I've always been fascinated at the hypocrisy of the conservative clan to be religious and proper and then do all the things they do in protecting themselves; making money unethically and ultimately putting on the backs of the poor and regular Joe. I've always wanted a time-line between the two worlds. A connection. How they rationalize it all. (I guess it's not that uncommon throughout history.) This movie doesn't answer those questions. It depict them in vivid detail. The blind devotion to God and the blind devotion to the dollar as they throw up countless rationalizations.Maybe it's a warning. This is what it looks like when you think you're a good guy but you're really a bad guy. This is what it looks like when you're a liar and your life is a lie.I would have liked to have screened this with Republican members of Congress and the House. They would have squirmed more than a bucket o' worms. And the denouncements and rationalizations would have been fun. (Be clear. I'm speaking about Republicans. They are the bad guys.) As for the movie I thought it was kind of bland. By the numbers. Kevin Spacey came off as average and he's usually much better.

I must admit I knew nothing about Jack Abramoff before seeing this film. I'm guessing his story caused quite a scandal in the corridors of power in Washington DC at the time. I have never taken much of an interest in American politics, it seems very complicated to me and this film hasn't really changed my view. It's opened my eyes somewhat, but it only goes to show just how cutthroat a business modern politics is! I will give you my thoughts on this one after a very brief summary.This film tells the very recent story of Jack Abramoff and his associate, Michael Scanlon. They were lobbyists under the Bush administration. Their job was to find companies or organisations that wanted or needed changes in legislation. They would then, for a substantial fee, approach the various politicians they needed to get the job done. The wheels were often greased with large donations to re-election campaigns or similar. All of what I've said so far is, I believe, perfectly legal. The film tells us about their dealings with various Native American tribes and how they defrauded them out of large amounts of money in order to secure gambling rights. There is more to tell, but I'd better leave it there or the Spoiler Police will be charging me with misconduct.Although I found the film a little hard to follow I did enjoy the performances or both Kevin Spacey as Jack Abramoff and Barry Pepper as Michael Scanlon. As I've already said, US politics is not a beast I usually confront and I'd like to say that this film convinced me otherwise, but sadly it didn't. I found most of the characters quite despicable (no real surprise there though) and the way they go about their business quite deplorable. The film itself is pretty well made and the plot does make sense after a while, after several of the threads begin to pull together. I can't exactly say it had me gripped, but it was quite well made and Kevin Spacey did a pretty good job in the leading role. Sadly it's not one I'd recommend unless you're really into American politics, or really have to see all of Kevin Spacey's films.My Score: 5.4/10.IMDb Score: 6.3/10 (based on 6,457 votes at the time of going to press).Rotten Tomatoes Score: 36/100 (based on 90 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

'You Don't Know Jack' would have been a good title for this biopic, but that one was already taken for assisted suicide doctor Jack Kevorkian. If you kept up with the news in the mid 2000's, Jack Abramoff had a fairly ubiquitous presence on the front pages of your national newspapers. As depicted in the film, he gained notoriety as a super-lobbyist, particularly when hauled in front of a Senate investigative panel and forced to spill the beans. Kevin Spacey does a nice job in depicting the congressional gun for hire, the go to guy to get special favors done for your special interest group. Wielding influence like it was second nature, watching Abramoff's style of American democracy in action is a genuine eye opener for casual viewers who haven't a clue how some laws are passed. Liberals in particular will take certain delight in the way Republican leaders were brought down by Abramoff's machinations, but I wouldn't carry that too far. The closing credits suggest a thoughtful Abramoff pondering his post-prison life from a jail cell, in which he makes his return to the Hill on behalf of Democratic benefactors. Stay tuned for the sequel.

I have a thing against despicable characters like "right-wing fascist" Jack Abramoff in "Casino Jack". I can almost get over my hesitation when he's played by the always likable Kevin Spacey, almost. It's an unlikable character flanked by more unlikable characters that for the most part make up an unlikable film.Yes, it is a true story about the lobbyist who had Republicans in his back pocket, i.e, his wallet, and it's even an interesting true story. Almost an interesting film. They spent way too long introducing us to this arrogant wheeler-dealer, who of course had many facets including family man and a devout Jew, but then forgetting to tell us why he's so interesting.Despite the lack of focus on why we should be watching, the performances are quite entertaining. Spacey, immensely underrated for his comedic acting ability, delivers witty one-liners as best as anyone. Barry Pepper in what could be a career-defining role comes second only to Spacey in entertainment value and sleaziness. And Jon Lovitz, as always, comes through with comic gold as an obnoxious mob-connected imbecile. But should this movie really be a comedy? With Abramoff out of jail and back on the streets, how funny is that? Alex Gibney's documentary "Casino Jack and the United State of Money" is a better product than this, but neither are as interesting as they should be given the subject.