FilmSnobReviews

Title: Our Brand is Crisis
MPAA Rating: R
Director: David Gordon Green
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Billy Bob Thornton, Anthony Mackie

What It Is: Troubled campaign strategist “Calamity” Jane Bodine is brought in to help a lemon of a candidate who is a former president. This candidate Castillo (Joaquim de Almeida) is an Americanized career politician. Because of this, he has trouble adapting to people. Particularly the poorer people native to the country, Bolivia. Jane must deal with her arch-nemesis and fellow analyst Pat Candy (Thornton) who has decided to back a different horse in this race for the heart of the landlocked South American country.

What We Think: I don’t know why but I really didn’t like this. Perhaps it is the ending that feels unfinished and tacked on. I feel as if test audiences hated whatever original ending we had and then they copped out and changed it. Bullock isn’t really bad here, just…confusing. All of the other performances however are just phoned in. Even Anthony Mackie, who is normally reliable, just stinks the joint up. You don’t buy into anything you’re seeing. This candidate isn’t a guy you want to win. So what is the point of it all.

Our Grade: D+, Bullock basically saves this thing from pure disaster. David Gordon Green is such a weird director. He can at one moment build crafty comedies that transcends (Pineapple Express) and than goes right on in and makes Your Highness likewise in 2015 he made this and the much much better Manglehorn. I’m going to go ahead and not recommend this very heavily. If you’re a huge fan of Bullock or political comedies this is one to watch for you. Just really try to stay awake, because it can get super boring and horrendously paced. It’s really bad. Better luck next time DGG.