[dropcap style="font-size: 60px; color: #9b9b9b;"] G [/dropcap] ame Change is another wonderful HBO reality production. Between this and Too Big To Fail, HBO has done a great job of capturing one of the amazing “record-book” years, 2008. The world was obviously having a generally “Boo Radley” moment when it’s financial and common sense pants simply fell down.

I love seeing these docu-dramas even if they are a tad sensationalized. In the case of a Presidential campaign it is hard not to have things get exaggerated. This happens, I suspect, for two reasons: a.) national politics is a very nasty high-stakes game and b.) the players on this stage (namely Steve Schmidt and Nicolle Wallace) are as sharp-elbowed as they come.

I was an early McCain supporter because of a close friend who was connected at senior levels to his campaign. Once the Palin selection was made, I jumped off very swiftly. So it was interesting for me to watch Game Change and then speak to my friend and yet another friend who was a major DC advisor to McCain. Both had the same startling reaction to the film…..they felt the facts were sensationalized for their entertainment value (things like the Queen of England reference), but that the fundamental theme of Sarah Palin’s candidacy AND her volatile state of mind and confidence level (from completely lacking to completely overblown) were actually very close to reality during the campaign. I was amazed and reminded once again that truth is stranger than fiction.

Julianne Moore was a near perfect Palin….and as a testament to her acting, I’m not sure I would have thought to cast her in the first place. Ed Harris is simply such a strong actor that it’s not all surprising how well he portrays McCain. As for Woody Harrelson and Pete MacNicol, the did a convincingly smarmy job as Schmidt and Davis. I think this is a must-see in this election year just to keep us all aware….