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So Goes the Nation

So Goes the Nation (2006)

tomatometer

86

Average Rating: 7.1/10
Critic Reviews: 14
Fresh: 12 | Rotten: 2

No consensus yet.

audience

67

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 1,304

My Rating

Movie Info

In the 2004 presidential election, Ohio became the state that decided who would lead the nation for the next four years; throughout the campaign, both George W. Bush and John Kerry realized it was a key "swing state" which could go to either candidate, and they devoted much of their time and resources to bringing in the vote in the Buckeye state. The controversies of the 2000 election led many to suspect that voter fraud could be a possibility, and many were watchful for tampering of voting

Feb 13, 2007

IFC Films

All Critics (22) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (2) | DVD (5)

This informative documentary offers a sound, if uninspiring lesson in civics.

December 22, 2006 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Documentarians Adam Del Deo and James Stern present a cogent and comprehensive postmortem of the 2004 presidential election in Ohio.

December 22, 2006 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
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The film's triple thesis is that elections are run badly, Democrats are often clueless and Republicans are clever. Maybe -- but that still leaves too many unanswered questions.

December 21, 2006 Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | Comment
Chicago Tribune
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Directors James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo make Ohio a confounding crucible of the American political machine and a microcosm of the country's cultural and socioeconomic fractures.

November 3, 2006 Full Review Source: Boston Globe | Comment
Boston Globe
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Supported by commentary from both Republican and Democratic operatives, the movie confirms what most of us have known all along: Electability is all about staying on message. The truth and verifiability of that message is something else again.

October 19, 2006 Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | Comment
Christian Science Monitor
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Filmmakers James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo captured fascinating glimpses of the action leading up to the election, as well as the Monday morning quarterbacking (from Republicans and Democrats) about what went wrong or right.

October 19, 2006 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A fair warning that the world is watching to see whether Karl Rove and company put their thumbs on the scales again.

February 17, 2007 Full Review Source: Upstage Magazine | Comment
Upstage Magazine

This shocking, though patently partisan, expose' makes a convincing case that wholesale irregularities came into play in the State of Ohio on Election Day 2004.

February 17, 2007 Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | Comment
NewsBlaze

Um olhar imparcial sobre as estratégias de democratas e republicanos durante a eleição presidencial de 2004, o filme buca analisar os erros e acertos que conduziram à reeleição de Bush, oferecendo respostas inteligentes e, muitas vezes, surpreendentes.

December 2, 2006 Comment
Cinema em Cena

An unpretty picture of the 2004 Presidential election campaign animated by big money, power politics, negative campaign ads, and hatred.

November 5, 2006 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | Comment
Spirituality and Practice

From its riveting opening to its gripping conclusion, . . . So Goes the Nation is arguably the most intelligent, kinetic analysis of the modern election process since The War Room.

October 19, 2006 Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | Comment
L.A. Weekly

A strikingly mature, but no less passionate, counterpoint to many of the season's angrier political documentaries.

October 5, 2006 Full Review Source: Film Journal International | Comment
Film Journal International
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for So Goes the Nation

A well done documentary about the electoral process, specifically in Ohio. While it could be a little clearer about the overall campaigning system, there are far too many documentaries which cover that process. Instead, it takes a broader strategic view, uses the 2004 elections as a case study, and puts many of the

December 14, 2007
dhetteix

Super Reviewer

A very interesting look at our nation's voting perference. The movie is unbiased but does seem to cover more of the democratic side of the election. It goes on to explain and show how the John Kerry and the democrats litterly gave the election away. I am a very liberally person, and do admit that the Bush campaign was

August 7, 2007
eamonn286
Eamonn Clements

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