Tonight: Recount on HBO

Oh, the 2000 election. Now a historical event, at the time it just seemed like a clusterfuck of epic proportion... which is exactly what it was. The ridiculous (Gore being frantically chased to stop him from making a concession speech), the sublime (Katherine Harris and the make up that fascinated a nation), and the absurd (the Brooks Brothers Riot of young Republicans storming a Florida recounting center). Relive the madness tonight on HBO - details when you hit the link.



Written by Danny Strong (he played Andrew, the geek with aspirations on Buffy), the movie covers the 36 days from election night until the Supreme Court named George Bush the victor. The New York times points out that this is not satire, as they say "It's a serious look at the moment when character, political influence and luck fatefully collided." It's getting good reviews as a valid look at all sides of this mess. Danny Strong is also interviewed right now on Television Without Pity, and it's a great read. He's currently working on another script about Brown vs. the Board of Education, so that's another to look for.

Here's the cast:

Kevin Spacey as Ron Klain

Bob Balaban as Bush-Cheney lawyer Ben Ginsberg

Ed Begley, Jr. as David Boies

John Hurt as Warren Christopher

Denis Leary as Michael Whouley

Tom Wilkinson as James Baker III

Laura Dern as Katherine Harris

If you don't know who those real life counterparts are, then I hereby give you the homework of watching this movie. As someone who actually cried because of Tim Russert's white board of electoral death, I'm excited about this piece of history being put back front and center before we head into this November.

Recount
HBO
Tonight, 9PM