Man of the Year [WS]

Director: Barry Levinson Barry Levinson

Overview

Good Morning, Vietnam duo Barry Levinson and Robin Williams re-team to tell the tale of a quick-witted radio talk-show host whose fanciful bid for the presidency becomes a surprising reality in the one political comedy that truly speaks for the people. When talk show host Tom Dobbs (Robin Williams) makes an offhand comment that he would be a better president than the leader who currently occupies the White House, a grassroots campaign conducted by his legions of fans finds him unexpectedly ushered into the Oval Office and forced to live up to his promise. Unfortunately for Dobbs, the revelation that his surprise victory was actually the result of a voting computer glitch and not majority vote leaves the outspoken funnyman struggling with the decision to stay the course in the Oval Office or head back behind the microphone where he is truly in his element. Laura Linney, Christopher Walken, Jeff Goldblum, and Lewis Black co-star the satirical comedy scripted and directed by Levinson.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/20/2007
UPC:	0025193232625
Original Release:	2006
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Universal Studios
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:55:00
Sales rank:	57,911

Special Features

Robin Williams: A "Stand Up" Guy - Get a rare behind-the-scenes look at the hilarious improvisational genius of Robin Williams; Commander and Chief - Go on-set to see how acclaimed director Barry Levinson got the most hilarious performances out of his all-star cast

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Robin Williams	Tom Dobbs
Christopher Walken	Jack Menken
Laura Linney	Eleanor Green
Jeff Goldblum	Alan Stewart
Lewis Black	Eddie Langston
David Alpay	Danny
Faith Daniels	Moderator
Tina Fey	Herself
Amy Poehler	Herself
Doug Murray	Mathias
Chris Matthews	News Anchor No. 1
James Carville	Political Commentator No. 1
Rick Roberts	Hemmings,Makeup Artist
Karen Hines	Alison McAndrews
Linda Kash	Jenny Adams
Dave Nichols	President Kellogg
David Ferry	Senator Mills
Dmitry Chepovetsky	Eckhart
Brandon Firla	Grimaldi
Sasha Roiz	Donald Tilson
J.C. Kenny	News Anchor No. 2
Jef Mallory	Angus
Mark Andrada	Young Guy
Marcia Laskowski	Marjorie
George King	Motel Manager
Sabrina Sanchez	Sales Girl
Jacqueline Pillon	Security Tech
Zoe Mugford	Woman in Audience
Chris Gillett	Head of Alliance
Ho Oyster Chow	Dr. Nash
Mickey Sherman	Talking Head Lawyer
Cathleen Crier	Political Commentator No. 2
Graeme Revell	Composer

Technical Credits

Barry Levinson

Barry Levinson	Director,Screenwriter
James G. Robinson	Producer,Producer,Executive Producer
David Coatsworth	Executive Producer
Robert N. Fried	Executive Producer
Guy McElwaine	Executive Producer
Laird McMurray	Special Effects
Pam Dixon	Casting
Robert Scherer	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Robin Williams supplies topical political humor in this diverting comedy written and directed by Barry Levinson (Wag the Dog). Williams stars as Tom Dobbs, host of a Daily Show-styled current affairs TV program that allows him to engage in satirical commentary. His halfhearted presidential campaign, undertaken mainly for laughs and publicity, produces an astounding result: He's elected to the nation's highest office. Stupefied by this turn of events, Tom assumes the presidency and, among other things, addresses the issue that put him there: a critical flaw in the new electronic voting system employed for this election. Christopher Walken and Lewis Black get their licks in as Dobbs’s showbiz colleagues, and Laura Linney plays the software analyst who discovers the voting machine glitch but is ignored by corporate bigwigs desperate to avoid a recall. Although Levinson deserves points for eschewing cheap-shot attacks on either liberals or conservatives, one senses that a bit more bite from either direction would have earned the film more fans. A modern twist on Frank Capra's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Man of the Year finds Williams carefully toeing the line between his antic and more serious sides, which makes for interesting viewing, albeit not for the usual reasons.