Our Brand Is Crisis

Name: Our Brand Is Crisis
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: October 30, 2015
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 53
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Sandra Bullock

2015

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 47 Ratings

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6.4

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6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 47 Ratings

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Our Brand Is Crisis

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: October 30, 2015 | R

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Sandra Bullock

Summary: A Bolivian presidential candidate failing badly in the polls enlists the firepower of an elite American management team, led by the deeply damaged but still brilliant strategist “Calamity” Jane Bodine (Sandra Bullock). In self-imposed retirement following a scandal that earned her nickname and rocked her to her core, Jane is coaxed backA Bolivian presidential candidate failing badly in the polls enlists the firepower of an elite American management team, led by the deeply damaged but still brilliant strategist “Calamity” Jane Bodine (Sandra Bullock). In self-imposed retirement following a scandal that earned her nickname and rocked her to her core, Jane is coaxed back into the game for the chance to beat her professional nemesis, the loathsome Pat Candy (Billy Bob Thornton), now coaching the opposition. But as Candy zeroes in on every vulnerability – both on and off the campaign trail – Jane is plunged into a personal crisis as intense as the one her team exploits nationally to boost their numbers. [Warner Bros.]… Expand

Director: David Gordon Green

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 107 min

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Critic Reviews

Empire Damon Wise

Jan 18, 2016

Sparks fly, but the grim cynicism of modern politics adds subversive weight to the film’s screwball comedy stylings and has a lot to say about modern politics, in the US as well as abroad. Read full review

Calvin Wilson

Oct 29, 2015

Provocative, intelligent but just a bit underwhelming, Our Brand Is Crisis — inspired by a 2005 documentary of the same name — plays as if the filmmakers started out with Oscar aspirations but ultimately weren’t up to the challenge. Read full review

David Edelstein

Nov 2, 2015

Our Brand is Crisis hits a lot of clunky notes and the end is unforgivably cornball, but it’s still one of the liveliest political black comedies I’ve seen in a while. The pacing is lickety-split, the talk is boisterous, and the cast is all aces. Read full review

Steve Persall

Oct 29, 2015

Our Brand Is Crisis shows flashes of insight cribbed from reality, nibbling the edges of satire without ever taking a big bite. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Oct 29, 2015

Nominally a satiric comedy, the film is only sporadically effective, running out of energy before it reaches the end. Read full review

A.A. Dowd

Oct 29, 2015

It treats the complicated moves and countermoves of a major election as fodder for a broadly comic grudge match. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Oct 29, 2015

This satire, directed by David Gordon Green from a screenplay by Peter Straughan, suffers from deficits of wit, wisdom, focus, filmmaking expertise and appropriate tone. It’s a case study, if nothing else, of starting with a dubious idea and making it downright awful. Read full review

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User Reviews

Deanomite

Dec 31, 2019

Much better than expected, based on a true story. An excellent performance by Sandra Bullock, some really good quotes by Sun Tzu. Decently photographed, Bolivia looks great. I would have liked for Zoe Kazan to have a speaking part, that would have been nice. The use of MachiavellianMuch better than expected, based on a true story. An excellent performance by Sandra Bullock, some really good quotes by Sun Tzu. Decently photographed, Bolivia looks great. I would have liked for Zoe Kazan to have a speaking part, that would have been nice. The use of Machiavellian themes was nice, but no quote by him? "Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are."… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

screenluvr2

Nov 12, 2015

To simply call this film a political dramedy/satire is to do a disservice to its more visceral component. In a role, Sandra Bullock often plays, the untethered woman in a one-woman show, the depth of her performance is what gives this movie its immediate allure.

Bullock's Jane Bodine'sTo simply call this film a political dramedy/satire is to do a disservice to its more visceral component. In a role, Sandra Bullock often plays, the untethered woman in a one-woman show, the depth of her performance is what gives this movie its immediate allure.

Bullock's Jane Bodine's struggle with her inner demons shine brightly in so much of what she doesn't say that we are intent to listen when she does speak. Jane's battle with her nemesis, keenly played by Billy Bob Thornton, illuminates what is often a complex issue for women striving in fields where men typically play. Although this isn't at the crux of their dissension, which lives in a far more personal place,Thornton's character, Pat Candy, uses every manipulative ploy available to dissolve his mounting insecurity as he realizes Jane's in it to win it-big time.

Their sparring is the product of their egos, which is what leads them to the manna that feeds them--winning. They, like the politicians they are branding to win, are all "puppets" in a game that costs more than any populace should have to pay.

The supporting cast is deliciously effective, and despite some lapses into a too-sugary donut, the overall message, though not a re-creation of the wheel, is a fine vehicle to make its point. And, as in all political directives, it is best to read in, under, up, down, around, and in between the lines.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

migdalorguy

Oct 30, 2016

This moveie was a pleasant little surprise. Well, perhaps "pleasant" isn't the best word to describe the tale. Is it cliched and hackneyed? To some degree. But there is an undercurrent here - with brilliantly understated performances by the entire cast. It seeps into your brain, sucks atThis moveie was a pleasant little surprise. Well, perhaps "pleasant" isn't the best word to describe the tale. Is it cliched and hackneyed? To some degree. But there is an undercurrent here - with brilliantly understated performances by the entire cast. It seeps into your brain, sucks at your gut, and tears at your heart. In some ways, it was more daring for them to go with the fairy-tale ending.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LeZee

Sep 29, 2016

Campaigners, candidates and the citizens, everybody on the streets of Bolivia.

The film was okay, but you have already seen it. This is the same old story where in America, the presidential running candidates do everything they can to win the precious votes, but here it takes place in aCampaigners, candidates and the citizens, everybody on the streets of Bolivia.

The film was okay, but you have already seen it. This is the same old story where in America, the presidential running candidates do everything they can to win the precious votes, but here it takes place in a different country. Not bad actually, but disappointment is the American influence. Now I tell the truth that it was inspired by the real event. There's already a documentary film made, but now they altered it little and made a political-comedy.

The two campaign runners from the United States goes to Bolivia to aide two different candidates and becomes themselves confront once again. To gain the momentum, they have to go any length, so the fun begins when each others pull their legs. But who's going to stand ultimately and with what tactic is to be revealed in the next half of the film.

I think, except the American characters dominance, the film was refreshing like the locations, supporting cast wise. But actors like Sandra Bullock, Billy Bob Thornton et cetera holds the key. Obviously the star power is one reason and the other is for keeping the real event's touch. The film does not work for everyone, it did do nothing for me. The director of 'Pineapple Express' failed to deliver. But it was a bad screenplay, underdeveloped or maybe lacks some good lines and strong scenes. I totally suggest you to skip it, you would miss nothing.

5.5/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Nov 3, 2015

Sandra Bullock plays a political consultant with personal and professional issues. She's hired to help a losing Bolivian candidate win the presidential election. To add to her troubles, her nemesis (Billy Bob Thornton) is working for the poll favorite. This could have been a sharp politicalSandra Bullock plays a political consultant with personal and professional issues. She's hired to help a losing Bolivian candidate win the presidential election. To add to her troubles, her nemesis (Billy Bob Thornton) is working for the poll favorite. This could have been a sharp political comedy if the writing had been snappier (she does have a few amusing moments). It might have been a rousing indictment on modern politics if it had been more incisive. As it stands, it's adequate on both counts, but not strong enough to move the needle towards excellence in either direction.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

thisistheslam

Jan 31, 2019

A nearly-impactful political comedy/drama that centers around a nation that most of the movie's audience will be totally unfamiliar with. Our Brand Is Crisis constantly plays footsie with greatness but doesn't quite deliver the goods. There's witty, fun writing and quality moments throughoutA nearly-impactful political comedy/drama that centers around a nation that most of the movie's audience will be totally unfamiliar with. Our Brand Is Crisis constantly plays footsie with greatness but doesn't quite deliver the goods. There's witty, fun writing and quality moments throughout and Sandra Bullock does a fine job as the dark former veteran campaign manager coming in to rebuild a sinking ship that is a former Bolivian president. But what Our Brand Is Crisis never achieves is a totally laugh-out-loud script or the intense and evocative call-to-action resurgence film that it attempts to be. Serving two masters isn't impossible in Hollywood but you have to sell out to both and balance the scales well - not to mention have excellent writing. Our Brand Is Crisis will not waste your time but you won't feel like it was all that memorable either. It's certainly worth a watch if you're intrigued by the setting and the cast but few will come away with the feeling that this movie truly set itself apart in both quality and message - the message (in the end) being that politicians can be hard to support because campaigns are built on promises and presidencies are spent ignoring those promises for most of the people on this planet. It's an incredibly relevant message that starts to find its voice way too late in the game but at least the film goes out with a little flair and excitement. I liked it but not enough to wholesale recommend it to my friends and family.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Sep 6, 2017

It is easy to see why this movie didn't work, the film has nothing to attract your attention, its plot is manipulative and you know very well what will happen, even if you are not aware of the actual events and the people in which these characters were based.
Our Brand Is Crisis is aIt is easy to see why this movie didn't work, the film has nothing to attract your attention, its plot is manipulative and you know very well what will happen, even if you are not aware of the actual events and the people in which these characters were based.
Our Brand Is Crisis is a completely forgettable product and a film that does not say anything on the filmography of its cast.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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