It's the Election, Stupid

Swing Vote wants to rip the political process to shreds yet leave you cheering for democracy

Ben Glass / Touchstone

A sub-ordinary Joe (Costner) becomes a 10-day media wonder as America waits for him to cast his ballot.

It's said that if you want to kick-start a conversation, or empty a movie house, just talk politics. Yet in this presidential-election year, filmmakers are peppering the multiplex electorate with pictures that take sides. Oliver Stone is finishing up W, a biopic of President Bush. The documentary Stealing America: Vote by Vote, already playing in some cities, argues that voting machines are hardly more accurate than Ouija boards. There are even a couple of right-wing movies, which are almost illegal in Hollywood: An American Carol, an anti--Michael Moore comedy from David Zucker of the Airplane! and Naked Gun series, and Hype:...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!