Sarah Palin Can See the Big Screen From Her House

By  · Published on May 25th, 2011

She may have never actually said that she could see Russia from her house (that’s the power of Palin parody), but the former Governor of Alaska will have plenty of chances to deliver new quotables when The Undefeated hits screens.

In what must be either a self-mockingly ironic (considering it focuses on someone who’s literally been defeated before) or a metaphorical title, Sarah Palin will be seen rising through the political ranks, earning her spot as Governor of Alaska, and securing a place on the 2008 Presidential ticket for the Republican Party. Directed by Stephen K. Bannon, it features footage from former campaigns, interviews with Palin, and talks with Palin’s allies according to Movieline.

The oddity here is that it’s not an indie aiming for festivals – it’s a non-objective documentary being released in Iowa. Then New Hampshire. And South Carolina. And Nevada. You know, the primary states.

Effectively, it sounds more like a long-form political advertisement for a candidate who simply hasn’t yet announced a candidacy. From a filmic perspective, this could be the start of a new wave of movies endorsing candidates (who are already obliged to write pre-ordained New York Times Bestsellers). Why not add movies to the cadre of political tools in the old toolbox? Then again, if they’re thinly veiled 2-hour-long political ads, what kind of real impact could they have if the audience doesn’t expand beyond what’s built-in? It’s unclear, but it’s fascinating, and the film’s run will undoubtedly answer some (but probably raise more) of those questions.

Strangely enough, Jay Roach’s Game Change which features Julianne Moore playing Palin will most likely premiere on HBO on a similar timeline as The Undefeated.

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