With the forthcoming election on everyone’s mind, it’s nearly impossible these days to escape from politics, so why even try? Now is a good time for a Must List of our favorite election-themed pop cultural staples. Me, I’m ready to go back and watch The Contender, the excellent 2000 political drama in which Joan Allen (pictured) plays a vice presidential nominee who clams up on questions when her bid to become America’s first female veep stalls over sexual skeletons in her closet and her views on abortion. Sound familiar? Even if it weren’t suddenly relevant again, I’d revisit the movie just to watch the crafty, eccentric president (Jeff Bridges) intimidate a newbie congressman (Christian Slater) by ordering up a shark sandwich from the White House kitchen.
Your turn: Which election-themed movies, TV shows, music, books, websites, or games are on your Must List? Vote early and vote often; pick up to three. This is not a secret ballot; please include your e-mail address, in case we elect to use your suggestion in the magazine. Deadline is Thursday, September 11, at 10 a.m. ET.
Comments (1-30) of 46
Considering that this is the year that we could see the top job for once go to someone who isn’t white, several Hollywood projects with non-Caucasian citizens in office spring immediately and happily to mind. There’s Morgan Freeman in Deep Impact… There’s Dennis Haysbert in “24″…
Though it may be a pretty quick scene, I adore the moment in Back to the Future when malt shop server Goldie (Donald Fullilove) announces to his boss, “One day I’m going to BE somebody!” to which fresh-from-1985 Marty McFly responds, “That’s right! He’s gonna be mayor!” It’s not just a cute scene – it also serves as a reminder of how far we’ve come in squashing simpleminded prejudice and eliminating unnecessary boundaries.
The Best Man with Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson. That movie showed how easily one person can sway an election and how dirty someone will go to win an election. Also in the movie Henry Fonda’s character is a cheater yet his wife stays by his side for appearance sake. And Cliff Robertson’s character had all the momentum going and it looked like he would win the nomination but in like one day all that hype he had was gone and he lost that nomination.
The American President with Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Matthew J. Fox, etc.
My name is Andrew Shepherd, and I *am* the President.
Probably the funniest politician I ever seen, you’ll swear it is a Monty Python skit, but true interview of politician explaining a recent oil tanker accident – the front fell off. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9YKMgXIovQ
It’s not really “election” themed, but watching ‘Air Force One’ always always always makes me wish that someone like Harrison Ford’s character would stand up and lead us.
SAVE SWINGTOWN! SAVE SWINGTOWN! SAVE SWINGTOWN!
I was so hoping that this years presidential election would be just like the last season of West Wing and Barack Obama’s Jimmy Smitts would make John McCain’s Alan Alda Secretary of State after the inauguration and the world would live happily and peacefully ever after. But there was no Sarah Palin written in the final (great) season of West Wing so I don’t know who to cast where now….
Oh, that’s easy. McCain’s Brain:
and It’s Time for Some Campaignin’:
http://sendables.jibjab.com/sendables/1191/time_for_some_campaignin#/teaser/1191
“Election” with Reese Witherspoon. Love to hate that character!
“Nashville” – still a classic.
I highly recommend the 1972 movie the Candidate with Robert Redford. Particularly the end, when Redford wins the election, then says to his advisors, “Well, what do we do now?” That says it all about comtemporary American politics.
I agree, I love the half-fairytale, half-political drama “The American President,” because of the sharp Aaron Sorkin-penned script and the pervasive score that’s been used in more movie trailers than “Edward Scissorhands”
I liked Primary Colors, and I just borrowed the entire West Wing from a friend. I’m just now coming up to the re-election campaign.
“Election”–perfect satire of the pettiness of politics, how over-blown things are when you’re a teenager, and the importance that 1 or 2 votes can have.
“Tanner ‘88″ – I loved the faux-documentary style Altman used in this movie and Cynthia Nixon is fantastic in this mini-series!
I am listening to Jay-Z’s new jam, ‘Jockin.’ Jigga drops the dope line “I rock with Obama but I ain’t no politician.”
In this Year of Obama, you’ve got to see “The Man” (1972), in which James Earl Jones plays Douglass Dilman, a nondescript president pro tem of the Senate, but nonetheless third in line for the presidency. Because of a couple of incredible strokes of fate, he becomes the first black POTUS literally overnight.
Of course, the power structure considers Dilman to be an accident of history and a caretaker president. But he proves to be made of much sterner stuff, and winds up pursuing his party’s nomination for a full term.
The great Rod Serling wrote the screenplay, based on the novel by Irving Wallace. The movie was directed by the distinguished filmmaker Joseph Sargent (“MacArthur,” “The Taking of Pelham 123″).
“The Amazing Spider-Man” has been all about the New York City Mayoral election between Crowne and Hollister lately, with things finally seeming to come to a head.
Primary Colors is always enjoyable. The Manchurian Candidate (the original) is good election fare. Wasn’t there a mayoral election on one of the Northern Exposure seasons — that seems pretty topical.
- ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN
- NIXON
- PRIMARY COLORS
- THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
“Interface” by Neal Stephenson and J. Frederick George (or, if you’re poking around your favorite used bookstore, try Stephen Bury, the pseudonym it was originally published under). Science fiction plus politics makes for a frightening read.
HBO’s original movie Recount, which is out on DVD, is a fantastic dramatization of the fateful and embarrasing 2000 election with a standout Laura Dern in one of her greatest performances ever.
Agree with American President! My name is Andrew Shepard, and I AM the President. Good stuff. Only slightly election themed, but I just watched Dave the other day, and I just love that movie.
I love Primary Colors, but since it’s been mentioned, I’ll go with “Wag the Dog,” which has aged really well. Its satire is still incredibly sharp; the scene in Dustin Hoffman’s office where the team plans the production of the Albanian war is one of my all-time favorite film scenes.
“Dave” and “Dick” (ok, not really about an election, but very Presidential). “The Distinguished Gentleman” is a rare bird: an Eddie Murphy movie that’s neither a blockbuster nor a bomb. It’s simply…not bad. The costars are the best part.
Wait, I can’t believe no one has mentioned “Bob Roberts”! Add it to your rental queue now!
the huffington post, ‘election’, ‘all the president’s men’, ‘mr. smith goes to washington’.
1) I have to agree with “The Contender.” Joan Allen gave an excellent performance.
2) “The Daily Show” & “The Colbert Report”–there election coverage is brilliant.
3) “Dave”–Kevin Kline makes me smile.
Kevin Kline’s Dave.
I’d vote for him. Or for Ben Kingsley’s VP. So long as they got rid of Frank Langella’s creepy Chief of Staff ahead of time.
(I don’t think my comment posted. Odd.)
1) The Contender
2) The Daily Show/Colbert Report
3) Dave
Oh, guess it did. (:
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