Language : English
Cast : Robin Williams (Tom Dobbs), Christopher Walken (Jack Menken), Laura Linney (Eleanor Green), Jeff Goldblum (Alan Stewart) and Lewis Black (Eddie Langston)
Producer : James G. Robinson and David Robinson
Director : Barry Levinson
Writing credits : Barry Levinson
Edited by : Steven Weisberg and Blair Daily
Director of Photography : Dick Pope
Music : Graeme Revell
Release Date : October 13, 2006
Production House : Universal Pictures
Running Time : 115 minutes
Rating : PG-13

Reviews

Man of the year is a genre blender which has bits of a comedy, a political thriller and a romance all rolled into one. The movie is about comic newsman Tom Dobbs, played by veteran actor and comic Robin Williams, and his attempt to become the President of the Country. Written and Directed by Barry Levinson of ‘Wag the Dog’ fame, this movie explores the dream of a common man – supposedly free of politics- becoming the President. It explores the dominance of vested interests instead of national interest in politics a fact that has become visible across the world.

Adding the thriller angle to Robin William’s comic route to presidency is actress Laura Linney’s character Eleanor Green who is harassed by her firm after she discovers a flaw in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) that her company manufactures. The problem of the flawed EVMs is another theme that reflects the vulnerability of today’s democratic systems around the world. Warned and intimidated by the company’s lawyer, played by Jeff Goldblum, Eleanor bumps into Tom and here the comic-political thriller becomes a romantic political comedy!

With engaging performances by Robin Williams as the in-your face Tom and Christopher Walken as Tom’s manager and a racy repertoire we see the common man reach for the ultimate citadel of democracy. But is this a happy ending – is ‘Arnie’ (Governor Arnold “The Terminator” Swaznegar) the perfect politician or a common man being a ace administrator – both unanswerable and rhetorical.

Over all you’ll have the opportunity to watch Robin Williams shock his way through the opposition and Laura Linney act her way through adversity but beyond that the true questions of a corrupt political systems are not addressed. Then again movies are a reflection of society and society is also turning a blind eye isn’t it?