Politics
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April 22, 2025
Movies to recollect for pre-Trumpian occasions and inspiration.
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Bradley Whittford joins the solid of The West Wing in Burbank, California, on March 8, 2016.(Amanda Edwards / WireImage by way of Getty Photographs)
A couple of months in the past, my household was making enjoyable of me as a result of I couldn’t cease watching The West Wing. I’ll say that by season eight, even my husband was by my aspect, making an attempt to recollect who received that last presidential election. Was it Alan Alda or Jimmy Smits? (No spoilers right here!) Largely, we couldn’t consider how nice that Aaron Sorkin sequence was. I extremely advocate it as remedy for the place we are actually. One in every of its stars, Bradley Whitford, who now acts on the dystopian Handmaid’s Story, lately joked, “I’m afraid my profession mirrors the start and finish of democracy.”
Rewatching these 155 episodes made me take into consideration what we should always aspire to be once more. Since every thing nowadays comes right down to an inventory, the next inventive endeavors needs to be watched to recollect pre-Trumpian occasions. Right here goes.
POLITICIANS STEP UP (OR DOWN)
The Seduction of Joe Tynan: On this 1979 movie, Alan Alda (supported by a brand new actress named Meryl) is a senator who in the end stands as much as a racist Supreme Court docket nomination, risking all. Alda wrote this one as nicely.
Being There: On this 1979 adaptation of Jerzy Kosinki’s e-book, Peter Sellers performs Chauncey Gardiner, a simpleton who one way or the other emerges as a sought-after political pundit and extra. He is dependent upon tv (“I like to look at” has a pair meanings right here) and makes use of language that one way or the other strikes a chord with clueless politicians. (“So long as the roots should not severed, all is nicely.” “Within the backyard, development has its seasons.”)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Jimmy Stewart soars on this 1936 traditional a few newly appointed senator who is anticipated to buckle underneath to higher-ups. Ultimately, he filibusters for 25 hours for the great of the nation. The reel—not fairly actual—selection, however it works. Stewart’s It’s a Great Life can also be extra than simply vacation viewing. In any case, his smalltown citizen in the end overwhelms a wealthy man who thinks he’s king.
Present Difficulty
The American President: Michael Douglas rises in Rob Reiner’s wonderful movie—written by Aaron Sorkin—during which the chief government in the end sticks with a controversial trigger and faces down opposition—advert learns that he doesn’t want to purchase his girlfriend flowers (“It seems I’ve a rose backyard!”).
The West Wing: In all probability the very best sequence ever. (Martin Sheen has graduated from chief of employees in American President to President Jed Bartlett). And what a solid, coping with each concern possible. Well timed nonetheless? One episode is named “Gaza,” and one other offers with immigration. It holds up.
The Candidate: This 1972 movie is considered one of Robert Redford’s greatest. Who can overlook him, as a good-looking backup man instantly requested to run for the Senate. “What will we do now?” is likely one of the most well-known of final traces, particularly from a winner.
The Finest Man: This 1964 drama featured Henry Fonda versus Cliff Robertson in a presidential race. Script by Gore Vidal. Each candidates—one thought of principled, one ruthless—search an essential endorsement.
JOURNALISTS AS HEROES
All of the President’s Males: We’ve got doubtless all seen Redford and Hoffman as Woodward and Bernstein, and Jason Robards as Ben Bradlee (“Run that child!”) breaking the largest story of that point (and sending each younger author to investigative journalism college). Much less traditional, however overlaying the identical interval is The Put up, which primarily follows the perspective of Washington writer Katharine Graham. Meryl Road and Tom Hanks are, not surprisingly, nice. Third suggestion: the brand new documentary on Graham.
Good Night time and Good Luck: George Clooney’s 2005 movie on Edward R. Murrow taking up Joe McCarthy. If ever the ability of the press was at stake, it was in the course of the blacklisting interval. (P.S. That is now a smash hit on Broadway, starring Clooney in his stage debut.)
Frost/Nixon: The late British interviewer might be greatest remembered for his televised conversations with the previous scandal-infused US President. The 2008 film starred Michael Sheen as Frost and Frank Langella as Nixon. Directed by Ron Howard and based mostly on a play by Peter Morgan, the movie takes us behind the scenes as the 2 adversaries put together.
ONES THAT MADE US LAUGH—AND THINK
Dave: on this 1993 movie, written by Gary Ross and directed by Ivan Reitman, Kevin Kline performs a presidential look-alike requested to step in at a pivotal time. (If solely.) Sigourney Weaver is the primary girl, and all of it works nicely. A theatrical model is within the works.
Wag the Canine: Typically essentially the most referenced film that appeared too actual for consolation. Till it wasn’t. This was directed by Barry Levinson in 1997, and starred Dustin Hoffman and Robert DeNiro. The plot follows a spin physician and Hollywood producer as they fabricate a struggle to cowl up a presidential intercourse scandal. Hmm…
The Entrance Web page: One of many classics, from a Broadway present to a 1974 Billy Wilder film with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. It’s about metropolis politics: that metropolis being Chicago. Someway, we’re laughing as demise penalties and different darkish topics come up. Ultimately, justice, love, and witty banter prevail.
Charlie Wilson’s Warfare: Yet one more plug for Aaron Sorkin. This 2007 movie was a hilarious, based-on-truth story a few congressman who cares little about something of substance… till he does. Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are fantastic.
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BEFORE THEY WERE SUCKERS AND LOSERS
Clearly, there have been numerous movies about those that have given their lives to save lots of democracy. A couple of we propose:
Born On the Fourth of July: Arguably Tom Cruise’s greatest efficiency. On this 1989 movie, directed by Oliver Stone, Cruise performs Ron Kovik, who served—and virtually died—in Vietnam and later turned an essential anti-war voice.
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Da 5 Bloods: This 2020 movie was notable for a number of causes. It was made by Spike Lee; it offers with 4 former black Vietnam Vets returning to that nation; and it was Chadwick Boseman’s last launched efficiency. Netflix made an essential contribution with this one.
Coming House: Jane Fonda certainly deserves an award for making quite a few movies that caught political moments, from The China Syndrome to 9 to five. Maybe most memorable was this one, launched in 1978, which earned her and Jon Voight Oscars. The story, in fact, is a few returning Vietnam vet, completely disabled… however not an excessive amount of to maintain him from chatting with others concerning the prices of struggle.
The Americanization of Emily: This lovely, sadly forgotten 1964 movie starred James Garner as a proud anti-war coward, and Julie Andrews as a WWII driver. Written by the nice Paddy Chayefsky, the movie was Garner’s favourite of all his work.
A Face within the Crowd:A traditional from 1957, which starred Andy Griffith and Patricia Neal. This one is a few phony who allegedly speaks for the folks, by way of radio after which tv, and who’s subsequently courted by powers that be. Till he’s outed by a TV producer. (Anybody have a sizzling mic prepared?) The excellent news: it has been tailored to the stage, with music by Elvis Costello.
Our award for the actor who most-portrayed politicians: Melvyn Douglas. He performed memorable ones in The Candidate, Being There, The Americanization of Emily, and Joe Tynan. “He performed a politician higher than I ever did,” confessed his spouse, Helen Gahagan Douglas, the nice congresswoman taken down by Richard Nixon of their notorious 1950 Senate race. Keep tuned for her story.
The chaos and cruelty of the Trump administration reaches new lows every week.
Trump’s catastrophic “Liberation Day” has wreaked havoc on the world economic system and arrange yet one more constitutional disaster at dwelling. Plainclothes officers proceed to abduct college college students off the streets. So-called “enemy aliens” are flown overseas to a mega jail in opposition to the orders of the courts. And Signalgate guarantees to be the primary of many incompetence scandals that expose the brutal violence on the core of the American empire.
At a time when elite universities, highly effective regulation corporations, and influential media retailers are capitulating to Trump’s intimidation, The Nation is extra decided than ever earlier than to carry the highly effective to account.
In simply the final month, we’ve revealed reporting on how Trump outsources his mass deportation agenda to different international locations, uncovered the administration’s attraction to obscure legal guidelines to hold out its repressive agenda, and amplified the voices of courageous pupil activists focused by universities.
We additionally proceed to inform the tales of those that combat again in opposition to Trump and Musk, whether or not on the streets in rising protest actions, on the town halls throughout the nation, or in vital state elections—like Wisconsin’s current state Supreme Court docket race—that present a mannequin for resisting Trumpism and show that Musk can’t purchase our democracy.
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In solidarity,
The Editors
The Nation
Michele Willens
Michele Willens is a contract author based mostly in New York. She reviews on the theater world for NPR-owned Robin Hood Radio. She cowrote, with Wendy Kout, the play Don’t Blame me. I Voted for Helen Gahagan Douglas.
Lily Corvo
Lily Corvo works for MSNBC.
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