But at the end, their methods are exposed to the viewers as evil. As it happens and Im sure all this is coincidental Bolivia contains immense natural gas reserves, the second-largest in South America after Venezuela, whose national resources had been rendered largely off limits to outside investors by the rise of socialist president Hugo Chvez. Thanks for reading the spoiler. It starts out with big promises and ends up with jackshit happening.". January 14, 2016. He cant reconcile that her success also makes her a bad person. She reveals she has had mental issues before and suffered from depression. His name is too long with her so she just calls him Eddie. The problem is that they do such a good job selling this Jane that they do exactly what theyre supposed to do: They make you curious about her. Entertaining and provocative, Our Brand Is Crisis is a satirical political drama. Someone smashes an egg on Castillo, who spectacularly punches the assailant. After this incident, however, Castillo shows the other side of him by being kind to protesters who throw rocks at his bus. Maybe, kinda. It casts a skeptical eye at the gospel of globalization thats preached by Janes team, but its outrage is more directed at cynicism than at any specific system. They even resort to publishing photos of their enemy with Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie in the background, so that he has to deny being a Nazi. Um, yes. Its educational and leaves you with serious thoughts about political power. When shes recruited for a chance to face off in Bolivia against her longtime and similarly depraved rival, Pat Candyportrayed convincingly enough as a stock Billy Bob Thornton character by Billy Bob Thorntonshe signs up. Does he drink too much? She is then seen in the middle of the protest, and sees Eddie. Ben admires a shiny dark bowl but Nell takes it from him. [3] The film opened on October 30, 2015, alongside Burnt and Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse. In the mix is a fine supporting cast including a sensational Thornton . Castillo wins the vote by a small margin. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. Reluctantly enlisted to help elect the unlikable bully Castillo (Joaquim de Almeida), Jane gets the bit between her teeth when she discovers that her arch-rival, Pat Candy (Billy Bob Thornton), is running the oppositions campaign. Candy goes on to tell Jane, If you fight with monsters too long, you become a monster. Jane later says that shell kill herself if she loses to Candy again (though this appears to be hyperbole) She has lost every election against him. Reproduction of material from any Salon pages without written permission is strictly prohibited. Shes convinced to step up when she discovers the front-runner has hired consultant Pat Candy (Billy Bob Thornton), her arch-nemesis. Ben (Anthony Mackie) and Nell (Ann Down) are driving in the snowy mountains (between the mountains, as Jane later corrects them) discussing their plan to sway Jane to work for the campaign of Pedro Castillo, a Senator in Bolivia who is running for President. Jane gets a call from Pat who tells her to turn on the TV. The pottery business is explained forthwith, lest were worried about some Ghost influence. Eddie is delivering a framed photograph to now President-Elect Castillos Senate offices. The corporations whined and complained, but ultimately decided that 18 percent was a lot better than nothing. It received mixed reviews, despite Bullock's performance being largely praised, and was a box office disappointment. Thats why in a time of ever-greater political chaos, the character rings so false. The train begins to leave and Candy is furious. Later Castillo is heard instructing interest rates to be raised to 15%. She pulls from her bag the pottery bowl that Ben was admiring in the first scene, and hands it to him before climbing out of the car. Digital rental or purchase allows you to instantly stream and download to watch anywhere and anytime on your favorite devices. Toronto Film Review: 'Our Brand Is Crisis' Sandra Bullock plays a ruthless political stategist in a role inspired by Rachel Boynton's docu and intended for producer George Clooney to play. She tells Castillo and the campaign that this is no longer an election, it is a crisis. She describes the Daisy advertisement, which ran exactly once, that turned the election for Lyndon Johnson over Barry Goldwater. What the hell was James Carville and Stan Greenbergs consulting firm with its close ties to Bill and Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party leadership class doing in one of South Americas smallest and poorest nations? All rights reserved. Outside, a large groan is heard. He resides in Atlanta with his wife and their dog Jack. Our Brand is Crisis may be director David Gordon Green's most sterile picture yet, but it's redeemed somewhat by Sandra Bullock's lead performance, as well as a talented ensemble cast . ***SPOILER*** Castillo wins the election, and immediately breaks all his promises and turns out to be a tyrant. Realizing that her candidate, Senator Castillo (Joaquim de Almeida) cant win by being likable, they decide to use fear as their issue, sell that Bolivia is a nation in crisis, and hes the only many that can save it. 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. Meanwhile, the senior advisors (Ben, Nell and others) talk about Jane and Candy, how they had sex previously, and how she spread a rumor during a campaign that Candys candidates daughter was on drugs. 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. Ideology? Comedy Drama A battle-hardened American political consultant is sent to help re-elect a controversial president in Bolivia, where she must compete with a long-term rival working for another candidate. 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. The Unloved, Part 111: Devil in a Blue Dress, Female Filmmakers in Focus: Cauleen Smith on Drylongso, True Lies Fails to Capture the Charm of the James Cameron Original, Berlinale 2023 Highlights, Part Two: Reality, Manodrome, The Adults, Inside, Golda. "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,. She finally just decided to get off the carousel. 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. It begins poorly, with an odd montage intercut to stagey interview footage in which Bullocks character, Calamity Jane Bodine, formulates an apologia for we-dont-quite-know-what. Our Brand is Crisis (2015) (964) 6.1 1 h 47 min 2015 X-Ray R. A Bolivian presidential candidate failing in the polls enlists the firepower of an elite American management team, led by the deeply damaged but still brilliant strategist Jane Bodine. By Manohla Dargis. The political comedy Our Brand Is Crisis stars Sandra Bullock as an American campaign strategist hired to work for a Bolivian presidential candidate. The villagers are angrily blocking the bus, and Castillo, against the wishes of Jane, gets off to talk with them. Our Brand is Crisis was released across all major streaming and cable platforms on Tuesday, January 19, 2016. The film is directed by David. Fliers are discovered, authored by the La Paz Grassroots that say Castillo had a three year affair. Answer. As the site's Chief Film Critic, he has authored hundreds of reviews and covered major film festivals including the Toronto International Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival. Its cute for a while. You\'ll receive the next newsletter in your inbox. Starring Sandra Bullock and Billy Bob Thornton. Who was really paying for their work with Goni, an unpopular former president who had spent much of his life in the United States and spoke Spanish so poorly that Bolivian opponents derided him as El Gringo? Senator Pedro Castillo, President of Bolivia 15 years ago, is once again running for the country's top job. See list of Relevant Issuesquestions-and-answers. Jane meets with Castillo who says shes a liability. As one of his first actions, he invites the IMF into Bolivia, thereby breaking his promise. Our Brand Is Crisis also has deeper themes that punctuate the human cost of winning and what it takes to do just that. 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. Later at her hotel room, she is still nauseous from the elevation. Candy is outside the hotel in his chauffeur-driven SUV and offers Jane, Ben, and Nell a ride to the airport. As a result of this, Castillo agrees to start running a negative campaign. Castillo says its in the past, and that his wife knows about it, but Jane claims the perception will be that hes an adulterer. Eddie and his brothers join the protests and are shouting angry chants. She needs a cigarette, so she walks out the door into a large open foyer. But the fact that it wants to also squeeze in a redemptive tale. Despite Sandra Bullocks strong lead performance, David Gordon Greens film cant push a hopeful tone past its depressing reality. 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. 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? The pacing is. Janes voice is heard saying, If you dont like the road youre on, start paving a new one.. [16], On August 21, 2014, Bullock's casting was confirmed, playing a retired political consultant called 'Calamity' Jane Bodine, and David Gordon Green was set to direct the film. Jane next starts a rumor that Rivera is a Nazi, based on no real facts, but a fuzzy picture showing him with Nazi propaganda. 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. Afterwards, Jane sends 3 Bolivian singers to show up at Candys door. The real meat of the comedy, and drama, comes in the ingenious dirty tricks that Candy and Bodine play on each other, which could kick off a primer on the political practice recently known as rat-f**king (although that phrase is never uttered in the film). NOTE: This spoiler was submitted by Jason. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. A bus race ensues around dangerous bends and cliffs. Policy doesnt even enter into the conversation; its more about scoring points by making your opponent look like a Nazi sympathizer simply by virtue of a doctored photograph. Back on the bus, Castillo explain to Eddie that an effective leader is a father to the people, and that sometimes a father must be strict. Though not without its entertaining momentsthe cast, led by Sandra Bullock, is energetic, sharp and gets a fair number of juicy bits to rock out with. Our Brand Is Crisis (2015) Plot Showing all 5 items Jump to: Summaries (4) Synopsis (1) Summaries A battle-hardened American political consultant is sent to help re-elect a controversial president in Bolivia, where she must compete with a long-term rival working for another candidate. He has written for a host of other publications and resides in Brooklyn. Like before, it came from La Paz Grassroots, but this time it really did come from Candy. "Wake up, this is war. There are very occasional crude sexual references. The crisis, when it came . Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, youll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. In its best moments, Our Brand Is Crisis is reminiscent of Wag the Dog; it knows how fucked politics is and acts accordingly. He denies being a member of the cult. Preview", "Star-Driven Casualties 'Our Brand Is Crisis' & 'Burnt' At The B.O. The next scene shows the state department giving an anti-cocaine speech, which will help Volasco. The campaign believes Castillo should apologize as soon as possible but Jane disagrees. Um, yes. In her eyes, her job is done. Gonis second term as president barely lasted a year, after his plans to allow an international consortium to build a pipeline and ship Bolivian natural gas to North America at dirt-cheap prices sparked a massive popular uprising. Things you buy through our links may earnNew Yorka commission. Back at the hotel room, Jane is with Eddie and his brothers, ordering room service and still drunk. The news that Jane will be pitted against political consultant Pat Candy, with whom she has a past, is enough to get her away from the wheel. Our Brand is Crisis was one of these pleasant surprises. Jane is so nauseous from her travel and the elevation she leaves and is heard throwing up. [2/4], Barbara Vancheri, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, would be perfect humanist, socialist, anti-capitalist propaganda except its a bit disjointed Abhorrent at least 61 obscenities rear female nudity when woman on bus moons other bus, crass, grimy and not sure of its own message burdens itself with foul language and sexual allusions, spoiling some pretty great performances from Sandra Bullock and Billy Bob Thornton. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Election day. He is currently 28 points behind. Jane invites them out to dinner with the campaign team. But it seems as though screenwriter Peter Straughan and director David Gordon Green realized near the end that theyd written a feature-length film celebrating consultants ability to install a lying, oligarchic, IMF-beholden stooge to a South American presidency, and decided they ought to wrap things up more palatably. Plot out uproarious long-shot tricks against his opponents that always seem to work out even better than hoped? It already has. : What The Hell Happened? They approach each other and she just smiles. It is considered to be the most important process in public relations." This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. Cut back to the interview that opened the film. Available from various digital retailers including Amazon Video, iTunes, Google Play, Apple, Vudu and others. The story follows a political strategist who's recruited to help the campaign of a Bolivian presidential. He calls the police and Jane is seen slapping an officer. Hollywood loves it some Ragin Cajun, because hes the closest real-life approximation to the magical political consultant of its dreams. 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. Answer, Should Christians seek political power or should we only focus on evangelism? In case the true story behind the baffling and approximately well-intentioned Sandra Bullock star vehicle Our Brand Is Crisis makes any difference, here it is: Way back in the innocent days of 2002 (Im kidding about innocent), the high-powered political consulting firm Greenberg Carville Shrum parachuted into Bolivia to take up the cause of a struggling presidential candidate named Gonzalo Snchez de Lozada, universally known as Goni. Rachel Boynton, a documentary director whose work focuses on ideology, politics and power (her most recent movie, Big Men, is about the global workings of the oil industry), came along and made an extraordinary film about that campaign, whose title was drawn from a telling phrase coined by one of the GCS consultants. Maybe Carville and the Clintonocracy were empowering democracy after all, even if it wasnt quite the variety they intended. She may get some help in getting into the mindset of that indigenous poor through a campaign volunteer named Eddie, a Castillo loyalist since he was a young boy much to the chagrin of his friends. The film was screened in the Special Presentations section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. At least not right away. At first Jane is defensive, claiming that she was just doing her job, but soon her heart is softened as she realizes the mess she helped to make. They talk about the book and Mephistopheles, with whom Faust makes a wager for his soul. Rivera is on, holding two babies during a campaign stop, confessing how hes doubly lucky, and promises to run a positive campaign. 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. 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