Florida. The 2000 Presidential election between Al Gore and George W. Bush. Political operatives led by James Baker (Tom Wilkinson) for the Republicans and Ron Klain (Kevin Spacey) for the Democrats descend upon the state to duke it out in Federal Court over who exactly won the state and thus also the election. This escalating series of protests, lawsuits, appeals and partisan bickering would ultimately make its way all the way to the Supreme Court, the future direction of the United States dangling on the outcome.

CRITIQUE

Recount is a devastating hoot. This engaging, smart and intricately plotted HBO telefilm doesn’t portend to take sides (although, a case could be made it is far more sympathetic to the losers on the Left than it is to the victors on the Right), but it also doesn’t pull any of its punches, either, writer Danny Strong (Jonathan on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and director Jay Roach (the Austin Powers trilogy) doing a surprisingly good job of letting the facts fuel the satire and allowing the inherent truths of the drama all speak for themselves.

It’s got some bumpy bits, sure, and the director has never exactly shown a subtle hand. In fact, some of the post election protests are handled pretty abysmally, while anything having to do with Florida Secretary of State, the infamous Katherine Harris (a free-wheeling Laura Dern), feels like scenes rushed in from an entirely different motion picture altogether.

But the basic dramatic through-line of the picture is sound. More, Spacey, Wilkinson, Bob Balaban (as Ben Ginsberg) and John Hurt (Warren Christopher) are so fabulously wonderful they virtually make viewers forget about the flaws all on their own. Strong’s screenplay is also, well, strong, the veteran television character actor making a fantastical debut with this highly literate and expertly researched bit of historical satire.

Listen, watching this movie isn’t going to change anyone’s minds. If you think Bush won Florida fair and square you’ll still think the same afterwards, ditto those that think Gore got the shaft. But changing opinions isn’t what the filmmakers are shooting for here. They’re looking to shed light on a complex quagmire most of us still don’t understand, let alone comprehend how the powers that be ever let things disintegrate so completely. They achieve this goal beautifully, proving once again that HBO makes movies that are smarter, more entertaining and simply better than the majority of crap escaping from a typical Hollywood studio.

THE VIDEO

Recount is presented in its original 16:9 broadcast ratio. It looks fine. Nothing special, just fine.

THE AUDIO

Available audio tracks include English Dolby 5.1 Surround Spanish Dolby 2.0 with optional English, Spanish and French subtitles.

THE EXTRAS

Extras include a lucid and highly pleasant audio commentary with Roach and Strong, a conversation between Spacey and Klain, another (this one the real standout) conversation between Balaban and Ginsberg and a discussion on the actual real-life events between the writer and noted legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin who worked as one of the picture’s advisors during production.

They’re all quite solid and informative, but if you asked me if I thought I was ever going to watch a one of them again I’d probably tell you no.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Recount is a kick. It gets under your skin (whether you’re Republican or Democrat) and does it in a highly agreeable way that tickles your funny bone. It also makes you think, and when you consider just how much power a tiny thing like a chad had on entire election it kind of puts our whole process of voting in an entirely new light. Considering our current situation both in the world and here at home, this movie isn’t just timely, it’s absolutely essential.