In the words of Ray Kinsella, Kevin Costner’s character in
“Field of Dreams,” “I have just created something totally illogical.” Yes, you did it in 1989 and you’re doing it
again, Mr. Costner. With “Swing Vote,” Costner plays a Billy Bob Thorton-esque
schmuck. But due to a glitch in the system, the result of the nation’s
presidential election comes down to one vote: his.
This is kind of like “Welcome to Mooseport” on a national
level. But instead of deciding whether to cast your ballot for Gene Hackman or Ray
Romano, Costner has to decide between Democratic nominee Dennis Hopper and
Republican incumbent Kelsey Grammer while these two and their cronies try to
win him over.
Besides the impossibility of this situation ever happening,
the filmmakers have to end in the least controversial way possible without
resorting to a cornball tie (if they did, the collective groan would be heard
from outer space). Perhaps, Costner will just throw his vote out the window and
pick Nader. Hell, considering
supposed liberal bias, it’ll probably end with a communist coup led by the
Steel Workers of America. But hey, at least it’s nice to think that your vote
counts for something. August 1.
