There's one quick and easy way to distinguish my critique of HBO's Game Change, the new telemovie about Sarah Palin's foray into national politics in the 2008 presidential election, from those of most of the criticisms leveled by conservative commentators, political insiders, and even Palin herself.
I've actually seen the damned thing...
Game Change, starring Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin, Ed Harris as John McCain and Woody Harrelson as one of McCain's key political operatives, premieres Saturday at 9 p.m. ET. Based on the book of the same name by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, it's adapted by Danny Strong, who also wrote the 2008 HBO movie Recount, about the 2000 George Bush-Al Gore election. And it's directed by Jay Roach, who directed that movie also.
HBO is eager to point out (especially given the controversy generated by both the book and the upcoming film) that Strong conducted dozens of additional interviews for the Game Change dramatization, taking pains to verify dialogue and action presented in the movie. And, unlike such loosely written, shabbily researched biographical political TV dramas as The Reagans and The Kennedys, this one rings true, and plays fair.
Julianne Moore, as Palin, is a big part of the reason why. Even (sometimes especially) when she has no dialogue whatsoever, she conveys a woman who is smart enough to be hurt, and angry, by the way she's being perceived and treated -- not only by the media, and by Saturday Night Live, but by her own advisors.
For my full review, listen to today's Fresh Air with Terry Gross on NPR. Or, after about 5 p.m., check out the website HERE.