Illustration by Michael DiMilo
(Originally published 10/23/20)
By Geoff Carter
Election season is upon us—with a vengeance. Besides the usual bombastic rhetoric, excessive patriotic fervor, and annoying media ad blitzes, we are also dealing with a disinformation campaign that may very likely affect the integrity of the voting process. Artificial intelligence, foreign election interference, and social media disinformation are threatening the integrity of the election, as are threats to election workers and attempts to discredit the polling process. This is only the beginning; who knows what else is coming?
Over the last decade, politics has changed drastically in this country, yet early voting turnout is at an all-time high. For all the attempts at voter suppression and obfuscation, the voice of the American people has not and will not be denied.
This week, as a celebration of our electoral process, the Pen in Hand will be looking at the world of politics in film—the good, the bad, the ugly, the uglier, and the downright dangerous. The range of films will cover everything from rising stars, muckrakers, reformers, and tyrants. So, without further ado, here are The Pen in Hand’s Top Ten political movies.
The Top Ten Political Movies
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Frank Capra’s tale of a young idealist thrown into the cogs of a corrupt Washington machine seems a bit dated (even a little corny) today, but the democratic principles embodied by a young and naïve Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart) still resonate in this ultimate of underdog stories. Notable for the filibuster scene, shown as it was intended to be used by architects of our government.
Starring: James Stewart, Claude Rains, Thomas Mitchell, Jean Arthur. Written by Sidney Buchman and Lewis Foster. Directed by Frank Capra.
Seven Days in May: An army colonel suspects a conspiracy to overthrow the American government based in the highest circles of power in Washington. Chilling in its plausibility and recognition of the vulnerability of our rule by law to unscrupulous power brokers. Notable for the outstanding cast and sterling screenplay.
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, Frederic March, Edmond O’Brien, Martin Balsam, and Ava Gardner. Screenplay by Rod Serling. Directed by John Frankenheimer.
A Face in the Crowd: Examines the meteoric rise of an itinerant guitar-picker named Lonesome Rhodes as he evolves, with the help of a publicist, from a local media personality to TV superstar and ultimately to political kingmaker. Drunk with power, he pushes the envelope to the breaking point. Notable for Andy Griffith’s rendition of a nasty and shrewd opportunist.
Starring: Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, Anthony Franciosa, and Walter Matthau. Written by Bud Schulberg. Directed by Elia Kazan.
All the President’s Men: The true story of how two young Washington Post reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, conducted the initial investigation of indiscretions by the Nixon White House that eventually blossomed into the Watergate Scandal, ultimately resulting in the resignation of Richard Nixon as president of the United States. Notable for Redford and Hoffman’s on-screen chemistry.
Starring: Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Robards, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam, Hal Holbrook, and Jane Alexander. Screenplay by William Goldman. Directed by Alan Pakula.
Nixon: A biography of the life of our second most-maligned chief executive. Nixon chronicles the life on Nixon, from his life as a young boy to his final days in office. A fascinating character study punctuated by the president’s late-night “dialogues” with presidential portraits in the West Wing. Notable for Anthony Hopkin’s depiction of a man caught in the webs of his own deceit.
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Joan Allen, Powers Boothe, Ed Harris, and E.G. Marshall. Written by Stephen J. Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson. Directed by Oliver Stone.
The Post: Steven Spielberg’s film which was based on the true story of Publisher Kay Graham and Chief Editor Ben Bradlee’s decision to publish the Pentagon Papers in the Washington Post, despite the threat of retaliation by the Nixon White House. The papers revealed the government’s knowledge of the impossibility of prevailing in the Vietnam War.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Bradley Whitford, Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Paulson, and Tracy Letts. Written by Liz Hannah and Josh Singer. Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Milk: Another biographical chronicling the rise of activist Harvey Milk from activist to his election as the first openly gay elected member of the San Francisco City Council. The film focuses mostly on the early rise of Milk during his early days in the city. Notable for a career performance by Sean Penn as the irrepressibly optimistic Milk.
Starring: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Alison Pill, and James Franco. Written by Dustin Lance Black. Directed by Gus Van Zant.
Lincoln: A dazzling depiction of Abraham Lincoln’s political struggle to wrangle the votes necessary to push the Thirteenth Constitutional Amendment, abolishing slavery, through the House of Representatives. Tony Kushner’s screenplay lends remarkable insights into the shrewd political maneuverings of probably our finest ever chief executive, including the deployment of three less than savory political operatives. Notable not only for Daniel Day-Lewis’ Oscar-winning performance, but for David Strathairn, Sally Fields, and Tommy Lee Jones in sterling supporting roles.
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Fields, David Strathairn, Tommy Lee Jones, John Hawkes, Tim Blake Nelson, Jackie Earle Haley, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, and more. Written by Tony Kushner. Directed by Steven Spielberg
JFK: The film version of Jim Garrison’s account of his exhaustive prosecution of conspirators in the Kennedy assassination reverberates with unexplored possibilities, unanswered questions, and implausible explanations. Although it sometimes strays into the realm of left-field conspiracy, the story is compelling in its range and depth of political complicity surrounding the Kennedy administration. Notable for sterling supporting performances by Joe Pesci, Kevin Bacon, Tommy Lee Jones, and Donald Sutherland.
Starring: Kevin Costner, Sissy Spacek, Ed Asner, Jack Lemmon, Gary Oldman, and Laurie Metcalf. Written by Oliver Stone and Zachary Sklar. Directed by Oliver Stone.
Recount: This HBO production depicts the controversial aftermath of the 2000 presidential election in which neither presidential candidate was able to claim victory. This behind-the-scenes look at the political maneuverings, manipulations, and machinations which ultimately led to the Supreme Court—surprisingly—making the final determination as to the outcome. Notable for Kevin Spacey’s great performance.
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Tom Wilkinson, Denis Leary, Laura Dern, and Bob Balaban. Written by Danny Strong. Directed by Jay Roach.
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