COMMENTARY | It’s not at all surprising, that the HBO film “Game Change” is not perceived well in the eyes of Sarah Palin aides and supporters. According to USA Today, they describe the depictions of the former Alaskan governor on the 2008 campaign trail as sick and inaccurate. Yet, perhaps not surprisingly either, none have yet to see the film.
They did see the trailers and some snippets of the movie starring Julianne Moore as Palin, and aides believe her portrayal puts the 48-year-old in an unfavorable light. A former spokeswoman for the politician, Meg Stapleton, said that she hadn’t been contacted by anyone associated with either the book or movie. Stapleton commented, “They don’t want to hear anything good. We all know Palin sells and the dramatization of Palin sells even more. This is sick.”
Obviously not everyone who worked with Palin would have been contacted and asked for their thoughts about the 2008 vice presidential nominee. Danny Strong, the screenwriter and co-executive producer, stated that the movie was based on 25 interviews conducted with members of the campaign by himself and the director, Jay Roach.
Roach wrote a letter to Palin asking if she would be a consultant. She refused to support the film and firmly denied his request. If she was concerned about its accuracy, one would think she would welcome the opportunity to provide input. After such a refusal neither she or her supporters should feel compelled to complain about anything related to the project.
If anyone thought the movie would be comparable to Palin’s so-called documentary “The Undefeated,” they would be sorely mistaken. The movie hit the theaters last summer and brought in just $116,381 in the U.S., according to Box Office Mojo.
“The Undefeated” was called a must-see film about Palin’s rise from obscurity to national prominence, but the movie that was supposed to set the record straight was seen by few and many that did labeled it “bad propaganda.”
Robert Levin of The Atlantic remarked, “The Palin documentary makes no pretense of being anything more than a full-length commercial endorsement of her character and accomplishments.”
On the flip side, the filmmakers of “Game Change,” sought historical accuracy portraying Palin in a “balanced light,” showing both her ” strengths and weaknesses as the vice presidential candidate.”
It seems to me that the majority of Palin supporters are blinded by her smile and charm and fail to see her many obvious failings. Tim Crawford, the treasurer of the political action committee SarahPAC, said the former beauty queen is “on the record as considering the movie a false narrative.”
Would anyone really expect her to feel anything other than contempt for a more realistic version of her political career?