Is it possible to create a gripping drama based on events the viewer already knows the outcome to? Director Jay Roach (Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery) and screenwriter Danny Strong accomplish this feat in Recount,which takes a look back at the 2000 presidential election and the efforts to determine whether Al Gore or George W. Bush would take that state's 25 electoral votes.
Roach, who is best known as a director of comedies, proves himself a capable director of drama, while Strong's whip-smart script manages to avoid partisan favoritism and gives equal time to both sides — to Al Gore's camp, headed by former Clinton Secretary of State Warren Christopher (John Hurt) and Bush's camp, headed by former Bush Senior Secretary of State James Baker (Tom Wilkinson).
Recount is told from the point of view of Al Gore's former Chief of Staff, Ron Klain (Kevin Spacey, in a wonderful performance). As the film opens, Klain, like many Americans, is watching the Florida election results. Florida will be the key to the presidential victory as winning its electoral votes will put the candidate in the White House. Things start out promising — the news networks are calling Florida for Gore. But a few hours later, things get really confusing when the networks change their projections and call Florida for Bush. This of course puts the Gore camp into a bit of a panic. Gore eventually calls Bush to concede the election.
Watching the election results is Michael Whouley (a hilarous Denis Leary), who notices that Bush's lead over Gore is very narrow. In the end Bush's lead is less than 1800 votes, which means under Florida law a recount can be requested. Gore calls Bush to take back his concession and the politicking begins in full swing as both camps try to figure out how to best get their candidate into the White House.
What's amazing is how director Jay Roach creates dramatic tension from a situation we already know the outcome to. We all know Gore in the end loses to Bush, but in watching Recount there is genuine suspense over how things will turn out.
Article comments
1 - Jen
Good call-- loved Recount as well and man, wasn't Dern hilarious?! It's mind-boggling to imagine she had so much power in that election... um Harris I mean, not the proud Democrat Laura Dern. :)
2 - Scott C. Smith
Yes, Laura Dern was great. All the performances in "Recount" were very good. I don't have HBO and first heard of the film through the Ebert & Roeper show, so I was glad to see the movie get a DVD release.
3 - Jen
I know, me too-- I was just lucky enough to see it on an HBO Free Preview Weekend. So thrilled they put all their films out on DVD like the Tony Blair one caled The Deal and the FDR movie Warm Springs. I still need to see John Adams which I heard was brilliant!