Man of the Year (2006)

As a comedy it falls short, but it surprisingly works well as a dramatic thriller...

`Man of the Year' is essentially two different films, one is a comedy about a comedian who is surprisingly elected as our next U.S. President; the other is a drama about a woman who stumbles across a glitch in a balloting service that ultimately elects the wrong president. The two work well in moments, and yet restrict each other in moments. The end result is an entertaining film that doesn't quite reach its full potential.

The film tells the story of comedian Tom Dobbs (a comedian in the line of Jon Stewart) who on a whim places himself in the running for the presidency and, surprisingly, wins. After his win he has to adjust to his new role as head of the country while Eleanor Green, a former employee of the company manufacturing the new balloting devices, chases him around trying to inform him that he is not really the president.

As a comedy the film does not work as well as it does as a drama. The plot line involving Eleanor as she hides out from her former bosses who want to silence her for fear of profit losses on account of their error is far more riveting than the plot involving Dobbs and his presidency. The problem is that Williams is not really funny here, while Linney is superbly dramatic in her role. Williams appears to be restrained by the material, never given a chance to really break away from his controlled persona and unleash the comedic genius we love to embrace. Linney on the other hand is given a much more complex character to embody and so her performance elevates her section of the film. When she shares the screen with Williams he seems to feed off of her energy and thus his performance shines brighter.

Christopher Walken and Lewis Black steal most of Williams' thunder, which is sad because this film would seem like the perfect vehicle for the comedic talents of Williams. He just appears dull most of the time. Jeff Goldblum is devilishly evil and actually made me proud (I am not a fan of his generally). But this movie belongs to Linney, for she is really the greatest thing about it.

In the end I must say that I was a little put off with this film, as a comedy, but as a dramatic thriller I was actually quite impressed. The two don't mesh together as well as they should have (mostly because the comedic portions of the film aren't really all that funny) but in the end we are left with a film that is entertaining and is satisfying and is definitely unexpected (who would have ever guessed it would work as a thriller as apposed to a comedy?).

I would watch it again, and enjoy it again, so feel free to watch and enjoy for yourself. August 29, 2008

Intelligent Comedy

Man of the Year
With Happy Madison pulling a ton of random movies that generally have the same characters in them, it's nice to have a comedy movie that isn't a bunch of slapstick humor. Robin Williams plays Tom Dobbs, a comedian who loves to make jokes about politics. Oddly enough, Tom Dobbs soon finds himself is the role of candidate for presidency largely due to his fans enjoying his comments about politics.

Tom Dobbs ends up winning the Presidential Election by using his radical personality to win people over. Soon he learns that a new voting system that was implemented had an error. He did not actually win the Presidential Election. Eleanor Green, a creator of the new system, soon finds herself in tremendous trouble while trying to explain the error to Dobbs. She is often attacked and nearly killed.

The movie is a weird mix of comedy and a bit of thriller. Any point with Robin Williams leads to some good comedy and a ton of political jokes. Eleanor Green gives you a bit of suspense while watching her being chased. I think the two parts mix together and give you a very entertaining movie. If you are tired of slapstick humor and want something intelligent, check this on out. July 5, 2008

An politiacly correct review

I loved this movie for once Hollywood dared to show how is the real political system.

Your rich you can be president your poor forget it. To show a comedian running for presidency is good. This movie as a message to give and I heard it and I hope you have.

Robbin Williams is at is best. I hasn't be disapointed in fact I was entertained and although it is a comedy opened my eyes on the political system. May 19, 2008

Weak plot devices undermine this populist yarn

Robin Williams plays a populist television host who runs for president in the 2006 Barry Levinson film MAN OF THE YEAR. The actor's superb, often funny performance commands attention, carrying the film despite its plot devices too weak for the viewer to suspend disbelief.

Today's corporation-dominated media would make it difficult for a pro-working class host such as the MAN OF THE YEAR character Williams portrays to even get a shot on television. Moneyed interests sycophants dominate T.V. discourse, as the objectives of media owners such as General Electric (NBC) and Viacom (CBS) oppose what's best for the people.

MAN OF THE YEAR addresses computerized voting, depicting the election that awards the White House to the talk show host as a programming malfunction. It does not deal with computerized voting's greater problems: Vote-rigging and the interest conflicts of companies with ties to the Republican Party obtaining voting system contracts.

In 2004, historically flawless exit polls predicted John Kerry winning the presidential election. Yet the official vote count went to George W. Bush. MAN OF THE YEAR does not attend to the questions the corporate media would have raised with a populist candidate defying exit polls. Of course, as the moneyed interest man Bush was the '04 "winner," the corporate media let it slide. (See the Mark Crispin Miller book FOOLED AGAIN for more information about the corrupt 2004 presidential vote count.)

MAN OF THE YEAR depicts the T.V. host debating the Democratic and Republican candidates on television. It is hard to believe that the presidential debates, which the Republican and Democratic parties have controlled since 1996, would allow another person to participate.

Regarding the subjects of marital infidelity and drug abuse, MAN OF THE YEAR includes jokes referring to Bill Clinton's fling but offers no wisecracks about George W. Bush's drinking and drugging problems.

Corporate media buffoons such as Chris Matthews play themselves in MAN OF THE YEAR. Well, they sure know how to read a script.

Even more noteworthy than Robin Williams is Jeff Goldblum as the computerized voting firm's executive goon. Despite Mr. Goldblum's familiar soft-spoken presence, he projects a frightening level of menace that makes MAN OF THE YEAR worth viewing even if there were nothing else good about the film. April 28, 2008

What do you want me to do with this?

"Man of The Year" is typical Robin Williams. Not that that is a bad thing, mind you. I have been a fan of Williams since the "Mork and Mindy" days. He has proven himself a capable actor, from his comfortable comedic roles, to drama and the occasional suspense/thriller.

In "Man of The Year", he puts politics under the microscope for all to see, with tongue firmly in cheek. The film addresses the myriad faults of our political system. It also interjects the idea of honesty, and what a problem honesty can cause. I find this particularly funny, because "We The People" expect this from our elected officials, yet allow flagrant dishonesty to thrive, election after election. In this instance, we see just how incapable our elected officials are at coping with the very ideal that sent them to Washington in the first place!

Laura Linney is also very good in this film. She plays an analyst for a software company that becomes embroiled in the election campaign for William's character. I believe Laura Linney is one of those actors that have been passed over, time after time, remaining just under the radar. I have seen her in a ton of films, and she deserves some recognition for her performances.

Christopher Walken. What more needs to be said? He has played good guys, bad guys, and everything in between, from drama, to comedy. The role he plays in "Man of The Year" puts him squarely in a wheelchair. A strange place for one of the most energetic actors in Hollywood!

Here is a film that shows Robin Williams doing what he does best, and very comfortable doing it. Anyone seeing this film should not let party affiliation affect how this film is "judged". after all, it IS a funny film, and politics is funnier still, so sit back and enjoy! April 16, 2008

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