Game Change is a 2012 American political drama television film based on events of the 2008 United States presidential election campaign of John McCain, directed by Jay Roach and written by Danny Strong, based on the 2010 book of the same title documenting the campaign by political journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann.

[1] Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times described Moore's depiction of Palin as "a sharp-edged but not unsympathetic portrait of a flawed heroine, colored more in pity than in admiration.

The story flashes back to Senator John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, which is struggling to compete with other Republican candidates during the primary season.

They quickly look for a "game change" candidate who will excite the conservative base, win over independents, distance the campaign from the Bush administration and close the gender gap.

While Palin's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention is well received, the campaign becomes concerned that she is ignorant about many political issues and grossly unprepared.

Schmidt handles controversies from her past, such as Troopergate and the Bridge to Nowhere, while other staff attempt to fill broad gaps in her understanding of domestic and foreign politics.

While prepping for the interviews, she is preoccupied with her approval ratings in Alaska and the absence of her family while campaigning, eventually becoming unresponsive to advisers who begin to question her mental state.

With Election Day approaching, senior campaigners express regret that Palin turned out to be style without substance, with Schmidt lamenting that they neglected to vet her competency.

Obama wins by more than double the electoral college vote; on Election Night, Schmidt has to stop a rebellious Palin from giving a concession speech along with McCain's.

The film returns to the 2010 interview; regarding Cooper's question about whether he would pick Palin again if he had the chance to go back, Schmidt replies that life does not give do-overs.

Actual footage from the 2008 campaign portrayed the Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Joe Biden as well as numerous reporters, including Anderson Cooper, Katie Couric, Wolf Blitzer, Candy Crowley, Charles Gibson, and John King.

[16] David Hinckley of The New York Daily News wrote, "Julianne Moore's physical Palin in Game Change, which debuts March 10, is even more dead-on than Tina Fey's.

Palin's rise and fall is depicted as series of bad decisions made in relatively good faith that lead up to a hideous car crash.

"[24] The San Francisco Chronicle also praised the acting: "Game Change is graced by three extraordinary performances in the leading roles, beginning with Moore's portrayal of Palin, which is both complex and entirely credible.

"[32] Nicolle Wallace, a chief Palin 2008 aide, said she found Game Change highly credible, saying the film "captured the spirit and emotion of the campaign.

"[31] Wallace also told ABC News Chief Political Correspondent George Stephanopoulos that the film was "true enough to make me squirm.