GAME CHANGE (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television drama film, based on the book by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, depicts the 2008 American Presidential campaign and the unorthodox selection of unknown Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate. In 2007, McCain calls campaign strategist Steve Schmidt and frets about his low numbers, urging Schmidt to return to politics and assist him. McCain goes on to win several victories and secures the nomination, but his Democratic opponent, charismatic Illinois Senator Barack Obama, quickly proves far more popular. McCain considers selecting Al Gore's former running mate, Joe Lieberman, for his VP, but his advisers warn him that his base will not respond well to a liberal, Jewish candidate. Needing to close the gender gap with "a game-changing pick," campaign manager Rick Davis does some research and discovers Alaskan Governor Palin, who has "star quality" in addition to strong approval numbers. Despite McCain's doubts, they begin vetting Palin immediately, and Palin assures Schmidt that she is ready for a challenging campaign and harsh media scrutiny. He reminds her that she must support McCain's positions, even those with which she disagrees, and vetting attorney A.B. Culvahouse reveals that while Palin's pregnant teen daughter is a liability with voters, overall Palin is a "high risk, high reward" option. Speechwriter Mark Salter remains unsure, but Schmidt convinces McCain to accept her.
Schmidt prepares Palin to step into the limelight, possibly for the rest of her life, and McCain proudly introduces her to the public at a speech at Wright State University. Director of Communications Nicolle Wallace makes plans for Palin's PR training and image makeover, and Palin sits down with a group of advisers to discuss any "unexpected surprises." Despite her assurances, the press immediately uncovers a number of questionable elements in Palin's life not unearthed by the expedited vetting, including her "Troopergate" ethics violation and the failed "Bridge to Nowhere" plan, and an angry Schmidt attempts to smooth things over with the media. When press secretary Maria Comella issues a statement saying that Palin is "proud" of her daughter Bristol's pregnancy, Palin demands her firing, and the advisers warn Palin not to answer any of the allegations against her yet. Palin formally accepts the nomination at the Republican National Convention and gives an extremely well-received speech in which she discusses Trig, her son with Down syndrome, and jokes about the fierceness of "hockey moms," much to the great relief of Schmidt, Wallace and the others. Constituents connect with her folksy, down-to-Earth persona, agreeing that she is "for real," though the press grows annoyed with their inability to question her, and when Schmidt attempts to prep her for her first big interview, he is stunned to find that she knows very little about foreign policy and quickly summons two professionals to give her a history lesson.
Palin berates Schmidt when her e-mail is hacked and her family harassed, and she demands that a poll be conducted in Alaska to determine her popularity. Wallace is stunned when she displays confusion about the Federal Reserve System and the difference between the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, and Palin's interview with Charlie Gibson goes poorly when she nonsensically notes Russia's proximity to Alaska, leading to mockery from "Saturday Night Live" and other outlets. Wallace grows increasingly frustrated as Palin ignores her attempts to coach her, and when the 2008 banking crisis strikes, Schmidt urges McCain to suspend his campaign and negotiate a bipartisan solution. Palin experiences a "mini-meltdown" as Schmidt confesses that McCain does not know the full extent of his running mate's ignorance, and she obsesses over the Alaska poll as Wallace desperately tries to prepare her for a sit-down with Katie Couric. The interview is a disaster, leading to more memorable "SNL" moments, and Palin furiously castigates Wallace over the "gotcha questions," prompting an angry Wallace to refuse to continue working with her. McCain rants about the media's harsh treatment of him and the problem of YouTube, which allows voters to view otherwise forgettable moments repeatedly, though Schmidt attempts to reassure him.
Senior adviser Mark Wallace, Nicolle's husband, worries that Palin is genuinely "unstable" as they head towards the Vice-Presidential debate. Schmidt finally confronts Palin about her bizarre behavior and extreme weight loss, admitting to McCain that she seems close to a nervous breakdown. Palin reunites with her family, and husband Todd offers his encouragement as Schmidt and Wallace decide to simply have her memorize talking points rather than comprehending them. She does reasonably well in the mock debates, though she repeatedly calls her opponent "Senator O'Biden," and during the real debate, she takes Schmidt's advice and "pivots" away from difficult topics to focus on big-picture campaign ideas. Everyone is deeply relieved, feeling that a victory is again in the realm of possibility, though Palin returns to her old ways when she publicly criticizes the campaign's decision to pull ads out of New Hampshire for financial reasons. She refuses to appear beside pro-choice and pro-stem cell research candidates, and the media lambastes her extremely high clothing budget when it is made public. Schmidt confronts her for openly lying to the press about the various past charges against her, but she declares that she is "single-handedly carrying" the campaign with her popularity and will say what she wishes to say.
McCain is highly uncomfortable when his advisers, desperate to regain favor with voters, ramp up the personal attacks against Obama, including his associations with Reverend Jeremiah Wright and Bill Ayers. His constituents, naturally, take the matter too far and react with racism and calls for violence, and McCain is forced to defend him as "a decent family man." Davis ponders politicians' "pathological need to be loved" and the relevance of celebrity in modern-day elections, and on November 4, Wallace tearfully admits to Schmidt that she could not bring herself to vote. With the numbers looking grim, McCain tells Schmidt that he cannot quit no matter what, and Schmidt apologizes for suggesting Palin in the first place. Barack Obama is declared the 44th President at 11:00 P.M., and Schmidt furiously upbraids Palin when she demands to give a concession speech of her own, stating that she has no right to buck tradition. McCain politely turns her down and reminds her to continue defending the party before giving his own speech, in which he praises his team – and Palin – for their hard work. Sometime later, Schmidt sits down with Anderson Cooper, who asks if he would choose Palin again if given the chance to go back. Schmidt, after a hesitation, states that life does not allow "do-overs."
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: March 10, 2012 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:57:50
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 108991
- GENRE: Drama, historical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, historical; Politics; Women in politics; U S - Elections
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV, 2012
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Gary Goetzman … Executive Producer
- Tom Hanks … Executive Producer
- Jay Roach … Executive Producer, Director
- Steven Shareshian … Co-Executive Producer
- Danny Strong … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
- Amy Sayres … Producer
- Carrye Glazar … Co-Producer
- Jennifer Perini … Co-Producer
- Kirk Saduski … Co-Producer
- Miura Kite … Co-Producer
- Michelle Graham … Associate Producer
- Bob Peishel … Digitial Intermediate Producer
- Denise Woodgerd … Digital Intermediate VFX Producer
- Theodore Shapiro … Music by
- Mark Halperin … Based on the book by
- John Heilemann … Based on the book by
- Julianne Moore … Cast, Sarah Palin
- Woody Harrelson … Cast, Steve Schmidt
- Ed Harris … Cast, John McCain
- Ron Livingston … Cast, Mark Wallace
- Peter MacNicol … Cast, Rick Davis
- Sarah Paulson … Cast, Nicolle Wallace
- Jamey Sheridan … Cast, Mark Salter
- Bruce Altman … Cast, Fred Davis
- Colby French … Cast, Tucker Eskew
- Spencer Garrett … Cast, Steve Biegun
- David Barry Gray … Cast, Todd Palin
- Brian Howe … Cast, Randy Scheunemann
- Austin Pendleton … Cast, Senator Joe Lieberman
- John Rothman … Cast, A.B. Culvahouse
- Larry Sullivan … Cast, Chris Edwards
- Mikal Evans … Cast, Bexie Nobles
- Alex Hyde-White … Cast, Lindsey Graham
- Ron Perkins … Cast, Bill McInturff
- Melissa Farman … Cast, Bristol Palin
- Taya Miller … Cast, Piper Palin
- Brittany Underwood … Cast, Willow Palin
- Arlo James … Cast, Trig Palin
- Beth Dixon … Cast, Alaskan Constituent
- Brian d'Arcy James … Cast, Ted Frank
- Sandy Bainum … Cast, Cindy McCain
- Doug Nelson … Cast, Matthew Scully
- Tiffany Thornton … Cast, Meghan McCain
- Jenna Stern … Cast, Lisa Kline - Stylist
- Julie Mun … Cast, Attacking Reporter
- Rhonda Overby … Cast, Attacking Reporter
- Richard Pilcher … Cast, Attacking Reporter
- Michael John Casey … Cast, Attacking Reporter
- John Heilemann … Cast, St. Paul Reporter
- Mark Halperin … Cast, St. Paul Reporter
- Shirley A. Rumierk … Cast, Maria Comella
- Kevin Bigley … Cast, Track Palin
- Justin Gaston … Cast, Levi Johnston
- Brenna McDonough … Cast, Phone Volunteer
- Thomas Roy … Cast, Phone Volunteer
- Stephanie Waters … Cast, Phone Volunteer
- Christie E. Beran … Cast, Jeannie Etchart
- Scott Lesmes … Cast, Kid in Rope-line
- Liam Davis … Cast, Kid in Rope-line
- Justin Turner … Cast, Kid in Rope-line
- Ariana Froh … Cast, Kid in Rope-line
- Allison Shanks … Cast, Kid in Rope-line
- Dylan Kuhnhern … Cast, Kid in Rope-line
- Corissa Anderson … Cast, Kid in Rope-line
- Kathryn McCurdy … Cast, Rope-line Kid Sarah
- Susan Allenback … Cast, Rope-line Mother
- Lou Sumrall … Cast, Cowboy Palin Supporter
- Kristan King Lewman … Cast, Religious Palin Supporter
- Sidney Blackmer … Cast, Gun Enthusiast Palin Supporter
- Bridget Gethins … Cast, Passionate Palin Supporter
- Rain Pryor … Cast, Angela - Makeup Artist
- Tara Garwood … Cast, Amy - Hairdresser
- Dan Desmond … Cast, Dr. Ollie
- Peggy J. Scott … Cast, Debate Volunteer
- Patrick Welsh … Cast, Director
- Lee Ordeman … Cast, Troopergate Reporter
- Leo Erickson … Cast, USA Chanter
- Brian Lucero … Cast, Hostile Crowd
- Paul Lofgren … Cast, Hostile Crowd
- Field Blauvelt … Cast, Hostile Crowd
- Steve Dantzler … Cast, Hostile Crowd
- Jill Redding … Cast, Elderly Woman "Can't Trust Obama"