Category: Biography

Year: 2010

Rating: 6.8/10 (1,086 votes)

Director: George Hickenlooper

Country: Canada

Language: English

Release Date: 17 December 2010 (USA) See more »

Movie Storyline
A hot shot Washington DC lobbyist and his protégé go down hard as their schemes to peddle influence lead to corruption and murder.

Cast:
Kevin Spacey - Jack Abramoff
Ruth Marshall - Susan Schmidt
Graham Greene - Bernie Sprague
Hannah Endicott-Douglas - Sarah Abramoff
Barry Pepper - Michael Scanlon
John Robinson - Federal Agent Patterson
Jason Weinberg - Snake
Spencer Garrett - Tom DeLay
Yok Come Ho - Asian Factory Worker
Anna Hardwick - Lobbyist #2
John David Whalen - Kevin Ring
Matt Gordon - Bill Jarrell
Jeffrey R. Smith - Grover Norquist
Christian Campbell - Ralph Reed
Eric Schweig - Chief Poncho

Filming Locations: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Soundtracks:
"Ballade No. 1, Op 23" Written by Frédéric Chopin Performed by Andrew Burashko

Official Site(s): Official site | Official Facebook |

User Review:

, rated:
I confess to having followed Jack Abramoff's actual denouement years ago only as much as I could tolerate without gagging. My feelings toward lobbyists are mostly of disgust anyway. But to separate this work of art from the morality of its subject matter, I must say that this is a fine, fine film. Mr. Hickenlooper's death is a profound loss to all of us. I find Kevin Spacey and Barry Pepper at the top of their form here. The character and the situation give Spacey a broad stage to display his talents and range. Abramoff is no easy character to portray with any sympathy at all, and I had virtually none, but my outrage over the facts didn't spoil my enjoyment of the entertainment one bit. A tribute to all involved.

As far as the abuses portrayed, all I can say is, I really hope the American citizenry somehow wakes up and unites to end the stranglehold that cash has put on our democracy. The utter hypocrisy and self-serving, greedy behavior of our politicians is harming us for generations to come. If they truly love their country, they must reject and expose lobbyists sacrificing our national welfare to Mammon.

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