Swing Vote: Blockbuster or bust?
Coming to a theater near you in August
Walt Disney Co.'s Touchstone Pictures must be banking on the perfect storm equation for success with its upcoming release, Swing Vote, filmed here in New Mexico last September.
A compelling real-life presidential election + Kevin Costner + a liberal (and conservative) dose of clever jokes = box office bonanza.
The movie's plot centers on a small-town hard-drinking trailer park dad (played by Costner) and how he somehow becomes responsible for deciding a razor-close presidential election. Not just close, but the closest result imaginable -- a margin of his one vote -- and so hence the title of the movie.
According to a less-than-gushing review by Politico.com's Jeffrey Ressner earlier this month, the movie plays on tired stereotypes:
The film depicts Republican strategists as nasty connivers without souls, willing to change their views on gay marriage and the environment just to get elected. Democratic campaigners are shown to be similarly hypocritical, spinelessly flip-flopping their long-held positions on abortion and immigration to win the election.
Ressner also notes that quite a number of real-life TV news personalities make cameos in the film, including MSNBC's Chris Matthews, CNN's Larry King, HBO's Bill Maher, even the Huffington Post's Arianna Huffington.
But what he didn't reveal is that some local, real-life TV news people will be featured -- including several of KNME's New Mexico In Focus regulars, like the show's co-host Gene Grant, Margaret Montoya and Whitney Cheshire. Several scenes for the movie were filmed at PBS affiliate KNME's Albuquerque studio, and the fictional station's call letters on the big screen will remain KNME.
"Basically, they turned our station into a small town news station in what I believe is intended to be eastern New Mexico or Texas," explains Kevin McDonald, KNME's public affairs producer. "There are even pictures of the on-air talent for the made-up station, and they used pictures of Margaret, Gene and Whitney to make up the prime-time team!" McDonald writes in an e-mail to NMI.
Kathy Wimmer, KNME's production unit coordinator, adds a few more details.
"They filmed the scenes that take place in the studio of the little station that breaks the story. I know they did a set-up of a bar scene, and even a pool table scene... And they also filmed a late-night mob of reporters scene outside in the parking lot," Wimmer offers.
Wimmer, however, who also got the chance to be an extra in the movie like many other KNME employees, sees the movie's premise as a bit problematic.
"To me, the premise of Swing Vote - that one single person's vote could decide the presidency in this day and age- is so far fetched that it doesn't have a particular bearing on this year's presidential race."
Costner's prime was probably a few years back with "Dances With Wolves," but that didn't stop a crowd from showing up to hear him and his band last year put on a free concert in Santa Fe.
And aside from the KNME connection, some people in and around Santa Fe also had a brush with Swing Vote. Film crews were seen shooting scenes at the Department of Finance and Administration Building in the state's capital.
But if the Politico review is any guide, the timing for Costner and Co. may get overwhelmed by what it labels the movie's "crazy premise."
The movie's promoters use taglines — "One Vote Changes Everything" and "One Ordinary Guy is Giving the Candidates a Reason To Run" — aimed at catching the election year zeitgeist, but the film's crazy premise may find its popularity tempered by the real-life dramas taking place on the actual campaign trail.
Or maybe the movie will win the Oscar for best picture.
Or maybe not.
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