Tanner '88

This is a funny mockumentary of a very liberal congressman-Tanner among other things wants to legalize all drugs-running for president in 1988. The key feature of this work is it is an artful blend of fictional characters and situations along with real politicos and stuff that happens on campaigns. I was too young in 1988 to really remember the presidential race so I got a lot of laughs when I mixed up who was real and who was fake. (Kitty Dukakis is a good actress!)

The humor of this work is bone dry; its central criticism of the campaign process as being concerned with mere appearances rings louder today. Tanner is a great satirical character-it's never really answered why he is running for president because at the end of the day the answer is probably vanity. Like most Altman works this has the ensemble and multiple plotlines aspects where is feels like you are looking into a group of lives. Tanner is the central focus but a half a dozen or so stories are present. I especially liked the ongoing drama with TJ (campaign manager) and Ted Kennedy.

In a lot of ways this touches on Altman's central concerns and sensibilities. It is a cross section of both America and wide range of people-most episodes are literally in different states and there a dozens of people in this work. It has the great unresolved quality of so much Altman. The series ends on a plot cliffhanger while feeling complete as a commentary. It has the disappointment in and cynicism of American politics. It has the musical interludes. The direction is very much the fly on the wall free flowing camera Altman does so well.

I think people who aren't use to Altman's style or want a quick feel of his body of work would do well to start with this. Because this is episodic it is more accessible than Nashville. Altman wasn't wrong to think of this as his most creative work-it has the controlled chaos that defines the best parts of his work.

During the 1988 presidential campaign, Democratic hopefuls spiritedly canvass the country and jostle for their party's nomination and the honor of opposing Republican Vice President George Bush when congressman Jack Tanner emerges from a long political hiatus to challenge such opponents as Al Gore, Michael Dukakis, Gary Hart and Jesse Jackson. The Tanner campaign appears at all the events and interacts with many important figures. What no one seems to realize, or particularly care about, is that Jack Tanner doesn't even exist. Michael Murphy stars in this hilarious and biting satire of media-age politics - relevant now more than ever.

Renegade filmmaker Robert Altman and Pulitzer-winning Doonesbury cartoonist G.B. Trudeau created the Jack Tanner character, but they couldn't hope to predict the frenzy he'd create. Politicians were eager to meet him, and more than happy to pretend they knew him. If it would make them look good, of course. Everyone from Pat Roberston to Bob Dole happily talked to Jack and his crew, knowing he had a media blitz surrounding him. The catch is they didn't know why he had a blitz around him.

Altman and crew were constantly filming Michael Murphy as he took the Tanner role and ran with it, frequently improvising, as Trudeau couldn't keep up with the goings-on well enough to script half of what Murphy did. What Trudeau did script was the behind-the-scenes action of the Tanner campaign. Campaign Manager T.J. Cavanaugh (masterfully portrayed by Pamela Reed) and her slew of assistants hustled and bustled in their HQ, desperately trying to spin everything Jack did to make him look 'For real', so as to match his slogan. Unfortunately, as T.J. put it, 'things happen to this man'.

Tanner has a lot of problems both in front of and behind the camera. First there's the camera-man Deke, who reads Jack's diary and puts his personal thoughts into campaign commercials and, after being fired, joins the NBC news crew that is assigned to follow Jack, which gives Deke even more chances to ruin Jack's life. Secondly there's the fact that Jack has fallen deeply in love with Michael Dukakis' (fictitious) campaign manager, Joanna Buckley. Thirdly, Jack's daughter, Alex, bounces between free-spiritedness and megalomania, both of which make Jack look bad. Last, but not least, is the fact that Jack never takes a definite stance on anything except drug legalization. This makes him look like more of a hippy than a politician.

Over the course of six hours and eleven episodes, Altman and Trudeau use their characters and the real politicians to weave a brilliant fable about the state of politics in a world where image means more than qualifications and standards. Pathetic as it may be, it's true. In most of the encounters Jack has with politicians it is quite clear that these people have no idea what is going on, yet they still pretend to be completely in control. When we put them in the White House, do they know what they're doing or are they just pretending to be completely in control? "Tanner '88" is a mockumentary that actually has a point, and makes that point very well.

Robert Altman and Garry "Doonesbury" Trudeau teamed up to create this unforgettable look at American politics -- an ongoing series about Tanner, a fictional candidate for president, filmed against the backdrop of the real race (primaries, conventions, etc.) with real politicians playing themselves and interacting with the characters.

This one is as brilliant, funny and thought-provoking as the best of the writer and director's solo projects. All the performances are terrific -- Pamela Reed, in particular, shows why she's one of the most interesting American actresses working today.

Where the whole world is holding its breath because of the upcoming 2004 election, it is refreshing to watch this TV series. Not only because of the superb acting of Pamela Reed & Michael Murphy and each and every one of the ensemble (something we almost take for granted with Altman pictures, which always give sublime acting) and the great writing, but also because it gives non-Americans some insight in Political USA.

Inspiring and clarifying, it makes one wonder first of all why it's always the wrong movie people that get elected in politics. Wouldn't we all be much more relaxed if USA politics had a bit of the Altman-touch to it...

Unfortunately, the inspiration of this Maverick doesn't seem to reach the oligarchy in power. Altman DOES show us that TV can be fascinating and uplifting, even though he got curtailed, which will keep us wondering how that 12th episode that was never shot would be like.

Does this TV-series, which is over before one knows it and doesn't seem to take the 12x 30 minutes it says on the DVD jewelbox, draw a true picture of political USA ? Being from Europe I sincerely hope not, but I'm afraid it is even worse than Tanner is showing us. 'Let's not tell too much and focus on the face'.

And even worse, after globalization and sugarfrosted horrors for breakfast, the 'old world' is quickly picking up on this terrible excrescence too...

Following fictional US presidential candidate Jack Tanner (Michael Murphy) for the Democratic party during the real 1988 election, Tanner '88 is one of the most interesting political comedies I've seen, while also one of the most rigidly dated series I know of. Originally airing sporadically during / leading up to said '88 election on HBO, the series was pitched as if Tanner was a true candidate for the real run, and even included cameos from active politicians, as well as a finale seemingly filmed at / during that year's Democratic National Convention. Created by cartoonist Garry Trudeau, directed by Robert Altman (M*A*S*H*), and produced by both, the scripts were apparently only mostly written, with much improvisation / pick ups on the day to fill out the scenes. It feels very documentary, although with constantly interesting angles and camera movement I must say, and we're often given long takes of conversational talking, with lots of background noise and obfuscation. It makes everything feel quite real, almost unedited, like we're watching the behind-the-scenes of a real campaign, which is obviously exactly the what the series is going for. Of course this strength is also its ultimate weakness, as the series is so rigidly locked in the campaign that unless you yourself experienced it, or have a vast interest in politics, you won't get most of the Dukakis, Kennedy, Reagan, and Dole humour. All in all, what we get feels like if NPR tried to make a comedy, and I mean that in the best ways. If its your type of thing you're going to love it, I thought it was quite good and certainly impressive.