|
Film Review
Ballot, anyone?
'Swing Vote' stresses political participation
In the midst of an impending election, it is not surprising to see films with electoral themes emerge in the fall line-up.
“Swing Vote” (Touchstone) is one of the first of these films. While the overall message is one that deserves thoughtful consideration, the film never truly swings to a level of excellence.
Kevin Costner stars as a deadbeat, but loving dad named Bud. His daughter Molly, played perfectly by newcomer Madeline Carroll, is a very bright and politically active 12-year-old who is determined to engage her father in the political process.
Molly’s passion leads to a situation in which the New Mexico’s electoral votes cannot be distributed until Bud decides on a candidate. The two presidential candidates race to Bud’s town of Texaco, N.M., to court his vote — which will determine the country’s next president.
The unbelievable relationship between Bud and Molly is the heart of the film. The dynamic — where Bud drinks and disappoints Molly who cooks for him and even drives her drunk father home at one point — is only heartwarming if you ignore what a truly horrible father Bud is. He ardently does care for his daughter’s happiness.
Bud’s predictable transformation is necessary and inevitable, but sweet nonetheless when viewed through the eyes of his daughter.
Costner does well portraying the tragically apathetic Bud, who serves as a foil to his extremely involved and thoughtful daughter. The presidential candidates are each well played by Kelsey Grammer and Dennis Hopper, but their corresponding campaign managers, played by Stanley Tucci and Nathan Lane, give the more memorable performances. They play men who will truly do anything to win an election.
The ultimate message of “Swing Vote” is that every vote counts in the American political process, so it is important to be a thoughtfully active member of American society.
There are few messages that could better serve the American public at large at this point in history and this message is one that not only filmmakers, but the U.S. bishops also consider crucial.
In the 2007 document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States,” the bishops extol the importance of thoughtful and prayerful involvement in the American political system.
They write, “participation in political life in light of fundamental moral principles is an essential duty for every Catholic and all people of good will” (57). Furthermore, they classify responsible citizenship — which includes but is not limited to carefully considered voting — as a virtue and call participation in political life a “moral obligation” (13).
Although “Swing Vote” misses the moral mark on a number of occasions — most notably through the seeming normalization of fathers who drink so much that their children have to routinely take care of them or avoid them — the main message about participation in the political process is well illustrated.
By the finale of the film, Costner’s character has undergone a personal transformation caused by the development of his political conscience and the issues that will reign supreme in the upcoming election.
The film gives a problematic degree of irreverence to issues that have clear Catholic teaching — such as abortion, immigration and same-sex marriage. The presidential candidates flip-flop on these major issues while courting Bud’s vote. This irreverence could be an issue for young viewers, but the satirical nature and commentary on fickle politicians is obvious to the older viewer.
The message of “Swing Vote” highlights the importance of thoughtful political involvement and saves what would otherwise have been a silly film about a tragic character. As it is, the film stresses the importance of careful consideration before making a political decision.
Bud does not determine his vote based on the personalities or rhetoric of the candidates, but with the help of his daughter, breaks down their positions into the issues they stand for and against and in doing so makes an informed decision that affects the entire country.
Every voter in America carries the weight of that decision. While “Swing Vote” won’t help anyone decipher difficult issues, it just might inspire viewers to seek out their own answers before casting their ballot. This is a heavy theme in a film that would have otherwise stayed in the featherweight moral category.
Rebecca Bostic is a regular contributor to The Catholic Sun. Comments are welcome. Send e-mail to letters@catholicsun.org.
|
