Our Brand Is Crisis

Sparks fly, but the grim cynicism of modern politics adds subversive weight to the film’s screwball comedy stylings and has a lot to say about modern politics, in the US as well as abroad.

The film is at its best when the storyline gets dangerously real and Bullock’s character struggles to justify the back room king making of a campaign with the needs of the country’s poor majority.

Though not without its entertaining moments—the cast, led by Sandra Bullock, is energetic, sharp and gets a fair number of juicy bits to rock out with. But as a whole, Our Brand is Crisis is a messy affair that sputters along when it should be humming with assured cynical momentum.

Our Brand Is Crisis shows flashes of insight cribbed from reality, nibbling the edges of satire without ever taking a big bite.

Green and screenwriter Peter Straughan never completely go as far as they might have, satirically speaking.

Green, who once had a solid and arty indy cinema career going, cannot for the life of him hit the right tone, here. The film is waterlogged when it should be jaunty, and the cynicism and the sentimentality are kept at arm’s length.

This satire, directed by David Gordon Green from a screenplay by Peter Straughan, suffers from deficits of wit, wisdom, focus, filmmaking expertise and appropriate tone. It’s a case study, if nothing else, of starting with a dubious idea and making it downright awful.

To simply call this film a political dramedy/satire is to do a disservice to its more visceral component. In a role, Sandra Bullock often plays, the untethered woman in a one-woman show, the depth of her performance is what gives this movie its immediate allure. Bullock's Jane Bodine's struggle with her inner demons shine brightly in so much of what she doesn't say that we are intent to listen when she does speak. Jane's battle with her nemesis, keenly played by Billy Bob Thornton, illuminates what is often a complex issue for women striving in fields where men typically play. Although this isn't at the crux of their dissension, which lives in a far more personal place,Thornton's character, Pat Candy, uses every manipulative ploy available to dissolve his mounting insecurity as he realizes Jane's in it to win it-big time. Their sparring is the product of their egos, which is what leads them to the manna that feeds them--winning. They, like the politicians they are branding to win, are all "puppets" in a game that costs more than any populace should have to pay. The supporting cast is deliciously effective, and despite some lapses into a too-sugary donut, the overall message, though not a re-creation of the wheel, is a fine vehicle to make its point. And, as in all political directives, it is best to read in, under, up, down, around, and in between the lines.

A nearly-impactful political comedy/drama that centers around a nation that most of the movie's audience will be totally unfamiliar with. Our Brand Is Crisis constantly plays footsie with greatness but doesn't quite deliver the goods. There's witty, fun writing and quality moments throughout and Sandra Bullock does a fine job as the dark former veteran campaign manager coming in to rebuild a sinking ship that is a former Bolivian president. But what Our Brand Is Crisis never achieves is a totally laugh-out-loud script or the intense and evocative call-to-action resurgence film that it attempts to be. Serving two masters isn't impossible in Hollywood but you have to sell out to both and balance the scales well - not to mention have excellent writing. Our Brand Is Crisis will not waste your time but you won't feel like it was all that memorable either. It's certainly worth a watch if you're intrigued by the setting and the cast but few will come away with the feeling that this movie truly set itself apart in both quality and message - the message (in the end) being that politicians can be hard to support because campaigns are built on promises and presidencies are spent ignoring those promises for most of the people on this planet. It's an incredibly relevant message that starts to find its voice way too late in the game but at least the film goes out with a little flair and excitement. I liked it but not enough to wholesale recommend it to my friends and family.

Campaigners, candidates and the citizens, everybody on the streets of Bolivia. The film was okay, but you have already seen it. This is the same old story where in America, the presidential running candidates do everything they can to win the precious votes, but here it takes place in a different country. Not bad actually, but disappointment is the American influence. Now I tell the truth that it was inspired by the real event. There's already a documentary film made, but now they altered it little and made a political-comedy. The two campaign runners from the United States goes to Bolivia to aide two different candidates and becomes themselves confront once again. To gain the momentum, they have to go any length, so the fun begins when each others pull their legs. But who's going to stand ultimately and with what tactic is to be revealed in the next half of the film. I think, except the American characters dominance, the film was refreshing like the locations, supporting cast wise. But actors like Sandra Bullock, Billy Bob Thornton et cetera holds the key. Obviously the star power is one reason and the other is for keeping the real event's touch. The film does not work for everyone, it did do nothing for me. The director of 'Pineapple Express' failed to deliver. But it was a bad screenplay, underdeveloped or maybe lacks some good lines and strong scenes. I totally suggest you to skip it, you would miss nothing. 5.5/10

It is easy to see why this movie didn't work, the film has nothing to attract your attention, its plot is manipulative and you know very well what will happen, even if you are not aware of the actual events and the people in which these characters were based. Our Brand Is Crisis is a completely forgettable product and a film that does not say anything on the filmography of its cast.

Pretty boring waste of time. Very surface plot; not especially deep or funny or witty or revealing. We do get to watch Bullock's face twist because of inner turmoil. I've seen Bullock in serious roles and think she does a good job. And the writing - blah.