At the improbable age of fifty,
Julianne Moore is long established as among the leading American screen actresses of her generation. Stunningly beautiful with an expansive range expressed through some meticulously crafted performances about which she is able to talk intelligently and passionately while still being able to intelligently relate the intricacies of her movies, and of her performance with them, to wider social and artistic concerns. It is then, with no little amount of trepidation, that the news was received this week that this shining example of contemporary femininity
had been cast to play one
Sarah Palin in HBO tele-film
Game Change. Yup surprisingly, Tina Fey wasn't chosen! It is not excessively bold to suggest that Palin- whatever qualities she may possess- does not share the characteristics listed above. In fact, it maybe more accurate to state, quite simply, that this vociferous campaigner against the rights of women to determine the fate of their bodies may in fact be a walking advert for the notion of abortion, not as an option, but as a compulsion. Never-the-less, Moores skill will doubtless be sufficient to emulate the hateful simpleton posturing of Alaskas redneck poster girl, given she has in the past played a self-destructive pornstar; a vicious, manipulative, incestuous mother; as well as a murderess, she shouldnt have to plunge a great deal lower down the food chain. The film, based on the book written by
John Heilemann and
Mark Halperin, depicts John McCains disastrous presidential campaign that went from bad to worse after plucking the Avon lady caricature from backwater obscurity to be his running mate.
The script has been penned by
Danny Strong and will be shot by
Jay Roach, the pair who teamed together to make the Florida election HBO movie Recount a few years ago. Roach is best known however for his comedy films (Austin Powers, Meet the Parents, Dinner For Schmucks) and for who will, in addition, exec produce Game Change through his own company, Everyman Pictures. No date has been set for production or broadcast.