Mister America 2019

As Tim Heidecker ventures into the unpredictable world of electoral politics, he is accompanied by his campaign manager, Toni Newman. Amidst the chaos, the boundaries between reality and illusion begin to blur. Just recently acquitted of murder charges due to a hung jury linked to a tragic incident at one of his music festivals, Heidecker sets his ambitions on the district attorney’s office in San Bernardino County. His motivation: a burning desire for revenge against Vincent Rosetti, the prosecutor who had relentlessly pursued him.

The film begins with a small crew shadowing Heidecker as he undertakes the task of door-to-door canvassing to collect signatures vital for qualifying as a third-party candidate. Despite his trademark humor and engaging personality, there’s an underlying desperation that he struggles to conceal.

As the campaign gains momentum, it quickly starts to stumble. Newman’s attempts to generate excitement and attract media attention end in disappointment. The situation worsens when a hastily arranged debate results in neither of Heidecker’s opponents showing up, leading his close collaborator, Gregg Turkington, to reflect on the seeming futility of their ambitions. As pressure escalates and Heidecker’s grip on his sanity begins to wane, he turns to the destructive habits he once indulged in, consuming excessive amounts of alcohol and THC vape—habits that had previously played a role in the devastating calamity at his music festival.

Sadly, Newman’s determined efforts to revive the floundering campaign fall short, culminating in Heidecker’s name being omitted from the ballot entirely. In a particularly distressing moment, Heidecker makes a call to Rosetti from the cramped space of his hotel room, intended as a courteous concession but eventually spiraling into a barrage of insults and thinly veiled threats. In the aftermath, Heidecker finds himself enveloped in shame and sorrow, which prompts him to set up an impromptu memorial at the site of the condemned music festival, honoring the young lives lost due to his own recklessness.