So many legal issues that the movie just gets dead wrong. First, the woman who is convicted of first degree murder would be in prison awaiting her appeal, not watching the proceedings in person. Second, there would be no "emergency" appeal. As much as we would like to think that courts rush to free a potentially wrongfully convicted person, the process takes years.

Despite then being told that it was a 6-3 vote to overrule Roe (with one of the three now retired) we soon learn that it was a 3-3-3 decision. Three voted to overturn Roe entirely, 3 would have upheld Roe, and 3 would have overturned Roe so long as only "minor" penalties were given. This last position would never happen in the Supreme Court. It would not have been a question before the Court and in any event, once the Constitutional question was decided, it would be pretty clearly up to the states to set a proper penalty (likely excluding the death penalty).

But it gets worse. The Chief, who was one of the harsh 3 votes, is now sitting with a 3-5 (and the new Andy Garcia undecided) DEFICIT for his upholding the first degree murder conviction, but arrogantly asks for a unanimous opinion upholding the conviction. He is simply in no place to do that as there remains 5 votes, even without Garcia to vacate such a harsh conviction.

Further the final "compromise" decision authored by Garcia looks pretty much like Roe itself. Despite all of the commentary that it was a "balanced view" of the question, the take away was that once you overrule Roe, you see these harsh penalties and must reinstate Roe.

I'm a sucker for legal movies, but far too many unlikely scenarios to fully enjoy this.

A movie that discusses about abortion and the decisions made by the Supreme Court of Justice was a excellent subject but in the case of "Swing Vote" was a poor execution, very similar to a staged play with some inauthentic lines and a melancholic, poor and cheesy soundtrack. But it was a nice film though.

Andy Garcia plays the young Judge Kirkland, a newcomer into the Supreme Court after the retirement of other judge (Milo O'Shea). Kirkland is the responsible for the Swing Vote in the difficult case of creating the laws over abortion. He's pressured by the other members of the court to make up his mind quickly, even though we already know (in some moments) his position on the subject but he wants to hear all sides of the story, including met a reporter who is totally against it, and a woman defender of abortion and the women's rights.

The religion discussion, the women's right issues, the law issues, all the sides of this controversial subject was showed; Garcia's character wants to make up his mind on the issue but he must consider all the aspects and all the pros and cons. The text is overwritten, has many gasps, weak and boring in many points.

Andy Garcia is quite bad in some scenes and that's something rare to say about him or his performances. The scene where he shouts at Harry Belafonte is a terrible example of an actor trying to rise above the other but with no trace of skills. In other moments he is decent but for the most part of the story it was a poor character for him to play. The supporting cast is good, including names like Robert Prosky, Kate Nelligan, Ray Walston, Bob Balaban, James Whitmore, John Aylward, Lisa Gay Hamilton and Michael O'Keefe. But what amazed me was that none of them exceed the other, nothing was so fantastic that could earn an Emmy nomination, and the movie wasn't nominated for one actually. They're good, but not that much.

It is a good film in the sense that it impels the viewer with some moralistic opinion or politically incorrect views on the controversial subject; it shows the different aspects and points of view and who's behind of such opinions. Well made but not much as I expected. 6/10

A movie about the arguments pro and contra abortion isn't something you see every week. And when such a movie doesn't even make a statement in favor of one the two that's even more rare. This movie is one of this kind. It gives you all the arguments pro and contra but doesn't make a decision for you, which is a good thing.

Everybody who hopes to see a court thriller will be very disappointed. All you get to see are the judges trying to come to a compromise and some lobbyists trying to influence their opinions in function of their own cause. The story has its weaknesses, but overall it is quite good. Same for the acting. Most of the time this is more than just "TV-quality".

This isn't a bad movie, but I do understand why this went straight to video. It wouldn't stand a chance in the multiplex because it isn't a brilliant and gripping story that stands out above the average. In the end this movie may not be the best you've ever seen but it will not be a complete waste of your time either. I reward it with a 6.5/10.