team are on the outdoor set of a commercial for the Senator. [21] It had a wide release in 2,202 theaters for 21 days. They approach each other and she just smiles. Answer, spin doctors / truth and lies in political campaigns, how marketing strategies are use to manipulate the opinions of voters, evaluate the claim that theres only one wrong in political campaigns and thats losing, evaluate the comment, if you fight monsters too long, you become one, VOTINGDo Christians have an obligation to vote? Politics takes to cynicism like shit to a cesspool. She will work on the campaign of anybody, provided the money is right. In Bolivia, the situation is tense: Bodine learns that the indigenous people, who are a majority in the country but lack any real political power, are protesting for constitutional reform to get proper representation. See list of Relevant Issuesquestions-and-answers. Castillo had been coached by Jane that if he senses any emotion or tears, to look directly into the camera. What part should morality play in politics? "Our Brand Is Crisis" is being released by Warner Bros., but was largely funded by Participant Media, which produces what it calls "socially relevant films and documentaries." In other words,. [22], Our Brand Is Crisis grossed $7 million in North America and $1.6 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $8.6 million, against a budget of $28 million. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Digital rental or purchase allows you to instantly stream and download to watch anywhere and anytime on your favorite devices. ", "Toronto Review: Sandra Bullock Carries Our Brand Is Crisis", "Sandra Bullock Adds Gravity to Bolivian Political Satire", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Our_Brand_Is_Crisis_(2015_film)&oldid=1134072378, Tilda Del Toro as Pedro Castillo's secretary, This page was last edited on 16 January 2023, at 22:01. She really truly does.). Calamity Jane Bodine (Bullock) was a vaunted political strategist, but the emotional toll of the campaigns coupled with substance abuse problems forced her into early retirement where she may not be happy, but shes grateful that shes calm. What makes this fictionalized Our Brand Is Crisis worth noticing to the extent it is, which isnt much is that the filmmakers probably believe they are delivering roughly the same message as Boyntons documentary did, but in fact the most important aspects of this striking story has been scrubbed away or laundered into Hollywood-style pseudo-psychological neutrality. That's true even in "Our Brand Is Crisis," a . if (window.self != window.top) {nf=''} else {nf='NF/'}; When Bodine realizes that she brought a liar into office, she has the car stopped and leaves to join Eduardo. In its opening weekend, it was projected to make $57 million from 2,202 theaters,[23] however only ended up grossing $3.2 million, finishing eighth at the box office. That is, of course, when you can get her out of 'retirement' and give her a good reason to . In the following months, the team exercises a strategy of "declaring a crisis". She insists Castillo express regret, but not to apologize. Entertaining and provocative, Our Brand Is Crisis is a satirical political drama. Thats why in a time of ever-greater political chaos, the character rings so false. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. She explains its not relevant whether its true. This film isnt as dark as Burnt, and has more amusing moments, including some comic relief, but still shouldnt be classified as a comedy. All of them, except Bodine, have already taken jobs as political consultants in other countries. Boynton traveled to Bolivia to cover the activity of a high-priced U.S. consulting firm, Greenberg Carville, and Shrum, in the 2002 presidential race, and she had amazingfrankly, flabbergastingaccess. Jane is a broken prizefighter who has been called into the ring for one last round. Karen Kunawicz. Jane suggests that Castillo reveal everything that could be used against him, but he refuses. "Our Brand is Crisis" was one of these pleasant surprises. Ben jumps out and yells, get in the car, what are you doing? 2/4[], Our Brand Is Crisis fun until it gets serious For too long, the stakes play second fiddle to the strategists and even the candidates remain too elusive to make the audience care as much as it should. Jane and her team had no idea he would do that. He is a crook. However, when two strategists for a struggling Bolivian presidential campaign pique her interest, she goes down to the South American country to see if she should get back in the fight. Busy Phillips Is Not Like a Regular Mom, Shes a Cool Mom, Theres nothing wrong with Busy Phillips being cast as Mrs. George in the upcoming, In Search of Tom and Katies Bubba Painting, Maybe punting on the larger plot can be forgiven if we get a sweet. The opposition's top political consultant is her nemesis, fellow American Pat Candy. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Starring Sandra Bullock and Billy Bob Thornton. The interviewer says she's been known by many names, most notably "Calamity Jane". Thats the problem with focusing a story on the diabolical strategist, the one mythical figure in this godforsaken political system whos got it all figured out. He says the people in the village dont understand that yet. In her eyes, her job is done. All rights reserved. Did Cirie go too far by bringing family matters into the game? A lethally effective charm delivery system, Sandra Bullock doesn't need to do much to win you over. Around the edges of this story about Bullocks character, an especially ruthless consultant known as Calamity Jane, there are a few intriguing hints of other stories about the international financial system, the power of fear in politics and the American understanding of what democracy means when applied to other people in other countries. Jane is elated and tells the communication team to talk to the press and inform them Rivera just used a quote from Joseph Goebbels, the head Nazi propaganda minister. Candy tells her he knows it was Jane who planted the fliers of Castillos infidelity in order to force Castillo to run a negative campaign. Answer, Should Christians seek political power or should we only focus on evangelism? Back at the hotel room, Jane is with Eddie and his brothers, ordering room service and still drunk. Answer, Does HIGH MORAL CHARACTER matter in political leaders? The message I got from this movie was very positive. Although I hasten to add that even by the standards of Bullocks implacable, steel-jawed underacting this is a dull performance. The movie opens with a title sequence regarding the main character Jane Bodine (Sandra Bullock) and her rise and fall from hotshot political strategist/image . Not all movies preach, for example, action movies are usually more about the entertainment of watching good triumph over evil. Critic Kenneth Turan has this review. When it does, Jane moons the Rivera bus. You never find out. Somebody on the Castillo bus says Jane has a great ass! (And she does. Meanwhile, Thornton employs his well-honed smiling/sneering shtick to nicely nasty effect. , No amount of political manoeuvring can fix this film [1/4], An uneven mix of cynical satire and breezy comedy. The R-rating is because of the language. Facing a general strike and a series of confrontations between soldiers and protesters that left at least 67 civilians dead, Goni imposed martial law in October 2003, and the U.S. State Department issued a statement offering its full support. Candy is outside the hotel in his chauffeur-driven SUV and offers Jane, Ben, and Nell a ride to the airport. And in the real Bolivian election of 02, there was no rivalry between warring American spin doctors working for different candidates, because Goni was the only candidate who got that kind of help, in clear preference to his populist opponents on both the right and left. But it never keeps the energy up, steering into forced visual gags, dull spells of earnestness, and ponderous backstory psychologythe viewer never is quite sure who really did what to whom in the Candy-Bodine love-hate relationship. She moved to a mountain cabin, stopped smoking, got sober, and started doing pottery. In the city, Eddie is hanging Castillo posters. "Wake up, this is war. Jane is so nauseous from her travel and the elevation she leaves and is heard throwing up. [2/4], Sandra Bullock is the best part of this wobbly farce As a look at the state of the art of political campaigning (in the US as well as in Bolivia), Our Brand Is Crisis does not cut particularly deep and the ending isnt great. . They make big promises that mean jack shit. Getting hurt is unavoidable, she tells him. The interviewer says shes been known by many names, most notably Calamity Jane. It is revealed that she retired after violating election laws. Before I address the message, Ill review the content. In the mix is a fine supporting cast including a sensational Thornton . The last movie I reviewed was Burnt, which was called a comedy by many, but I found it not to be a comedy at alljust a drama with occasional humor. But the main mystery to me was the message of this film. David Gordon Greens uneven Wag the Dog-style satirical political romp takes both its title and theme from Rachel Boyntons 2005 documentary about the role played by the gun-for-hire American consultants in the 2002 Bolivian elections. Rated R His loyalty comes mostly from the fact that Castillo, who was president at the time, took a young Eduardo on his arm during a rally in his town. The campaign believes Castillo should apologize as soon as possible but Jane disagrees. She doesnt respond. When people say its a communist movie, I think they are hugely misunderstanding the movies point. 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