Recount is a 2008 HBO film that chronicles the tumultuous weeks following the 2000 U.S. presidential election and the subsequent recounts in Florida. Directed by Jay Roach and written by Danny Strong, the film features an ensemble cast that includes Kevin Spacey, Tom Wilkinson, Denis Leary, Laura Dern, John Hurt, and Ed Begley Jr.
The film begins on election night in 2000 when the results in Florida are too close to call and both the Republican and Democratic parties claim victory. The story then shifts to the next day when the campaigns of Al Gore (Spacey) and George W. Bush (Wilkinson) begin to mobilize their legal teams to initiate a recount.
As the legal battle heats up, the film portrays the various tactics and strategies employed by both campaigns, including efforts to disqualify certain ballots, challenge the legality of certain recount procedures, and seek court injunctions to halt the recounts altogether.
The film also delves into the large-scale protests and media frenzy that surrounded the election controversy, as well as the intense political pressure placed on the public officials tasked with overseeing the recount process.
Throughout the film, tensions rise and emotions run high, ultimately culminating in the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision to halt the ongoing recounts and effectively declare George W. Bush the winner of the presidency.
Overall, Recount offers a gripping, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most contentious and polarizing episodes in American political history.