During the Republican run of the 2008 Presidential election, candidate John McCain picks a relative unknown, Alaskan governor Sarah Palin, to be his running mate. As the campaign kicks into high gear, her lack of experience, in both political and media savvy, becomes a drain upon McCain and his strategists.
Acting
Moore's Palin is uncanny valley territory — voice, mannerisms, everything.
Writing
Sharp insider dialogue from the actual campaign book.
Direction
Roach balances satire with genuine campaign tragedy.
Director
Jay Roach
Julianne Moore
Sarah Palin
Woody Harrelson
Steve Schmidt
Ed Harris
John McCain
Peter MacNicol
Rick Davis
Jamey Sheridan
Mark Salter
Sarah Paulson
Nicolle Wallace
Ron Livingston
Mark Wallace
David Barry Gray
Todd Palin
Larry Sullivan
Chris Edwards
Mikal Evans
Bexie Nobles
Colby French
Tucker Eskew
Bruce Altman
Fred Davis
Spencer Garrett
Steve Biegun
Brian Howe
Randy Scheunemann
John Rothman
A.B. Culvahouse
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The real Steve Schmidt and Nicolle Wallace publicly confirmed the film's accuracy; Wallace said watching it was 'like an out-of-body experience.'
This film arguably did more to cement Palin's pop-culture legacy than her actual VP run — a meta-commentary on politics as performance that the film itself embodies.
US
