(2010) "My name is Jack Abramoff," says Kevin Spacey, looking at himself in a mirror, while loudly justifying himself to himself: "in reality, mediocrity is where most people live…. And those of us who know this - those of us who understand the disease of the dull - we do something about it." Fearful of being enslaved by reprehensible, rapacious gentiles, Jack, a Jew, is portrayed as having moral marrow in his bones, yet he's more so a man of flesh in need of liquid assets coursing through his veins.

Returning to two years before Jack's incarceration in a federal holding facility (no kosher meals), this political satire, a dramatized inspiration from actual events, from the late director George Hickenlooper and screenwriter Norman Snider, complementing the documentary, Casino Jack and the United States of Money, says that "It's all about the money." In a pep-rally pitch to Republicans, invoking God and country, Jack declares: "Prosperity allows us to do the right thing."

In partnership with "evil elf" Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper), superlobbyist Abramoff puts together dubious deals, snarky schemes (direct access to members of Congress and the Oval Office), and self-enriching strategies involving "sweatshops and rape camps" in the Marianas, casinos on Native American reservations, and the offshore SunSail Casinos in South Florida.

Jack says as lobbyists they develop "hellfire" influence by informing and guiding elected officials on how to vote by taking them on fact-finding missions (to swanky hotels and restaurants, golfing in Scotland), such as Ohio Congressman Bob Ney and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (Spencer Garrett), to obtain favorable legislation for their clients, who provide the funds to pay (buy) the politicians with campaign contributions, through hefty retainer fees: "Democracy in action" - we help them, you help us, they help you.

The cast of characters includes Grover Norquist, Ralph Reed, and Karl Rove. Having a penchant for quoting from movies, imitating film stars and politicians, Jack says: "Washington is like Hollywood, but with uglier faces."

Jack hires an ugly face with mob connections, Adam Kidan (Jon Lovitz), in Florida to negotiate with obstinate Gus Boulis, the Greek owner of SunSail. Chippewa Indian Bernie Sprague (Graham Greene) persistently pursues Abramoff for his dirty dealing and defrauding the tribe.

Before a Senate hearing, Abramoff deflects questions from Senator John McCain (whom he'd destroyed politically in the South to get "that idiot" elected) by pleading the 5th until in a moment of fantasy he stands up to address each of the senators' own hypocrisies of having accepted his generous gifts. At first only mildly, his wife Pam (Kelly Preston) assails Jack's unethical methods and motives: "What about letting me down and the kids?"

But "the Enron of lobbying" finally comes apart when Mike's girlfriend Emily Miller (Rachelle Lefevre) contacts Susan Schmidt (Ruth Marshall) of the Washington Post over a stewardess's crimson pair of panties. Nonetheless, Jack reminds us that he works out everyday.

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Copyright © 2011 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
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