Man of the Year (2006)

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writer (WGA):

Barry Levinson (written by)

Release Date:

13 October 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Could this man be our next president?

Plot:

A comedian who hosts a news satire program decides to run for president, and a computerized voting machine malfunction gets him elected.

Plot Keywords:

President | Satire | Presidential Election | Campaign | Election

Cast

Robin Williams	...	Tom Dobbs
Christopher Walken	...	Jack Menken
Laura Linney	...	Eleanor Green
Lewis Black	...	Eddie Langston
Jeff Goldblum	...	Stewart
David Alpay	...	Danny
Faith Daniels	...	Moderator
Tina Fey	...	Herself
Amy Poehler	...	Herself
Doug Murray	...	Mathias
Chris Matthews	...	News Anchor #1
James Carville	...	Political Commentator #1
Cathleen Crier	...	Political Commentator #2
Rick Roberts	...	Hemmings
Karen Hines	...	Alison McAndrews
Linda Kash	...	Jenny Adams
David Nichols	...	President Kellogg (as Dave Nichols)
David Ferry	...	Senator Mills
Dmitry Chepovetsky	...	Eckhart
Brandon Firla	...	Grimaldi
Sasha Roiz	...	Donald Tilson
J.C. Kenny	...	News Anchor #2
Jef Mallory	...	Angus
Mark Andrada	...	Young Guy
Marcia Laskowski	...	Marjorie
Kim Roberts	...	Make-Up Artist
George King	...	Motel Manager
Sabrina Sanchez	...	Sales Girl
Jacqueline Pillon	...	Security Tech
Zoe Doyle	...	Woman in Audience (as Zoe Mugford)
Chris Gillett	...	Head of Alliance
Ho Chow	...	Dr. Nash (as Ho Oyster Chow)
Mickey Sherman	...	Talking Head Lawyer
Lee Taylor	...	CNN Business Reporter
Brendan Connor	...	Reporter #1
Barbara Radecki	...	Reporter #2
Audrey Dwyer	...	Reporter #3
Michael Anscombe	...	Reporter #4
Sandi Stahlbrand	...	Reporter #5
Jean Daigle	...	Driver
Anwar Knight	...	Weather Man
Shawn Roberts	...	Pick-Up Truck Driver
Gary Douglas	...	Pick-Up Truck Driver Accomplice
David Marsden	...	Delacroy Commercial Narrator
Robin White	...	Senator Wentworth
Billy Parrott	...	Hypodermic Man
Martin Doyle	...	EDC Chairman
Kevin Hare	...	Man
Reuben Thompson	...	Paramedic
James Kall	...	Policeman
Raynor Scheine	...	Mechanic
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael C. Branscombe	...	Reporter #4
Michael Cameron	...	Sercret Service Agent (uncredited)
DTeflon	...	Secret Service Agent (uncredited)
Nicholas Rich	...	Dobbs Bus driver (uncredited)

Directed by
Barry Levinson

Writing credits (WGA)
Barry Levinson		(written by)

Produced by
Sebastian Bru	....	assistant producer
David Coatsworth	....	executive producer
Robert N. Fried	....	executive producer (as Rob Fried)
Guy McElwaine	....	executive producer
David C. Robinson	....	producer (as David Robinson)
James G. Robinson	....	producer

Original Music by
Graeme Revell

Cinematography by
Dick Pope		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Blair Daily
Steven Weisberg

Casting by
Pam Dixon		(as Pam Dixon Mickelson)

Production Design by
Stefania Cella

Art Direction by
Joshu de Cartier

Set Decoration by
Clive Thomasson

Costume Design by
Delphine White

Makeup Department
Alessondra Bastianoni	....	second assistant makeup artist
Teresa Buccione	....	second assistant hair stylist
Amber Chase	....	key makeup artist
Linda Dowds	....	makeup department head
Paul R.J. Elliot	....	head of hair department (as Paul Elliot)
Cheri Minns	....	hair stylist: R. Williams
Cheri Minns	....	makeup artist: R. Williams
Sondra Treilhard	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
D.J. Carson	....	unit production manager
Dan Genetti	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tyler Delben	....	third assistant director
Myron Hoffert	....	first assistant director
Nick Lopez	....	assistant director
Siluck Saysanasy	....	trainee assistant director
Kurt Uebersax	....	second assistant director: Washington D.C.
Bob Warwick	....	second assistant director

Art Department
David Best	....	graphic designer
Theresa Buckley	....	props buyer
David DeMarinis	....	assistant set decorator
J. Ryan Halpenny	....	assistant art director
Ron Hewitt	....	property master
Alexandra Hooper	....	set decoration buyer
Michael Huschka	....	assistant property master
Rob McCallum	....	storyboard artist
Steve Middlebrook	....	on-set dresser
Dan Norton	....	set designer
Robert Nowacki	....	second assistant art director
Rolf Raven	....	assistant set decorator
Travis Staley	....	on-set carpenter
Donald Vandewater	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Antonio L. Arroyo	....	sound mixer: New York
Michael Barry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Carlie Bergman	....	adr recordist
Ryan Collison	....	foley engineer
Brian Hanish	....	boom operator
Bobby Johanson	....	adr engineer
Andrew Kris	....	sound re-recording mixer
Travis MacKay	....	adr recordist
Colin McLellan	....	adr recordist
Douglas Murray	....	adr mixer
Dave Paterson	....	supervising sound editor
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Robert Scherer	....	production sound mixer
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
David Wahnon	....	assistant sound editor
Dorian Williamson	....	boom operator
Dorian Williamson	....	second boom operator

Special Effects by
Arthur Langevin	....	special effects coordinator
Shane Million	....	special effects department coordinator

Visual Effects by
Glenn Allen	....	visual effects producer: Brainstorm Digital
David Beedon	....	digital effects artist
Cyril Frederick Chu	....	digital compositor
Stacy J. Cohen	....	digital compositor
Bonnie Dickson	....	tape operator: Mr. X Inc.
Jeremy Fernsler	....	CG supervisor
Richard Friedlander	....	visual effects producer: Brainstorm Digital
Joseph Gutowski	....	visual effects editor
Noll Linsangan	....	digital compositor
Sarah McMurdo	....	visual effects production manager: Mr.X Inc.
Scott Minter	....	lead compositor
Martin Mueller	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Joseph Oberle	....	digital compositor
Joseph Oberle	....	rotoscope artist
David Piombino	....	digital compositor
Darcy Reno	....	senior systems administrator (as Darcy Bangsund)
Eric J. Robertson	....	visual effects supervisor: Brainstorm digital
Luke Rowsell	....	visual effects production assistant
Joseph Ryals	....	film scanning
Andrew Schwartz	....	compositing supervisor: Brainstorm Digital
Michael Stewart	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Quan Tran	....	digital compositor
Matt Wallin	....	technical director
Aaron Weintraub	....	visual effects supervisor
Brianne Wells	....	visual effects coordinator
Fiona Campbell Westgate	....	visual effects producer: Mr. X Inc.
Scott Winston	....	compositing supervisor

Stunts
Rick Kain	....	precision driver
Joanne Leach	....	stunt double
Christopher McGuire	....	stunts
Branko Racki	....	stunt coordinator
Robert Racki	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Murdoch Campbell	....	director of photography: Washington D.C.
Michael Carella	....	camera operator
Gary Childs	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
John Colavecchia	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Cylvan Desrouleaux	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Dave Erlichman	....	dolly grip
Jason Foster	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, Washington D.C.
Gabriel Goodenough	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, Washington D.C.
William J. Gray	....	first assistant camera: Washington D.C.
Lee Guenette	....	best boy electric
Duane Gullison	....	best boy electric
Duane Gullison	....	rigging
John Harper	....	first assistant camera
Bill Hong	....	camera car operator
Larry Huston	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera, New York
Scott Inge	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, Washington D.C.
Ari Magder	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Robert McAdam	....	electrician
Mike Panczenko Jr.	....	camera loader: Washington D.C.
Graeme Potts	....	videographer
Ronald Schlueter	....	video assist
Tracy Shaw	....	grip
John Sztejnmiler	....	generator operator
Franco Tata	....	gaffer
Dave Tommasini	....	pilot: Wescam camera
Mark Walpole	....	second assistant camera: Washington D.C.
Jim Westenbrink	....	director of photography: second unit
Robyn Clarke	....	second assistant camera: Splinter unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Hollie Meyer	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Renée Bravener	....	costumer: Mr. Williams
Tatjana Hutinec	....	key costume breakdown artist
Kathleen Meade	....	costume department supervisor
Mia Sturup	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Blair Daily	....	additional editor
Joe Gawler	....	digital intermediate colorist
Jesse Morrow	....	on-line editor
Michele Nieves	....	post-production assistant
Christian Zak	....	digital intermediate producer

Music Department
Nancy Allen	....	assistant music editor
Mark Curry	....	music scoring mixer
Amy Fritz	....	music supervisor: S.L. Feldman & Associates
Dominik Hauser	....	music preparation
Allan Mason	....	music supervisor
Ashley Revell	....	music editor
David E. Russo	....	music programmer

Transportation Department
Gord Bettles	....	picture car mechanic
Bill Boyd	....	picture vehicle coordinator
Jason McCormack	....	driver: honeywagon
Frank Mizzi	....	transportation captain
Carl Severin	....	transportation co-captain
Mark Van Alstyne	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Katie Abbott	....	craft service daily
Kaisa Åkerlund	....	legal liaison
Patricia Hanley Cumming	....	set supervisor
Amy Cuthbertson	....	production secretary
Karen de Montbrun	....	production accountant
Ken Dhaliwal	....	legal services
Katherine Dorrer	....	location manager: Washington D.C.
Neil Floyd	....	production assistant
Ginny Galloway	....	production coordinator: Washington D.C.
Daniel Godwin	....	production assistant
Zak Grausam	....	post-production accountant
Lisa Gyorfi	....	assistant production coordinator
Christine Irons	....	production assistant
R. Emerson John	....	replacement script supervisor
Phyllis Johnson	....	adr loop group
Shana Keegan	....	assistant: Barry Levinson
Ashley Kravitz	....	rights clearances
Nora Lem	....	craft service daily
Garry Maher	....	second assistant accountant
Jennifer Manchester	....	assistant: David Robinson
David McIlroy	....	location manager
Chris Moulson	....	assistant location manager
Sean Oliver	....	adr loop group
Stacia Peters	....	assistant: David Coatsworth
Brieann Rich	....	set medic
Michael Rich	....	production assistant
Dug Rotstein	....	script supervisor
Jan Hopper Sanders	....	script supervisor: Washington, DC
Nina Saxon	....	title designer
Rob Shea	....	production coordinator
Anita Simard	....	truck supervisor
Rebecca Erwin Spencer	....	assistant: Mr. Williams (as Rebecca Erwin-Spencer)
Jodi A. Tario	....	assistant: Barry Levinson (as Jodi Tario)
David Vogel	....	production assistant
Janet M. West	....	assistant: James G. Robinson (as Janet West)
Devin White	....	third assistant accountant
Andrew Whiteside	....	on-set satellite internet technician
Greg Whiteside	....	on-set satellite internet technician
Bill Timoney	....	adr voice group (uncredited)

Thanks
Ken Aymong	....	thanks
Stacey Foster	....	thanks
Stu Linder	....	in memory of
Lorne Michaels	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures
• Morgan Creek Productions

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Morgan Creek International (2006-2007) (Non-USA) (theatrical)
• Pinema (2007) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Benelux Film Distribution (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2007) (Argentina) (all media)
• Argentina Video Home (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2007) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Odeon (2006) (Greece) (all media)
• Universal Home Video (2007) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Brainstorm Digital (visual effects)
• Mr. X (digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• HW Picturecars  picture vehicles
• Hand Prop  props supplied by
• Internet On Set  on-set satellite internet
• Nina Saxon Film Design  title design
• On Tour Productions  grip and lighting equipment
• Paramount Transportation Services  provided secret service vehicles
• Paramount Transportation Services  transportation services
• Pictorvision  Wescam cameras
• S.L. Feldman & Associates  music supervision
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Toronto Film Studios  movie studio
• Wilshire Stages, The  ADR recording facility

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language including some crude sexual references, drug related material, and brief violence.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG | Singapore:PG | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-11

Filming Locations:

Cambridge, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Universal originally canceled the release of the DVD in Germany, following complaints about a very poor quality of the dubbing. Nonetheless, after discussions about the Clinton vs Obama US democratic party presidential campaign reached high ratings in Germany, the DVD was at last released in spring 2008.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Eleanor goes to the vending machine to get a soda and it will not take her dollar so she goes to the hotel clerk for change. Eleanor takes a one dollar bill from her wallet but hands the clerk a five dollar bill, when he picks it up it is a one dollar bill again.

Quotes:

Jack Menken: Everyone's going to be writing about how honest you are and how straightforward. I just hope your honesty doesn't undercut your irreverence.
Tom Dobbs: Well I want to do a show about gay farmers and call it "Crop Circles", is that offensive?
Jack Menken: Not to me.

Movie Connections:

References 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Soundtrack:

Sotto Le Stelle Del Jazz

"Man of the Year" is a very good political thriller/comedy that will suffer at the box office because of its misleading marketing campaign.

"Man of the Year" tells the story of Tom Dobbs (Robin Williams) a political comedian (like Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert) who has his own television show. On his show he talks about all sorts of things but his main focus are political issues which he is very opinionated about. One day on his show, a fan from the audience raises the idea that Dobbs should run for President of the United States. After that episode aired, millions flocked to the web to create various petitions and voice their opinions on why Dobbs would make a great candidate for the President for the United States. A few weeks later, Dobbs decides to run for President and low and behold wins the election. Everything seems to be going as planned until a woman by the name of Eleanor Green (Laura Linney) shows up and starts some controversy regarding his position. A funny yet serious political thriller ensues…

Man anyone walking into this film expecting to see a brainless comedy will surely be disappointed. I always wonder how some people are film marketers when I see how misleading their marketing campaigns. "Man of the Year" is a great example of bad and misleading marketing, because everything from the poster, to the trailer, to the online advertisements makes this movie look and feel like a comedy. I would honestly have to say about 1/3 of the film is funny while the rest of it plays off as a political thriller that makes good arguments and allows its audience to think. I kind of wonder in this case if the marketing was done on purpose since this film addresses pretty serious issues in-between its comedy routine.

But enough about marketing, lets get down to the film itself.

I really liked "Man of the Year" even though I was expecting to see a comedy instead of a serious film. One of the many things I will give this film credit for is that the film does a decent job switching between comedy and drama even though at first it seems a little awkward. I really think that after you figure this out that the movie is going to be more of a political thriller than a comedy you get comfortable with it. Some may not because they are lead to believe that they are seeing a comedy and don't understand what this film is trying to say in the end but for those people they can blame the marketers for not advertising this film right.

"Man of the Year" talks about a lot of things and seems to have a very strong opinion. As Tom Dobbs speaks he is saying things that need to be said and isn't about candy coating them. I also think the whole political subplot, while most critics say hurt the film probably again because of the misleading marketing, was very good. The idea of computerize voting has been tossed around the last few years and with all the problems computers have the issue being addressed in this film could surely be realistic. Also the control big businesses have over voting also gets addressed.

As far as acting goes, I think everyone involved did a good job. Robin Williams had a chance to be funny yet serious at the same time by playing Tom Dobbs. Some say that Williams has overstayed his welcome as a comedian but I personally still think he is funny and he's a good serious actor as well. This is probably one of the few occasions though that we get to see him go back and forth from serious to funny and I think it works well. Also it's nice to see Lewis Black co-star in a decent film. Again I like Black when he appears on "The Daily Show" and does stand up however most of the films he has been in were awful. This was a good movie for him because I think his political views fit in with the story that director Barry Levinson was trying to convey. Laura Linney is a fine addition to the cast and proves once again that she is a very good actress and lastly Christopher Walken and Jeff Goldblum both do a very good job as always with this roles handed to them.

"Man of the Year" was written and directed by Barry Levinson, the man who has brought us such films as "Rain Man," "Good Morning Vietnam," and "Wag the Dog." Levinson does a fine job writing the film and directing it. Like I said I know a lot of critics didn't like the whole political thriller aspect of the film but I thought it fit in nicely. It was actually nice to watch a mainstream movie that allowed me to both think and laugh at the same time. Barry Levinson did a fine job with this film.

In the end, don't go into this film expecting to see the movie that the commercials are selling you. It does have laughs but at the same time it plays off more as a political drama. It's not as stupid or silly as the marketing campaign leads you to believe. I really liked the fact that this film that this film wasn't a typical Hollywood film. It tried to be a comedy and a serious drama at the same time and worked at least for me. I like the fact that the film didn't really tone down any of the issues it addressed nor did it have a typical Hollywood ending. I was trying to call the ending from the get go but surprisingly it didn't end the way I thought which made me happy. It's a movie that will make you laugh but then a few minutes later allow you to think and wonder what's going to happen next. I think its a good movie that will be hurt by its bad marketing.