"The Candidate" - More Relevant Than Ever?! Political World-Building Done Right

Okay, so I just watched "The Candidate" (1972) and WOW. I know it's not some flashy sci-fi world or anything, but the way they build the *political* world in that movie is seriously impressive. It's not about aliens or spaceships, but about the subtle compromises and soul-crushing realities of running for office - which feels more like a different world than anything sometimes, right? Bill McKay's journey from genuine idealist to...well, I won't spoil it, but it's a ride. And it still rings so true today, it's kinda scary. The scene where he starts actually *winning* and his advisors are basically like, 'Okay, NOW you gotta play the game' really got to me. You can literally see the moment his face changes when he has to start watering down his message. That's some intense character work. The whole film is like a really well-researched documentary disguised as a drama, which is a type of world building in itself, if you ask me. I'm a sucker for movies that make you think, and this one definitely did. It's not a fun ride, necessarily---it's a pretty bleak one---but it's a *real* one. Has anyone else seen it? What did you all think of McKay's final line? I'm still thinking about it, honestly. Was it him waking up or breaking down? Someone tell me their fan theories!