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Identity Crisis

Right in time for election season comes the political dramedy "Our Brand Is Crisis", which, like any politician, promises something for everyone. How many promises it keeps is, appropriately, debatable.

"Calamity" Jane Bodine (Sandra Bullock) is an American political strategist, recruited out of self-exile to work on the Bolivian Presidential campaign of unpopular candidate Castillo (Joaquim de Almeida). A burnt out, recovering alcoholic presently suffering from altitude sickness, Bodine is energized by the tormenting presence of her nemesis Pat Candy (Billy Bob Thornton), who is advising the campaign frontrunner. Bodine and Candy exchange dirty tricks as the poll numbers rise and fall.

"Our Brand Is Crisis" is a fictionalized treatment of the 2005 documentary of the same name, which focused on Bill Clinton's former campaign manager James Carville. Both Bullock and Thornton portray Carvillesque characters (and the bald Thornton looks the part).

Any empathy the audience feels for the nauseous Bodine is likely explained by the movie's woeful lurching between satire and sincerity. Though it could be charitably argued that the movie's fluid tone mirrors its protagonist's journey.

The script (Peter Straughan), despite its flaws, provides a rare, meaty female role (originally written for a male), allowing Bullock to show off both her comedic and dramatic skills. Thornton, regrettably, is underused, but charmingly sinister. A strong supporting cast of Anthony Mackie, Ann Dowd, Zoe Kazan, and Scoot McNairy completes Bodine's campaign team.

Directed by David Gordon Green, "Our Brand is Crisis" would be a more effective black comedy if it didn't so often get lost in a gray area. Still, considering the conventional Hollywood alternative, this choice may be the lesser of two evils.