AniInterview Sorry, this movie sucks

Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

chas437 Its hard to review this title without personal political opinions getting in the way. I was a huge Gore supporter in 2000, and I had the 'we was robbed' feeling so many shared. I've done quite a bit of research since and I now believe the entire affair was handled correctly. Recount' is a brilliant production, and the liberal bias is predictable, if not quaint.At the end of the day, Ted Olson had it right, votes in one county/precinct are apples to oranges when these counties have different counting standards. The US Supreme Count's 7-2 finding of disenfranchisement of voters could be precedent. This is a major reason that "popular vote" will never decide presidential elections. A vote in Wyoming is very different than a vote in California where voter registration is absurdly lenient.This is an immensely entertaining film, regardless of one's political leanings. I think even GOP supporters would admit Katherine Harris was a disaster. This film was released in the spring of 2008, no doubt to remind viewers that the Dems were robbed. In my view, the 2000 Florida election would have been problematic either way it was decided. The vote tally was so close with nearly 6 million votes, a difference in the 100s is statistically a fluke. The GOP was ruthless, but, the Dems constantly wanting recounts until one went their way was equally ridiculous.

Lee Eisenberg The 2000 US presidential election shocked the world. For years, the presidential elections had gone by without a hitch, but suddenly a bunch of irregularities showed up in Florida. Jay Roach's "Recount" focuses on this story. What the movie makes clear is that the US election system is actually one of the most backwards and dysfunctional. On top of that, Florida had denied thousands of the right to vote due to their names being similar to those of felons. In the end, Al Gore conceded despite having apparently won the popular vote. Michael Moore called it A Very American Coup.The movie does a good job telling the story. The main focus is on Ron Klain (Kevin Spacey, a previously renowned actor now pretty much ruined due to the recent revelations of his misdeeds) and Michael Whouley (Denis Leary), both of whom try to not only figure out what happened, but convince Florida's supreme court and then the US Supreme Court to allow the recount to continue. Although the viewer knows the ending, it's still riveting to see the inner workings of the campaign, but also the shenanigans that got pulled. Those hanging chads really screwed everyone over. And boy, was Katharine Harris a creep! Laura Dern's performance as her makes her look wacky but also makes clear that she had a vile side.Part of what I thought about while watching the movie is how different things would be today had Gore become president. It's commonly understood that he would've kept us out of Iraq, but I suspect that he would've prevented the 9/11 attacks by paying attention to the presidential daily briefing announcing Osama bin Laden's plans to attack the US (meaning that we wouldn't have had every mess that resulted from that).Anyway, it's a movie that I recommend. Jay Roach, originally known for the Austin Powers movies and the "Meet the Parents" movies, has proved to be quite adept with these politically-themed movies. He also gave us "Game Change" (about John McCain's hiring of Sarah Palin as his running mate), "The Campaign" (about an over-the-top senate campaign), "Trumbo" (about Dalton Trumbo) and "All the Way" (about Lyndon Johnson's efforts to pass the Civil Rights Act). The rest of the cast includes John Hurt (V for Vendetta), Tom Wilkinson (The Full Monty), Ed Begley Jr, Bob Balaban, Bruce McGill (Animal House) and Mitch Pileggi (The X Files).

petarmatic Who would of thought of that elections can bring so much of suspension and fun. And wow Kevin Spacey, oh boy do I like to watch him act.Well what can we say about this film and events surrounding elections of 2000? I wonder did everyone involved thought that things they were doing in late 2000 will come back to the in the fall of 2001? I doubt that anybody really knew how much world was REALLY watching, and training flying without take off and landing. Hm. Makes one think, doesn*t it? It was always interested why people in the USA vote Republican? I would never do that. If I understood well George W. Bush ushered era which was unthinkable in its cruelty to most Americans. I think it would be easier to vote Democrat in the future. Democratic Presidents are so much more fun and cute :) Makes you wish give them a blow job :) Another smiley, Kevin Spacey type :))))))

Danny Blankenship Over the last year I have watched this film many times and I must say as always HBO does it again. Their original film work is top notch it's always relevant and the acting blended in with actual news shots of realism is super. "Recount" one of the best films ever made from their original collection replays and goes in depth in a very informative and interesting retelling of the 2000 presidential contest between Al Gore and George W. Bush. As it highlights the chaos and drama that occurred during the Florida recount all up until the Supreme Court decision.Starting election night when you see that it's to close to call with the call hanging in the balance down in the sunshine state. From the get go it's like you as the viewer are reliving the 2000 election all over again. You see the info revealed the ballot punch cards in Florida were in question so Ron Klain(played wonderfully by Kevin Spacey) advises Mr. Gore to challenge for a recount as the AP has reported a much closer race than the networks who have already declared a W. victory. Then legal challenge after legal challenge occurs as each acquire a legal team to fight the Florida election boards and state supreme courts.As your caught up with the intrigue and drama of the film from the behind the scenes strategy planning of legal and political tricks, you see clearly that Gore's team was not aggressive enough as Warren Christopher former secretary of state will not put up as much of a backyard dogfight brawl like the Republican side. As you see ex secretary of state and Bush family friend attorney James Baker(played to perfection by Tom Wilkinson) who's crafty and sly as a fox who will do anything to win. Even though the makers of this film like all Hollywood people tend to favor the Democrats and liberals still it was nice they portrayed Gore's team as weak and not as aggressive which was true. Then on the other hand I disagree with their other take which I know was just liberal mischief making a laugh at a wicked witch Republican Florida secretary of State Katherine Harris. Even though Harris was played to form by Laura Dern still this film portrays her as to stupid and to obsessed with the limelight of the media focus of attention and flashing lights. Even if you didn't like Katherine Harris and her ways of handling the recount still the film should have portrayed her more in an elegant and classy manner as for real Mrs. Harris is a beautiful and sexy woman for the political world.Just like the old days of 2000 all during this film it's back and fourth bickering, fussing, and legal challenge after challenge as one side tries to outwit, outsmart and trick the other during the sunshine state recount. As it goes all the way up to the U.S. supreme court. Once again HBO does it again with an original of a real live event that's done to perfection making us relive the most memorable and controversial U.S. presidential election in history. As everyone remembers late 2000 being focused to their TV's and all the time thinking of Florida and the recount. Plus from watching this film as many already know it highlights a lot of what is wrong with our U.S. political election system from punch ballot cards with chads, the popular vote, electoral college, racial profiling, polling firms, and most of all proving that when courts decide elections it's bad because it's just like people having their mouths duct taped of freedom of democracy and speech.