Starring Kevin Spacey, Bob Balaban, Ed Begley, Jr., Laura Dern, John Hurt,
Denis Leary, Bruce McGill, and Tom Wilkinson, Recount brings viewers behind the scenes at the controversial
Florida recount. This illuminating, hugely entertaining film pulls back the veil on the
headlines to explore the human drama surrounding the most controversial presidential
election in U.S. history.
Mixing news footage and verbatim dialogue
into fictionalized re-creations, Recount examines the torturous process that culminated
in the Supreme Court decision in Bush vs. Gore. The Republicans, led by charismatic
Texan James Baker, seize the initiative as the case is tried in the judicial system and
the court of public opinion. The Democrats play catch-up until Ron Klain, Gore's former
chief of staff, takes over and starts matching Baker's political hardball with tough
moves of his own. Mutual respect forms between the two as the fate of the
presidency plays out among a colorful cast ranging from the impressive (appellate
lawyer David Boies) to the maligned (Florida's Secretary of State Katherine Harris).
Recount recreates many of the movers and shakers in the Florida fight. Among the
Democrats are Ron Klain (Spacey), soldiering on despite being demoted as Gore's
Chief of Staff; Michael Whouley (Leary), Gore's Chief Field Operative; Warren
Christopher (Hurt), the onetime Secretary of State whose passivity eventually yields to
Klain's more forceful tactics; and David Boies (Begley), an appellate lawyer recruited
to articulate the Democrats' message. Republicans include James Baker (Wilkinson),
another former Secretary of State with a will to win to match Klain's; Ben Ginsberg
(Balaban), the campaign's Lead Counsel; Katherine Harris (Dern), Florida's Secretary
of State, remembered as much for her makeup as for her role in determining the
winner; and Mac Stipanovich (McGill), a lobbyist with the moniker "Mac the Knife."
Recount is directed by Jay Roach (Meet the Fockers, Austin Powers films), and written
by Danny Strong (best-known as an actor in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gilmore
Girls). It was executive produced by Roach, Emmy® winner Paula Weinstein (HBO's
Truman), HBO Films exec Len Amato (Blood Diamond), and Oscar® winner Sydney
Pollack (Out of Africa). The producer is Michael Hausman (Brokeback Mountain). |