My Top 10 Political Films

This list was gleaned from the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Films Of All Time, an informal poll among friends and fellow movie lovers, and my own preferences. I claim no special insight or influence, I’m just a woman who loves movies and enjoys discussing and dissecting them. Here is my list of 10 of the best political films ever in no particular order:

Dr. Strangelove (1964): While this is often cited as the greatest black comedy ever made, Stanley Kubrick’s classic has a serious undertone in its satirical look at the Cold War. The story concerns General Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden), an off-kilter military man with an unhealthy obsession with “precious bodily fluids,” who sends a squadron of B-52 bombers to attack the Soviet Union. The Soviets react poorly, of course, threatening with a so-called “Doomsday Device.” As the U.S. president (Peter Sellers) negotiates with his Soviet counterpart, the world hangs by a thread. Sellers (who plays 3 parts, including the president and a British military officer) does a stellar turn as the title character, a mad scientist in the mold of Werner von Braun. George C. Scott is brilliant as General Buck Turgidson, who advises the POTUS with statistics about “acceptable losses,” a scary look at how some top military brass were said to have thought back then (and even still). Hilarious dialogue (“You can’t fight here! This is the war room!”) and the image of Slim Pickens’s Colonel Kong riding the bomb down to its target made this film a part of our cultural vocabulary. Many younger folks haven’t seen this because it’s in black & white (come on kids, you’re more sophisticated than that), but it should be in the library of every cinephile of any age.

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939): This film appears on almost every list of this kind and with good reason. Part of that is an Oscar-nominated performance by James Stewart, highlighted by his impassioned speech before Congress. He plays Jefferson Smith, a small town hero chosen to serve as an interim senator. All gung-ho, Smith heads to Washington with optimism only to be confronted with the reality of the corruption he finds. In one of American cinema’s most iconic scenes, Smith filibusters the Senate in an attempt to reveal its corrupt nature. It is considered to be an unreal depiction of the Hill but it may not be as far off the mark as it used to be. Plus, it features one of the greatest performances of Stewart’s career. Get over the black & white cinematography and get into Jimmy Stewart’s performance.

The American President (1995): This dramedy about a widowed U.S. president and a lobbyist who fall in love shows that we love our screen presidents to be handsome and charming. Well, Hollywood is all about fantasy, right? We also love a good romance, even though the idea of the president and a lobbyist in bed together for anything other than making money to their mutual benefit is the height of fantasy. But Michael Douglas and Annette Benning make a lovely couple and it doesn’t hurt that the script by Aaron Sorkin is clever and witty. Oh, and Rob Reiner directing? Perfection.

The Manchurian Candidate (1962): The original version, thank you very much. John Frankenheimer’s tale of a former Korean War POW who was brainwashed by Communists into becoming a political assassin is a tense thriller. Brilliant performances by Laurence Harvey, Angela Lansbury and Frank Sinatra (yes, that Frank Sinatra!) make this a real must-see. Anyone who only knows Lansbury from her voice role as Mrs. Potts is in for a real surprise here! The plot may seem a bit outdated but replace “communist” with the political villain de jour and you’ll get it. The remake tried but just didn’t recapture the sense of menace. You will never look at a deck of cards the same way again.

All The King’s Men (1949): Adapted from Robert Penn Warren’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, this tale of Louisiana governor Hugo Long’s career is a true classic (though the names have been changed). Oscar winner Broderick Crawford is Willie Stark, a backwoods lawyer who rides a wave of populism to get into the governor’s mansion. Of course, he immediately turns his back on his ideals, becoming just another crooked politician. Once ensconced, Stark deals with enemies, becomes quite familiar with corruption and infidelity and generally goes to the dark side. Trying to help him along the way are a reporter (John Ireland) and Stark’s campaign assistant (Mercedes McCambridge). She, of course, wants Stark to leave his wife in order to marry her. Eventually, Stark’s karma comes back to bite him and he pays for his corruption even as it looks like he might escape his gloomy future. All The King’s Men was nominated for six Academy Awards and won three, including Best Picture. The film was remade in 2006 with Sean Penn playing Stark, and the less I say about that, the better. Watch the original.

The Candidate (1972): In a brilliant satire (released during Richard Nixon’s re-election campaign), Robert Redford is Bill McKay, a liberal attorney who takes on an incumbent Republican senator for his seat. Campaign operative Marvin Lucas (Peter Boyle) signs on to get McKay elected but only on the condition that McKay is allowed to speak his mind. Which he does – by preaching truth and honesty. This makes him surprisingly popular in the polls, the public loving his refreshing candor. But, as always, the candidate finds himself losing sight of his original idealism and becoming seduced by the power and the powers-that-be. The Candidate was a critical and box office hit, and earned Jeremy Lerner (a former political speechwriter) the Oscar for Best Screenplay.

Milk (2008): Sean Penn stars in the story of Harvey Milk, California’s first openly gay elected official. The film uses archival footage, working it into the narrative to provide atmosphere as it tells Milk’s story from his 40th birthday until his death. Gus van Sant does a lovely job, not trying to make Harvey Milk into anything but the human being he was and guiding Josh Brolin in a difficult part as killer Dan White. Sean Penn was awarded the Oscar for Best Actor and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black picked up a statue for his original screenplay. Every modern political activist should see this film if only to see how we can keep our humanity while fighting for that of others.

JFK (1991): New Orleans DA Jim Garrison is depicted by Kevin Costner in one of the few films I actually like him in (sorry, Costner fans). Garrison knew there was more to the Kennedy assassination than the official story and he was determined to prove it. To that end, he talks to witnesses, doggedly chasing down the story. The film chronicles his investigation and the trial of Clay Shaw, chasing various key figures in the assassination down rabbit holes into even more labyrinths. The cast is stellar, including Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, Gary Oldman, Sissy Spacek, Joe Pesci and Kevin Bacon. The enjoyment of this film depends a lot on one’s own theories about the Kennedy assassination and is one of those love-it-or-hate it kind of movies. It’s obvious that I am the former (the fact that we lived in Nawlins during this time and my mother knew Garrison might bias me a little). JFK won 2 Oscars: one for cinematography and one for editing. Both Jones and director Oliver Stone were nominated but didn’t win.

All The President’s Men (1976): One of the best films about the juncture of politics and journalism, this is the tale of reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, who uncovered the details of the Watergate scandal. This film is still shown to journalism students and rightly so. It tells the story very clearly and concisely, following the reporters as they “follow the money” at the direction of their informant, Deep Throat. When the real identity of Deep Throat came out in 2005, it created a brief upsurge in interest for the film in the public. But those of us who are fond of it never forgot it. The cast is brilliant, including one of my all-time favorites, Jason Robards, who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee. Screenwriter William Goldman was also awarded a statue for his adapted screenplay. This one is an absolute must for any fan of politics or journalism, or both.

V For Vendetta (2005): The only film on my list to be adapted from a graphic novel, this story of a shadowy freedom fighter known only as “V” is one of the few such adaptations to succeed, in my opinion (yes, I am aware of the change of cause and it works even so). Even though we never see his face, Hugo Weaving is masterful as the mysterious V and Natalie Portman has just the right amount of vulnerability mixed with iron strength and, in actually shaving her head, showed an admirable dedication to her craft. I also loved Stephen Fry’s turn as Evey’s former boss; such an understated bit of acting. Creator Alan Moore was not happy with the film and gave all his profits to the artist who drew the graphic novel, also denying any credits for the original story. That’s really too bad because, even though it’s freedom instead of anarchy, the underlying message is the same: burn for your truth and you will catch others alight, too.

What are your favorite political films? Let us know in the comments.

Thanks to Earth Day Network (via the The Sierra Club): "This sculpture by Issac Cordal in Berlin is called "Politicians discussing global warming."

Why Would Someone Want To Sue The People Who Saved His Life?

Those floods last September in Colorado killed at least 8 people. First responders worked hard, risking their lives to save others and searching for the missing. An entire state was grateful. Well, not the entire state…

On September 12, Roy Ortiz of Broomfield was driving on a road near U.S. highway 287 when he saw that the road was washed out. He did try to stop but a bridge collapse made his car slide into the creek that ran parallel. Two other cars then slid on top of his car, overturning it. Ortiz was trapped inside, with rushing water all around. Lucky for him, North Metro Fire Rescue first responders were able to rescue him.

But Roy Ortiz now says that rescue personnel didn’t respond quickly enough, leaving him in the fast-moving water for 2 hours. He also complains that the road should have been closed, preventing the accident in the first place. Ortiz’s lawyer has now filed preliminary papers in a possible suit against the cities of Boulder, Broomfield, Westminster and Lafayette. Specifically named in the suit are two Boulder County sheriff’s deputies, a member of the Westminster dive team, and the Broomfield and North Metro Fire Rescue District. Well, that’s gratitude for you.

Roy Ortiz believes that God saved him. And, while it is perfectly fine for Mr. Ortiz to believe that God helped him survive as he waited for rescue, it wasn’t the deity that pulled him from his car. That was the rescuers from North Metro. And they did it as quickly as they were able. Though they are not unsympathetic to Roy Ortiz’s ordeal, they did everything they could to rescue him as quickly as possible. The spokeswoman for North Metro told the Broomfield Enterprise:

“We sympathize with what he went through,” Sara Farris said. “Given the challenging conditions, we feel our responders performed well and professionally.”

North Metro’s records indicate that they pulled Roy Ortiz from his car in a little over an hour after the 911 call was received. Ortiz was grateful that day and when he was released from the hospital the following day (as seen in the photo at the top of this story). What happened between then and now to change that?

Roy Ortiz has incurred medical bills totaling about $40,000. Well, that would certainly explain a few things. His attorney, Ed Ferszt, seems to think that he can make the parties named in the suit pay those bills. Along with another half a million in damages. Because, hey, milk it for every dime, right? Even though it’s the taxpayers who would be on the hook for any awards.

That doesn’t really look likely, though. Not according to a Denver personal injury lawyer the Enterprise spoke to. He notes that, for Roy Ortiz to win his case, he must be able to prove that the parties he’s suing showed “gross deviation from reasonable care.” That, or that they caused him to sustain a “significant or unreasonable injury.” We’re talking extreme negligence. Since Mr. Ortiz’s rescuers put their life on the line to save his, that’s unlikely. Not to mention ungrateful.
At the time of the accident, Roy Ortiz stated that, once his car had slid off the road, he first called his wife, then called 911. Can you see the problem with this? Exactly. And that will be an important point if there is any trial.

Mr. Ortiz says that his faith sustained him as he awaited rescue. I don’t doubt that for a minute. But actual men and women put their lives on the line to save his. This is no way to repay their courage and skill.  What is really awful is that Roy Ortiz has such high medical bills that he had to find a lawyer and initiate the process of filing suit against those very people. Yet more proof that our health care system is in dire need of further reform.

Pregnancy Tests In Bars... Because Preventing Pregnancy Is "Social Engineering" -- You May Now Facepalm

State Senator Pete Kelly is the co-chair of the Alaska Senate Finance Committee and he has a mission. He wants to wipe out fetal alcohol disorders in his state. A lofty goal and a good one. But his implementation needs some work.

Sen. Pete Kelly thinks that women shouldn’t drink if they are pregnant and studies back him up. But here’s how he plans to stop it: pregnancy tests in bars. That’s right. Every woman should be able to grab a pregnancy test off the counter next to the beer nuts (or in the bathroom — he’s not real clear). As Sen. Pete Kelly says:

“You grab one. Literally, you can go into the bathroom at the bar and test. So if you’re drinking, you’re out at the big birthday celebration and you’re like, ‘Gee, I wonder if I …?’ You should be able to go in the bathroom and there’s that plastic, Plexiglas bowl in there and that’s part of the public relations campaign too. Is you’re going to have some kind of card on there with a message.” (source)

Well, sure! Because what woman doesn’t want to discover she’s pregnant in the bathroom of a bar? And what about the bars — do they want a bowl of pregnancy tests hanging out next to the Budweiser sign? Sen. Kelly says that he’s given them a “heads up” and that the program will be voluntary… at first. Then it might become part of licensing. That should go over well.

But why wait until a woman may possibly be pregnant? Why not set condoms out, too? You know, preventative measures. Oh, no. Sen. Pete Kelly doesn’t like that idea!

“No. Because the thinking is a little opposite. This assumes that if you know (you are pregnant) you’ll act responsibly. Birth control is for people who don’t necessarily want to act responsibly.”  (source)

And now we come down to it. This is just one more shot in the Republican war on women. Because we poor, brainless ladies just can’t act responsibly. We need those big, strong men to show us the way. That the use of birth control actually is responsible is a fact lost on Sen. Kelly. because…

“… That’s about a level of social engineering that we don’t want to get into. All we want to do is make sure people are informed. They’ll make the right decision.” (source)

So, using birth control is “social engineering?” Sounds like Sen. Kelly is just making an excuse so he doesn’t accidentally tell the reporter from the Anchorage Daily News that he, Sen. Pete Kelly, is a misogynist.

Elsewhere in the interview, Sen. Pete Kelly talks about the “Natural Responders” part of his program. These are people — it’s assumed to be women –who will intervene in the life of any woman who may be pregnant and, possibly, drinking. These responders will operate in the community and in the high schools. How will these people be recruited? Ah, here is where we spot Sen. Kelly’s underlying assumptions:

“We’re going to find those people (with the help of the First Alaskans Institute) and then encourage them … They can become part of something and go out and start finding these people and saying, ‘Hey look, you’re drinking, you’re of child-bearing age,’ or ‘We know you’re having unprotected sex, you’ve got to stop doing that.’” (emphasis mine) (source)

And if that doesn’t work?

“… we can then guide them into the system where there are some therapeutic beds where they can stay and we can attend to them through the health and social services department while they are pregnant.” (source)

Because those Injun women just can’t leave that firewater alone. And they obviously can’t be trusted to take care of themselves, so the state will do it for them. I thought the GOP was the party that hated the “nanny state” stuff? Oh, that’s right — it’s okay when it’s something they want.

So, to sum up: Sen. Pete Kelly is against providing birth control to low-income Inuit women. But he’s perfectly okay with spending millions of dollars to make sure that they check to see if they’re pregnant before drinking. He wants to recruit an army of busybodies who will insinuate themselves into the lives of Native women. He wants to be able to put any women who object into hospitals to take care of them until they deliver. On the state’s dime.

Of course, Alaska hasn’t got on board with the Medicaid expansion. Considering that the pregnancy rates for Alaskan girls 15-17 is 25%, that might want to rethink that. The infant mortality rate among Alaska Native Indians is 8.5%, which is almost twice the rate as among white women. This, too, could be positively impacted by expanding Medicaid. But the Republicans in Alaska’s legislature would rather make their constituents suffer just to spite President Obama and his “socialist” health care.

But let’s be honest, here. Sen. Pete Kelly really doesn’t care about women. He apparently is concerned about fetal alcohol syndrome and that’s great. But his reasoning on how to deal with it is faulty, to say the least. We all know that it would be much better — and work better — if contraceptives were free and easily available. But, gosh, that would only encourage those irresponsible women to have sex. I guess Sen. Pete Kelly forgot that it takes an irresponsible man to cause a pregnancy, too.

Sen. Pete Kelly is just the latest misogynistic Republican to take a shot in the GOP war on women. Remember this, ladies, next November. We can get rid of these men by voting them out. Register, vote and tell your friends to do the same. Enough of this!

Late Night/Early Morning Musings on Objectivism and Ayn Rand

Up late with insomnia, I was reading a book called I Watch, Therefore I Am - a little tome on philosophy and television - when I come to the chapter on Ayn Rand. As I read, two realizations came upon me. One has to do with a Rush song called Prime Mover and the other had to do with what is happening to our country right now. So I wrote this (also published over on Daily Kos).

 In the novel, Atlas Shrugged the dystopia is the government. The corporations embody the creative spirit. When the government is finally overthrown, the industrialists (led by John Galt) take over. Their perfect new society is based on individual creativity and freedom from the state. Sound familiar?

It is important to remember two things here; 1) Ayn Rand was an escapee from Revolutionary Russia, where she saw the worst of the oppression it brought and 2) Atlas Shrugged is a work of fiction. This latter point is especially important because there are people who base their lives on it. They are basing their lives on the hyperbolic fiction of someone who has escaped from a bogeyman. The dystopia in the novel was based on Soviet Russia. Because she was under the thumb of it as a child, when everything is bigger, more important and overwhelming (and one is powerless against it), she created a world using Soviet Russia as the ultimate dystopia. Read; the government is the bogeyman.

For modern Americans to live by this work of fiction is contradictory to what this country was founded on, IMO. It was formed and its Constitution written by, Deists and Christians. These two philosophies DO believe in a Prime Mover, though they don't agree on its name or nature. They envisioned a society in which the whole was as important as the individual, where we live by the Social Contract pretty much as laid out by John Locke. To reject these ideas and adopt the Objectivism of Rand is to reject the foundation of America.

It occurs to me further that the Tea Party and other modern Objectivists are actually trying to bring Atlas Shrugged to life. In the novel, the corporatists and industrialists lead a strike against the government which, deprived of revenues to operate, collapses. Galt and his "me first" cronies then take over. I don't know about you, but that sure sounds an awful lot like what the Republicans and Tea Partiers are trying to bring about. Remember Grover Norquist's stated goal "... to cut government in half in twenty-five years, to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub."

In Rand's virtue ethics, the only ethical question someone needs to ask is "what's in it for me?" But one thing that these modern Galts either don't understand or conveniently forget is that Rand held Reason as the ultimate attribute of Man. There is very little Reason in their current actions and words. Rand states that the ideal man "... must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself" (my emphasis). That last bit seems to have been forgotten and/or rejected, too.

All in all, I would say that the Objectivism of Ayn Rand is a movement whose ultimate end is incompatible with the American spirit. Why people would act according to the frightened imagination of an author, I cannot fathom. Save that it gives them a rationalization for being selfish.

As to the other realization... it concerns the band, Rush and their lyricist, Neil Peart.

In asserting that man is the ultimate being in the Cosmos, the Objectivists refute the Greek philosophical idea of a Prime Mover. This leads me to believe that the song Prime Mover is a statement from Neil repudiating his former Randian beliefs. In his younger days, influenced by Rand's Anthem and Atlas Shrugged, he had apparently embraced most of the Objectivist Philosophy. But you can see the evolution of his thoughts beginning with Permanent Waves (Freewill, Natural Science, Entre Nous) and culminating in the song, Prime Mover from the Hold Your Fire album.  The repetition of the phrase, "anything can happen" seems like he is encompassing other philosophies. "The point of the journey is not to arrive," is rather Kierkegaardian. But the last verse,

I set the wheels in motion
turn up all the machines
activate the programs
and run behind the scene

I set the clouds in motion
turn up light and sound
activate the window
and watch the world go 'round-

while not a strict acceptance of a deity, voices the idea that there may possibly be one. A Prime Mover. Completely the opposite of the Randian idea that man is the only prime mover and is the end in and of himself. Hence, Neils' rejection of his earlier leanings.

This is what my mind gets up to when I can't sleep because my brain won't shut off. Yeah, it's an odd place, my brain. ;)

Hello!

Welcome to my blog! Here I will share my writings and any interesting tidbits I find. This is a political page aimed at liberals and progressives and/or Democrats. If you come here to troll, you will be summarily banned. I don't have time or patience for it. If you want to have a civil discussion, that's another matter. That is welcome. But you will not "change my mind" or my allegiances. I am dedicated to the dignity of each individual, each of whom has purpose and is entitled to the same freedoms laid out in our Constitution.

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