Our Brand is Crisis ★★½

POLITICAL satire is tricky and Our Brand Is Crisis just misses the mark, despite an interesting turn by Sandra Bullock.

Based on a 2005 documentary, this black comedy examines the influence of American electioneering tactics in foreign politics, in this case Bolivia.

In 2002, both sides of a presidential campaign were supported by professional political consultants from the US. Not having seen the documentary, I’m not sure where the film separates from the truth.

Bullock plays Jane Bodine, a brilliant political junkie suffering from burn-out and living as a recluse after being convicted of fraud in a recent campaign.

The head of the consultancy hired to get the current, unpopular president re-elected knows they are in trouble and wants Jane onboard the campaign. She only gets her by revealing that the other side is represented by Jane’s fellow consultant and nemesis Pat Candy, played with suitable slickness and venom by Billy Bob Thornton.

At first, Jane looks to be a liability and waste of resources, but her political nous and disdain for Candy helps her regain the mojo and slowly turn the seemingly disastrous campaign into a cliffhanger.

Unfortunately the film is very uneven in tone. Key narrative lines are introduced but then unravel. There is a particularly bad sequence with Jane and several young men partying that does not work at all.

The good supporting cast, including Scoot McNairy and Andrew Mackie, is largely wasted. But the performance that does stand out is Joaquim de Almeida as the unpopular presidential candidate.

Ultimately, I did enjoy the film but recognise it has many flaws. Bullock fans, however, should have a look.