Kevin Costner Rocks the ‘Vote’

Kevin Costner stars in his best role since, well, Dances with Wolves, as blue collar worker Bud Johnson in Joshua Michael Stern’s Swingvote. Costner’s usual bland performance shifts to bring color and emotion to a rough-around-the-edges character that could easily become too caricatured, but he manages to execute this role just right, balancing humor with pathos and revulsion. It leaves me wondering why Costner doesn’t choose grisly, blue-collar roles more often. He even proves a passable vocal talent in a brief solo as the front man to the Half Nelsons, Bud Johnson’s Willie Nelson tribute band. (Willie Nelson has a cameo, along with countless news network stars and pop culture icons). This answers my question as to why Pierce Brosnan was chosen for Mama Mia: Kevin Costner was busy with another project.

Joshua Michael Stern recreates the absurd atmosphere of an election circus as two presidential candidates vie for one man’s vote. The only one who successfully sidesteps the steaming political landmines is Bud’s daughter, Mollie, played by Madeline Carroll. Amidst trained, polished politicians played by Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, and Stanley Tucci is a young symbol of contagious political idealism and hope.

Without wasting any opportunity for parody or satire, Stern delivers an intelligent message to apathetic or unregistered voters and American candidates.