I was a little sad to learn that Swing Vote was ranked sixth at the box office this past weekend because I quite literally think this is one of the best movies I have seen this year.
If you've seen the trailer you know the premise is that Kevin Costner's character is the subject of a strange glitch that allows him to recast his vote in a timely manner. Because of a mathematical improbability, it turns out that his one vote will be the tie-breaker determining who will be President of the United States.
Yeah, this is a pretty corny idea. If you can convince yourself to roll with it, though, this movie delivers. It really shines a spotlight on the shortcomings and potential (if not always actualized) strengths of our political process. It poses questions about social and familial responsibility.
It's not that there's anything in this movie you haven't seen before. I just feel like it was all so well-executed. If you are interested in a well-crafted piece of cinema, I recommend Swing Vote. I'd love to see Hollywood financially rewarded for making this type of film.
