Julianne Moore: Sarah Palin Movie Shows What's Wrong With Our Democracy (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON -- After three years of speculation and plenty of criticism from its main subjects, HBO’s “Game Change” premiered in Washington on Thursday at the Newseum before a packed audience of more than 200 political and media heavyweights.

Adapted from the book by Jon Heilman and Mark Halperin, the film chronicles a two-month period in the 2008 presidential race, beginning with then-Gov. Sarah Palin’s nomination to be the Republican vice presidential nominee, and ending with Sen. John McCain’s concession speech following Barack Obama’s victory.

Stars Julianne Moore and Sarah Paulson, director Jay Roach and screenwriter Danny Strong walked the red carpet at the premiere, where they spoke to HuffPost about the relationship between politics and acting, as well as what they might say to the film's subjects if they had the chance.

“This movie isn’t as much about Sarah Palin as it is about how we choose our leaders and why we’re drawn, again and again, to people who are wildly charismatic and attractive, with almost a movie star quality," said Moore.

“Why [we think] those qualities are necessary in a leader is beyond me. Obviously they’re not,” Moore said.

But for Roach, the director, the similarities between politics and acting were front-and-center to his thinking. "You almost have to be an actor [to be elected to office], no matter what your chops are as a policy expert or a candidate," he said.

Strong, the screenwriter, said he would love the chance to tell Palin "how amazing I think she is. She’s this extraordinary, dynamic, fascinating person.”

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Comments

[nowtru]

01:44 AM on 08/15/2012

yea look what we have now beautiful just beautiful

[dennishastings]

02:59 AM on 08/11/2012

"...Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) said she wouldn't watch her portrayal in "Game Change" by Julianne Moore."

Make no mistake about it. She will watch the movie.

[Bluemarbles]

11:05 AM on 03/18/2012

After watching the movie, I thought Julianne Moore played Sarah Palin as a much nicer person than she appears to me. Moore's depiction was more thoughtful, and the snark was absent.

[LabRATTired]

11:53 PM on 03/16/2012

This movie was so well done. Julianne Moore nailed her.. When the election was actually happening and Sarah Palin was giving her interviews, I remember feeling a sense of fear and paranoia that she was that close to holding one of the highest positions in our gov't. I became immobilized with anxiety knowing that the two previous elections were manipulated by the GOP , with election fraud etc.. and for her to have even been given a chance to be on that campaign still boggles the mind. Since then, we have made her a rich and famous woman, which in the end- is really all she wanted anyway and better than the alternative. It would have been a catastrophe to try and pull her off a competent leader of the free nation. She just couldn't be any more opposite of that. Competency is as foreign to her as Russia.

[sheaintsayin]

09:42 PM on 03/16/2012

Amazing; after a fantastically failed 1/2 term, some people still insist on calling her 'governor.'

[LabRATTired]

12:11 AM on 03/17/2012

I know.. right? She only made herself look worse when she resigned.... She had no choice. Too much dirt on her and her reputation was gone after Alaskans found out the bridge to nowhere was nothing but a sham... she defeated education funding in her state.. forever idiot.

[JulieMarisa]

08:05 PM on 03/17/2012

And, Santorum lost his last election and now we're supposed to follow him as well? Good leaders have no desire to enter that crazy arena.

[maggiemosaic]

12:24 PM on 03/11/2012

'JOE THE PLUMBER' is on his way to congress!!! this is what happens when you dont think we need any government!!!

[Bascoda]

10:07 PM on 03/11/2012

And we certainly won't get any from the likes of him.

[maggiemosaic]

11:26 PM on 03/11/2012

thats their plan!! disable the gov. with idots that have no clue and make a mockery of the gov. that they hate so much!!!

[moelarrythecheese]

10:43 AM on 03/11/2012

Watched it last night. Palin exemplifies the superficiality that now drives this country. Maybe a Kardashian will run for office next.

[Bascoda]

10:04 PM on 03/11/2012

What a terrifying thought.

[xCentristFiascox]

11:45 PM on 03/10/2012

I don't know if anybody notices this but in the film, it criticizes Barack Obama too. In the beginning, Barack Obama is essentially acting as if he's a celebrity with his smooth talk in his speeches, which he still does... In this article, the director or screenwriter stated that he wasn't trying to make Palin or McCain look dumb or corrupt but make the American People look dumb and corrupt. If you guys commenting look at the facts behind McCain's primary election, he had a difficult time getting the Republican Base to vote for him and its a fact that McCain originally wanted Lieberman to be his running mate but it would be political suicide for him to do. It's like an Atheist running for President and saying, "I'm a Atheist but I still respect religion and value its importance" but still ain't going to get elected no matter what his or her policies are. Same situation. The Democrats would ridicule McCain and Obama would certainly do his share of heavy ridiculing. The Republican Base would of given up if McCain did this out right. Our politics is so polarized to the extent, the best politicians have to get dirty to get the majority vote, keep it and avoid ridicule. Did you know that Obama is an actor too? As I recall, he was never questioned on his record back then and still isn't now.

[LabRATTired]

12:01 AM on 03/17/2012

Mc Cain's campaign was criticizing Obama's campaign.. It's basic strategy. John McCain had a hard time getting o his base to vote for him because the majority of the base are white males with uneducated neo-conservative ideals for the country. The numbers don't lie. You can't win on that anymore. The election was decided on the 26 percent of single woman voters. I find it ironic that their strategy now is to attack that constituency.. It's political suicide. The GOP party is beyond lost.

Obama's record speaks for itself. You can look it up or I can send it to you. It's extensive at this point.

[JulieMarisa]

08:06 PM on 03/17/2012

And, Lieberman would have been a far better choice.

[nixonrulz72]

11:16 PM on 03/10/2012

Hey libs! She ain't running, OK? You should focus your fictional movies on REAL candidates. Nobody cares about Sarah Palin anymore. You're falling behind in the "Let's Make Up Hateful Stuff About Conservatives" sweepstakes! And, does Ms. Moore realize how crazy it sound to question our process of selecting candidates as being influenced too much by star power and charisma, considering the current occupant of the White House? Liberal hypocrisy? Naw, not this time. Just lack of common sense and an inability to remember what they said twelve seconds ago!

[Bascoda]

01:55 PM on 03/11/2012

We don't have to make up hateful stuff about conservatives, they're all to willing to provide it free of charge.

[bikefolder32]

07:34 PM on 03/11/2012

The point is that she WAS running at that time - and that she got that close, she was the "best" they could come up with. No matter how embarassing it may have been for Republicans - it's not something the nation should forget or sweep under the rug. Same thing with people criticizing the American Experience documentary last month on Clinton that apparently focused on the Lewinsky scandal more than they wished. Like it or not, it was a part of the total history of his term, shouldn't be diminished or ignored to paint a prettier picture.

Like it or not - McCain picking her to be his VP choice was a huge gaffe and it had an effect on how people view women in politics (some positive, and some very, very negative as well).

So - scream at Hollywood if it helps you vent frustration, but that's not where your energy should be focused.

[baydolphins]

11:06 PM on 03/10/2012

Just watched Game Change..the one that McCain and Palin refused to watch and as a liberal, I have to say I was right on board to put Sarah down and diss McCain all along. However, to be honest, I got a new respect for both of them and the difficulties of a campaign and the choices that needed to be made. Sarah was clearly out of her league on the national stage, but as a voice for her party she really is a super star. I like her being Sarah, not being a candidate. McCain is sheer class all the way. I'm still not going to vote for the pack the GOP has set out, but I would have been very impressed with both mcCain and Palin except that they both said their portrayals were blantant lies....go figure

[rsargerod]

09:21 PM on 03/10/2012

Julianne, No not what is wrong with our Democracy, but what is wrong with the GOP concept of Democracy, something they are inventing in their heads.

[Mirtha Milian]

06:50 PM on 03/10/2012

The movie merely reinforces what unraveled before our very own eyes. What seemed to be an excellent "game change" became McCain and Steve Schmidts worse nightmare. All it took was one interview and she cemented herself as pure fluf and not worthy of higher office.

[sheaintsayin]

09:47 PM on 03/16/2012

So true; it completely changed my view of Katie Couric - her persistence was heroic!

[AuntieLoieAZ]

05:25 PM on 03/17/2012

Agreed! And Katie kept plugging with her seemingly non-threatening charm, but would not let Sarah off the hook. She did America a very big favor by exposing Sarah's complete ineptitude and lack of knowledge and depth.

[Conservative PitBull]

05:50 PM on 03/10/2012

Sarah is still hotter than Moore. If it's not real why see it.

[PrunellaC]

01:03 PM on 03/10/2012

"before a packed audience of more than 200 political and media heavyweights."

What was the venue -- a McDonald's?

" the relationship between politics and acting,"

I though Reagan had already demonstrated that politics and acting are essentially the same thing: look good and read your lines correctly.

[okie rider]

08:21 AM on 03/10/2012

i have to agree with the screenwriter, Ms. Palin is a fascinating, and intriguing person. whether you agree with her or not, the phenomenon of the 2008 election is thought provoking. it seems that a lot (not a majority, evidently) of Americans were drawn to her, for a lot of different reasons. a lot of others were turned off for some of the same reasons. makes you wonder why anyone, from any political stripe would want to be in the public eye.