HBO is good at taking modern political episodes and turning them into popcorn-ready two-hour dramadies; see Recount about the 2000 Bush/Gore election, or Game Change about Sarah Palin's vice-presidential run, for primo examples.
The current fight over Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh seems ready-made for the HBO treatment, given that everyone involved, including the viewing public, has never seen a confirmation process quite so contentious or slimy — and that's saying something considering the Clarence Thomas hearing (tackled by HBO in Confirmation) involved a lot of talk about pornography and pubic hair.
Since the HBO movies inevitably cast pretty good (and ridiculously good-looking) actors, I have a few suggestions for the seemingly inevitable Kavanaugh: The Movie.
Bradley Cooper as Brett Kavanaugh
Given what we've learned about Kavanaugh's propensity for climbing the workplace ladder, lying with a straight face and alleged prep-school creepiness, Cooper could handle the job. Consider Cooper's role in Wedding Crashers as a template for his Kavanaugh.
Cardi B as Sen. Kamala Harris
The California senator (and potential Democratic candidate for president) is becoming a star on the national stage thanks in part to her pointed questioning of Kavanaugh. Cardi B seems bound for acting eventually, and playing a buzz-y up-and-comer who loves the spotlight is a natural first role.
Sterling K. Brown as Sen. Cory Booker
The Democratic New Jersey senator loves the spotlight, and might be using the Kavanaugh hearings to propel him into a presidential run. In new flick The Predator and on This Is Us, Brown can chew scenery with the best of them. And thanks to his Emmy-winning role in The People vs. O.J. Simpson, he's already experienced in reality-inspired courtroom drama.
Robert Redford as Sen. Orrin Hatch
The liberal Redford would probably relish the chance to do a campy version of his home-state senator, the doddering old GOP apologist Hatch from Utah.
Tim Blake Nelson as Sen. Chuck Grassley
Does anyone play an "aw shucks" rube better than Tim Blake Nelson? I think not.
And Donald Trump, the man who nominated Kavanaugh, will be played by ...
I've had enough of Alec Baldwin as Trump. How about Martin Sheen? He's already played a president to great effect in The West Wing, and while the lefty activist is certainly no fan of Trump, I'm sure a spray tan and good hair stylist would have him transformed into the Donald in no time. ♦
