Two years coming but landing in our laps this November, this documentary of the 2004 presidential balloting in Ohio from Adam Del Deo and James D. Stern volleys from the day-to-day build-up to Election Day and retrospective interviews with team players from both sides. The filmmakers focus on the two parties’ hell-or-high-water voter-sucker strategies, from demographic outreach to slam ads, joining the mainstream media in viewing the race strictly as a matter of voter manipulation — whoever grifts the most fools with the simplest and most mercenary tactics wins. Using gay marriage as a scarecrow for Middle American voters is seen as going too far, but on the whole the movie seems bummed only that the Dems weren’t as sneaky and amoral as the neo-cons. Isn’t reducing the discourse to lame jokes, boogeyman paranoia, and 30-second TV spots exactly the problem, regardless of who wins?

On the Web
. . . So Goes the Nation's Web site://www.sogoesthenationmovie.com/

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