'Our Brand is Crisis': More details emerge on George Clooney's NOLA-shot political dramedy

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Our Brand is Crisis': More details emerge on George Clooney's NOLA-shot political dramedy

Mike Scott, NOLA.com

on October 14, 2014

As cameras roll in New Orleans on George Clooney and Sandra Bullock's "Our Brand is Crisis," parent studio Warner Bros. is revealing a few more details about the production.

Based on the 2005 documentary of the same name, the film -- as previously described -- focuses on the exporting of American political strategies to South America. In a recent news release announcing the start of production, Warner Bros. expanded on that.

Directed by David Gordon Green ("Pineapple Express," "George Washington"), the film will see Bullock portraying a retired political consultant known as "Calamity Jane" who is recruited to help the campaign of an unpopular Bolivian president. Billy Bob Thornton will play a political rival of hers who signs up to work for her candidate's opponent.

The studio-provided synopsis:

When a group of American consultants accept the challenge of getting an unpopular Bolivian president re-elected, they realize they need help. Tracking down retired maverick political consultant Jane Bodine (Bullock) to her cabin in the woods, they persuade her to lead the team -- a decision they quickly come to regret, as "Calamity" Jane begins to live up to her nickname, unleashing her very own brand of chaos on the campaign. Just as all seems lost, the loathsome Pat Candy (Thornton), Jane's worst enemy, arrives in town to work for the opposition. Suddenly things become personal and as the battle begins the consultants get to see Jane the legend in action.

New Orleans native Anthony Mackie will co-star, part of a cast that includes Scoot McNairy, Zoe Kazan, Ann Dowd, Reynaldo Pacheco, Dominic Flores, Louis Arcella and Joaquim de Almeida. It's unclear if New Orleans-based political consultant James Carville -- who figures prominently in the documentary on which the film is based -- will play a role.

It's also unclear what on-screen role, if any, Clooney will play in the film, although he is producing with Grant Heslov. Clooney and Heslov are the same duo behind 2012's Oscar-winning "Argo." Bullock is also earning a producing credit on "Our Brand is Crisis."

Executive producers include Participant Media's Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King, as well as Stuart Besser. Behind-the-scenes principals include cinematographer Tim Orr, editor Colin Patton, production designer Richard A. Wright and costume designer Jenny Eagan.

"Our Brand is Crisis" is one of a number of film and TV productions either shooting or preparing to shoot in Louisiana. Others include the Warner Bros.-backed action film "Geostorm," starring Gerard Butler; the action-comedy "Mr. Right," starring Sam Rockwell and Anna Kendrick; and the biopic "Trumbo," starring Bryan Cranston and Helen Mirren.

Nicky80 wrote:But you know that he came back in Gravity for a small part at the end before Sandra landed on earth again??? LOL...hope you saw that hehehe

Yes he and Sandra should make a whole movie together.....This one would have been good. Very sad he is just producing.....

would have been a great funny promiton tour with him and Sandra

Silje wrote:Totally confused. Fastforwarding the DVD.