Swing Vote, 2008

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!!
Kevin Costner-- Stanley Tucci



Director: Joshua Michael Stern

Stars: Kevin Costner, Madeline Carroll, Paula Patton, Kelsey Grammer, Stanley Tucci, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Judge Reinhold








Bud Johnson (Costner) is an alcoholic factory-worker, whose over-achieving daughter, Molly (Carroll), wants him to get more involved in everything, especially on Election Day.  Bud is supposed to meet her at the polls, but ends up passed out in his truck.  Molly is desperate, and when the volunteer falls asleep, she signs her father's name, takes his ballot, and prepares to cast his vote.  The ballot is in the machine, when it loses power suddenly, and Molly dashes out, the vote incomplete.

It doesn't take long for the authorities to figure out who didn't cast their vote.  And maybe it wouldn't have mattered, except the Presidential election ends up hanging on the electoral votes in New Mexico, in Bud's county, and surprise, surprise-- on Bud's vote.  Yes, it is discovered that Bud Johnson is the man who will pick the next President of the United States! 

The Bodyguard, 1992

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Debbie Reynolds-- Kevin Costner



Director: Mick jackson

Stars: Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston, Gary Kemp, Ralph Waite, Debbie Reynolds










This is one of those movies (like The Fugitive and Independence Day) that I can't stop watching whenever it's on tv and I am bored and channel-surfing.  This almost never happens, but still!

Former secret service agent Frank Farmer (Costner) gets a new job: he becomes a diva's bodyguard.  Rachel (Houston) has been receiving death threats and crazy letters, and although she knows she needs a bodyguard, she and frank clash instantly.  Rachel is used to having things her way, but Frank insists on certain precautions being taken.  After more attempts are made on her life, she begins to trust Frank, and do what he says.

I really enjoy watching this one.  But I can't say I like the end.  SPOILER!  Why couldn't they just end up together?  Not entirely happy....

The Postman, 1997

Director: Kevin Costner

Stars: Kevin Costner, Will Patton, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams, Scott Bairstow

It's 2013. Wars and diseases have killed off most of the people on the planet, and in the US, small groups of people band together in their towns, and fear the outsiders. The Postman (Costner) wanders around performing Shakespeare for the townspeople, trying to brighten their lives a little.

This movie seems to have two parts (it's based on a book): in the first part, Costner's character is shanghaied by a group of soldiers ruled by a man who wants to take over the world, basically. He runs an army of slaves and kills anyone who can't keep up.

Eventually, Costner escapes and wandering through the woods, comes upon an old, wrecked Postal Service jeep, filled with letters and packages. He decides to take them to the nearest town, and deliver them to the people there. He impersonates a Postman and tells the people that the United States is a nation again, with a new government and everything. He is only doing this to be fed.

So, eventually there's a showdown between The Postman, who has united the people again, and the psycho who wants to rule the world.

There's a LOT of violence, so don't watch this if you can't take violence. And there is one sex scene, through which I fast-forwarded, but it seemed to go on for a while anyway, and you basically see her naked.

So, yeah, not for kids, but in the end, it's ok. I thought I would hate it, but I ended up kind of liking it.