Archived; click post to view.
Excerpt: In “Swing Vote,” Kevin Costner plays Bud Johnson, a newly unemployed factory worker whose well intentioned young daughter, Molly (Madeline Carroll), insists that he vote in the presidential election. The movie starts out with Bud going out on election nite, getting drunk and passing out. Not being able to get to the polling station, Molly decides to illegally cast a vote in Bud’s name, at which point the voting machine malfunctions. Bud’s cast vote is thus not counted and becomes the deciding vote in the nations most hotly contested election.
The thing is, Costner, is not too good at playing dumb. An underrated actor whose all-American good looks always seem to be hiding the talents of intelligence and reserve. Costner comes across as much too self-aware to be playing this ballcap-wearing, belly-scratching nimrod. Think back to the movies, “The Upside of Anger” and “Mr. Brooks.” In all actuality, Costner appears to be about 10 years too old for this role, and you left asking if they just couldn’t find someone younger.
Other problems have to do with the movies character who supposedly doesn’t know the difference between pro choice, and pro life. He doesn’t even know who’s running. But when NASCAR legend Richard Petty shows up outside his door to campain for the Republican candidate, Bud looks like a little kid who just got a pony at Christmas. What does this say about the stero type of…
If you enjoy our post, feel free to subscribes to our rss feeds
