Background to this: I was watching Dead Poets’ Society yesterday and was struck by how easily it could be called “W Mitt Romney’s School Days” (although I’m admittedly I’m sceptical whether the future Governor would have joined any such group). So what are some movies not necesarilly political in theme that would make relevant and good watching this election season?
I’ve never seen it and have no idea if it’s any good, but Robert Redford’s Candidate was the first thing to come to mind.
I saw Alexander Payne’s black comedy Election in the theater a couple of weeks ago. I hadn’t seen it since it was first released and it’s still just as good now as it was then.
These are way darker than I should go, since the thought of the current president being shot terrifies me, but they are good movies.
The Manchurian Candidate is a truly great movie (the 1962 original, please).
The David Cronenberg version of Stephen King’s The Dead Zone is one of those movies that’s in many ways better than the book.
Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver might be stretching it, but hey, it’s set during an election.
The Ides of March, an above-average political thriller with outstanding performances from Ryan Gosling and Philip Seymour Hoffman. A very cynical look at how elections really work, and probably not terribly far off the mark.
Seconded.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? Homer Stokes vs. Pappy O’Daniel.
Speechless - a rom-com with Michael Keaton and Geena Davis as political speechwriters who fall for each other but are working for opposing candidates.
Primary Colors for a political film.
Shampoo has little to do with politics on the surface, but the setting – Election Day 1968 – gives it a political message.
For older films, The Great McGinty is a very funny look at crooked politics.
Inherit the Wind still seems alarmingly relevant today.
HBO’s Recount and Game Change are nice souvenirs of elections (recently) past.
It’s impossible to watch A Face in the Crowd and not be reminded of several characters on the contemporary political-media scene.
Oliver Stone’s Nixon is fantastic.
For lighthearted fare,
Man of the Year (Robin Williams)
and
Dave (Kevin Kline)
…Sorry I saw this so late…
—G!
I’m running for President
and…
Here is an Industrial Love Song…
. --Joe Walsh (Eagles)
. Intro to Life’s Been Good
. Live!
THE GREAT McGINTY, director Preston Sturges, starring Joel McCrea, is a classic comedy about political corruption.