REEL DEAL: Our Brand Is Crisis REVIEW

Elections are coming up, and this would be the most timely movie for the upcoming election season with OUR BRAND IS CRISIS starring Sandra Bullock and Billy Bob Thornton. A political story based on a documentary of the 2002 Bolivian Presidential Elections where the characters are a fictional version of real candidates.

Set in 2002, Bolivian politician Pedro Castillo (a fictionalized version of Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada) hires an American political consulting firm (based on James Carville's Greenberg Carville Shrum firm) to help him win the 2002 Bolivian presidential election. The firm brings in Jane Bodine (Sandra Bullock) to manage the campaign in Bolivia. Battling her arch nemesis, the opposition's political consultant, fellow American Pat Candy (Billy Bob Thornton).

The film bridges the situation of both American and Bolivian campaign strategy which involves extraordinary activities which will push their candidates up the polls. It also mirrors the Philippine political situation which are also seen today as the country will also have the national elections. Politicians and campaign staff of the candidates would learn a thing or two from this movie, well hopefully positive. 

George Clooney Says "Our Brand is Crisis" Not All About Politics‏

Before George Clooney appears on the big screen in his upcoming films -- the Coen Brothers’ “Hail, Caesar!” (set for release in February 2016) and “Money Monster” from director Jodie Foster (April 2016) -- his presence will first be felt as the producer of “Our Brand is Crisis” starring Sandra Bullock. The gripping political satire opens across the Philippines on Jan. 13, 2016.

“Our Brand is Crisis” takes a timely and satirical look at the high-stakes gamesmanship behind the scenes of a presidential campaign, seen through the eyes and actions of the strategists-for-hire who are pulling the strings. Bringing audiences into the belly of the beast with a fictional story as relevant as today’s news cycle, it explores the often outrageous and unconscionable lengths to which some people will go in their competitive zeal to get the job done and cross the finish line ahead of the other guy.

Latino Actor Guns for People's Votes in "Our Brand is Crisis"‏

In Warner Bros. Pictures' “Our Brand is Crisis,” front and center of the election chaos stands presidential candidate and veteran politico Castillo, who sees his consultants (led by Sandra Bullock's Jane Bodine) as a necessary evil, and whose mix of charm, pride and privilege is deftly captured by Portuguese actor Joaquim de Almeida (“Fast Five”).

The actor nearly didn’t make the “Our Brand is Crisis” shoot because of an ill-timed gym injury shortly before production, but instead opted to use the situation to his advantage. “Castillo is not an easy guy, not a smiling, happy guy. He has issues. He’s impatient. So I used my own discomfort for the character,” he says.

Thornton Takes on Bullock in "Our Brand is Crisis"‏

Academy Award-winner Billy Bob Thornton (“The Judge,” FX's “Fargo”) stars as Pat Candy, the rival election strategist of Sandra Bullock's character, Jane Bodine, in Warner Bros. Pictures' satirical comedy, “Our Brand is Crisis.”

As the story opens, the infamous campaign fixer Jane Bodine is in seclusion, following a tragically unsuccessful run that left her more shattered than she can admit. She’s not quite ready to return to the fray when a former associate comes knocking in hopes that Jane can help turn things around for a hugely unpopular presidential candidate in Bolivia, named Castillo. She declines. But when Jane learns that her bitter rival Pat Candy has been hired by the opposing party, her competitive nature kicks in. Having lost to Pat more than once before, this could be her chance to even the score.

Election Madness Escalates with "Our Brand is Crisis"‏

Warner Bros. Pictures’ new satirical comedy “Our Brand is Crisis” starring Sandra Bullock takes a timely look at the high-stakes gamesmanship behind the scenes of a presidential campaign, seen through the eyes and actions of the strategists-for-hire who are pulling the strings.  The film could not have come at a timelier moment for the Philippines which is currently in the maelstrom of election madness.

"The Falcon" Anthony Mackie Runs an Election Campaign in "Our Brand is Crisis"‏

Most recently seen as The Falcon in this year's “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Ant-Man,” Anthony Mackie now stars opposite Sandra Bullock in Warner Bros. Pictures' satirical comedy “Our Brand is Crisis.”

In the film, a Bolivian presidential candidate failing badly in the polls enlists the firepower of an elite American management team, led by the deeply damaged but still brilliant strategist “Calamity” Jane Bodine (Bullock).

Mackie’s character, is Ben, the campaign team leader, whom director David Gordon Green describes as “smart, energetic and good-willed, the likeable anchor in the film. When everyone else seems to be challenging their ethics and making you question where they’re coming from or what their agendas are, he’s the one audiences will look to as someone who may still have some perspective.

Sandra Bullock's "Our Brand is Crisis" Unveils First Trailer‏

Warner Bros. Pictures has just released the first poster and trailer for the election satire “Our Brand is Crisis,” starring Oscar winners Sandra Bullock (“The Blind Side”) and Billy Bob Thornton (“Sling Blade”). The trailer may be viewed here at https://youtu.be/wDxHhluBWcQ.

A Bolivian presidential candidate failing badly in the polls enlists the firepower of an elite American management team, led by the deeply damaged but still brilliant strategist “Calamity” Jane Bodine (Bullock). In self-imposed retirement following a scandal that earned her nickname and rocked her to her core, Jane is coaxed back into the game for the chance to beat her professional nemesis, the loathsome Pat Candy (Thornton), now coaching the opposition.

But as Candy zeroes in on every vulnerability – both on and off the campaign trail – Jane is plunged into a personal crisis as intense as the one her team exploits nationally to boost their numbers. Dramatic, rapid-fire and laced with satire, “Our Brand is Crisis” reveals the cynical machinations and private battles of world-class political consultants for whom nothing is sacred and winning is all that matters.