With former Senator and presidential candidate Bill Bradley visiting Tufts today, Jumbos across campus are getting psyched for the rapidly approaching presidential race. The first primaries are just a few months away, and television, radio, newspapers, and magazines will soon be filled with an uneasy melange of campaign promises and cruel mudslinging.
With such an important position at stake during a crucial time in our nation's history, it would be easy to be intimidated by such a momentous decision. It will ultimately influence our lives in numerous very real and permanent ways. So why not start with something not so real and a little more entertaining: movies.
It's the perfect way to get your feet wet in the complex the world of politics. To make choosing a few flicks a little easier, we here at the Arts Department put together a list of the best political films out there. They're loaded with treachery, murder, sex, and bribes: and those are just the documentaries! Actually, a lot of the fun in watching these films comes when you try to figure out what's true and what's fiction. It is harder than you think. Of course, it is not just the inexperienced politicos who can benefit from watching a few of these films. They ought to help put things in perspective for today's candidates. After witnessing some of the atrocious accusations thrown at the candidates in these movies, Bradley won't mind those pesky questions about why New Jersey smells the way it does. It could be worse, you know.
1. The Candidate
At once realistic and satirical, this film features Robert Redford as a na??ve, young lawyer roped into running for Senator. In the process of his campaign, he learns the sad dark truth about the way people in the world of politics really function. It won the Oscar for best original screenplay in 1972 and features some of the most witty and caustic dialogue seen in a long time. From the director of Bad News Bears, Michael Ritchie, how could it be bad?
2. Bob Roberts
This fake documentary stars Tim Robbins as a simple folk singer who decides to run for Senator in Pennsylvania. He uses both his winning smile, a loyal entourage, and a whole slew of dirty politics to win the seat. Both written and directed by Robbins, the story is both hilarious and chilling in its ominous predictions about the future of politics. Interestingly enough, some of his predictions have come true already.
3. Dave
This is a fun story about a simple guy, like you and me, who gets suckered into playing the president because he looks exactly like the man the people elected. When the real chief executive suffers a stroke he is thrust into the position full-time. Good-natured and full of hearty laughs, this winner features Kevin Kline in the title role and Sigourney Weaver as the estranged First Lady.
4. Nixon
Only Oliver Stone could give us a British Sir Anthony Hopkins and make us believe he is one of the most infamous American presidents of our time. This lengthy epic portrays Tricky Dick as both despicable and pitiful, a true tragic hero. Of course, the director inserts a few of his always controversial suppositions about the way things might have been. But then again, isn't that what movies are for?
5. Wag the Dog
With a screenplay by David Mamet and stars like Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman playing off each other, this satire reaches absurd heights as we get a look into back room, executive office spin-doctoring. With an election approaching and a potential career-ending controversy hitting the fan, Hollywood creativity finds its way into the White House in more ways than simply the obvious ones.
6. The American President
Another all-American typical romantic comedy, we are given Michael Douglas as a widowed president searching for love while holding the nation's highest office. Typical fare from director Rob Reiner, this one tries to pull on our heartstrings and succeeds.
7. All the King's Men
An old one but still a great one. Based on the novel by Robert Penn Warren, it tells the story of the tragic rise and fall of Southern governor Willie Stark and his lackey, Jack Burden. The novel is itself based loosely on the story of demagogue and Louisana Governor Huey Long. It was made in 1949 but still fares well today. A classic.
8. All the President's Men
For all of those aspiring investigative reporters out there, this one is for you. It is the story of Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) taking on the Watergate scandal with little support and few leads. They end up, however, breaking the story wide open. Watch for those eerie parking garage scenes with the mysterious Deep Throat.
9. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington
For everyone out there who thinks that our government is corrupt and wishes they could go to D.C. and change a few things, Jimmy Stewart is the man for you. In this classic, directed by Frank Capra, a newly elected Senator arrives to take his seat and is immediately overwhelmed by dirty politicians itching to capture his idealism and take advantage of it before he knows what hit him. He stands his ground, though, and fights the mob simply to do the right thing.
10. President Clinton's Testimony for Kenneth Star's Special Investigation
Sure to go down in history as a sad day for democracy and the White House. This one provides hours of fun on a rainy day. Slick Willy comes clean discussing his relationships with all kinds of people. Some of those people care for him. Others work for him. Some are kind. Some are cunning. Some are loyal. And some just suck.
