Casino Jack

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: The true story of what happened behind the scenes in the Jack Abramoff scandal, as well as an examination of what it was about his psyche that continually allowed him to think he was doing the right thing, while screwing people over and making himself rich.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Kevin Spacey, Barry Pepper, Kelly Preston, Rachel Lefevre, Jon Lovitz, Yannick Bisson, Eric Schweig, Christian Campbell, Spencer Garrett, Maury Chaykin, Ruth Marshall, Jeffrey R. Smith, Graham Greene, Jeff Pustil, Damir Andrei, John David Whelan

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! It’s totally hateable. But maybe this one will help you understand exactly how corrupt and wrong-minded American Democracy (i.e. capital imperialism) has become. I hope you get mad!

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Did you know that Kevin Spacey does impersonations? They’re surprisingly good. Unfortunately, that doesn’t prevent them from being totally annoying—and I’m not trying to single him out, I’m talking to all of you fools who think movie impersonations are cute. Maybe it’s just me.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Yes!!! But not in your eyes, in your heart.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Biggest wattle ever to be shown in a movie. Thank you Maury Chaykin! I will never be able to look at spaghetti the same.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Kevin Spacey is God. Barry Pepper is just the right kind of smarmy. And Jon Lovitz surprised me, in a role that shows that despite the fact that he has no range, there is a range that his one character can play.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: I saw this movie a few months ago, and wrote down some snide remarks about some of George Hickenlooper's shot choices. Since then, George Hickenlooper has died, so I no longer see the point in trying to help him improve his craft. It's a great movie, let's leave it at that.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: If you don’t know or remember much about the Jack Abramoff scandal (trust me, we’ve all tried to put the Bush years out of our minds), the beginning may be a little much to take in, and it may even make you feel stupid. But be patient, before long you will be able to follow the convoluted logic of these trickster super-lobbyists’ thinking and justifications.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: When we do finally decide to rework our democracy, a good place to start might be getting rid of the laws that allow lobbyists to bribe and manipulate every politician we elect. Maybe then politicians will be forced, once again, to look into their hearts and decide what’s right for the people before making a decision that affects all of us.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Casino Jack Trailer

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Casino Jack and the United States of Money

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A documentary about how lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, manipulated the system for personal profit, and how it's not really his fault that he's super clever, because the system was set up for him to be able to do that.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Real Washington mucky-mucks.

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. It's really long for a movie that's basically a well told history lesson, and you practically need a Phd in political science and 5 or more years working in Washington D.C. to follow parts of it.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Some of the soundtrack choices are humorous.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No, because if you cared about the sorry state of the US government, you probably would've gotten up off your lazy butt and tried to do something to make it better. But I guess, you, like I have lost all hope of actually being able to make a difference, so I forgive you. And as the movie points out, you can't get anything done without powerful connections and lots of money to pay them to agree to push through your ideas (without reading them, of course).

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: "A" for effort. At least this movie is trying to start a conversation and make a point. Then again, I think the point may have been, "Our country is screwed, it always has been, and it always will be. That's what you idiots get for worshiping money."

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Some of these criminals are really good at acting like they were the victims.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: There are several distracting shots of people's hands, kankles, and crotches. I would think that the director/producer of a vast majority of the important documentaries of our time would be able to find something a little more pertinent and interesting to cut away to when he needs to tighten the dialogue. But I guess he didn't have time to find those shots, since this is only one of three movies Alex Gibney has directed, that are coming out this year.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: If you know stuff about stuff you may not learn anything you didn't know. And if you don't know stuff about stuff, you'll learn some stuff, but you'll also be really confused about stuff, because stuff is complicated.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: There's a fictionalized biopic about this very same thing, coming out in the future, starring Kevin Spacey. I enjoyed that one more, as it was easier to follow, and had more entertainment value. But stuff was still complicated.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/casino-jack-and-the-united-states-of/10025113/trailers

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