Cert 15
107 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language
I rather like Sandra Bullock. She is a fine actress and seems to be unusually self-effacing for a Hollywood A-lister.
But I wasn't too convinced she would make a hard-nosed but depressive political strategist with addiction issues.
And, although she gives it her best shot in David Gordon Green's Our Brand Is Crisis, I feel as if it needed someone with a harder edge in the role.
Bullock's character Jane is dragged out of retirement by a team whose candidate (Joachim De Almeida) is way behind in the polls for the forthcoming Bolivian presidential election.
But Jane is damaged goods. Not only has she spent time in therapy for depression and addiction, she is also on a losing streak when up against the most ruthless agent in her business.
Her problem in Bolivia is that he represents the presidential frontrunner.
Billy Bob Thornton excels as the arrogant Pat Candy who will stop at nothing to discredit opponents and make his man most appealing to the voters,
This means that Jane and her team have to trade low blows with low blows.
Our Brand Is Crisis is a watchable expose of the inner workings of an election campaign. It may be set in Bolivia but could relate to many so-called democratic states.
It reflects the teams' highs and lows and the nuances of the public relations machine as the polls rise and fall.
The movie rams home the sad truth that image and perception are much more important than deed.
But I am not sure its makers are entirely clear whether they intended it to be a comedy or drama. Bullock brings more of the former than the latter.
Reasons to watch: well-paced political intrigue
Reasons to avoid: Sandra Bullock does not seem to know whether she is playing it straight or for laughs.
Laughs: a couple of chortles
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 7/10
Star tweet
as i prep for the umpteenth "red carpet" w/o hair & makeup help, scouring closet for unworn dress, let me say: sometimes being a woman blows