Jordan Wright
November 15, 2010
Chris Matthews (MSNBC) and Kevin Spacey protraying Jack Abramoff in Casino Jack. Photo credit to Yulia Mikhalchuk.
Cage rattler, fire breather, access-peddler and former restaurant owner Jack Abramoff, is the subject of the new film “Casino Jack”. It’s a slick, taut, expose of his rise and crash career in the political arena and should be compulsive viewing for the freshmen, and women, congress who have just arrived in town for their orientation and swearing-in.
If anyone was ever hoist by his own egotistical petard it was this uber-lobbyist to the slick, powerful and unknowing patsies, who has been serving his five-year plus sentence in Cumberland Federal Prison. Abramoff who believed, “The influence we wield is more important than the air you breathe.” has probably been hearing that from his current jailers.
The recent DC screening, attended by celeb Kevin Spacey, Chris Matthews, Joan Harmon, Elizabeth Bagley, Vicki Kennedy and Lani Hay, was hosted by The Creative Coalition and Lanmark Technologies. Matthews, who cautioned incoming pols, “You’ve got to come here with a moral compass.”, held a Q and A with Spacey who portrays Abramoff.
Spacey defined the role of Casino Jack as having, “ some myths, some truths and some red herrings.” He clones Abramoff with brio and sleaze.
The film proved to have sound advice for local political wives when Abramoff wife, Pam played by Kelly Preston, tells Jack, “We have no friends, we only have people you do business with.”
Robin Bronk of The Creative Coalition and Lani Hay of Lanmark Technology, Inc. Photo credit to Yulia Mikhalchuk.
Rachelle Lefevre does a fine job portraying DC journalist and public affairs consultant, Emily Miller, who single-handedly brings down their House of Cards. And Jon Lovitz as Adam Kidan, their smarmy cohort, is delicious.
But perhaps the most revealing line of the evening came when Matthews quipped, “Self-deprecation is one of my ruses.” So that’s how he catches his interviewees off guard!
Abramoff has been working at Baltimore’s Tov Pizzeria since June. He’ll be released from a local halfway house next month. Last known employment for partner-in-crime, Mike Scanlon, brilliantly played by Barry Pepper, was as a lifeguard in Rehoboth Beach. Could it be he’s looking out for sharks circling the waters? (Can you put the words “sun” and “cruise” in a sentence?) Seems it pays to be vigilant.
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