Election Day is upon us, a time when American voters exercise their civic duty – and finally earn a respite from attack ads, automated vote-for-me pitches at dinnertime, and the general bloviating of politicians and pundits.
If you’re not up for watching ballot returns on television but are still in the mood for politics and power brokers, try renting one of these movies.
Ranging from the comic to the serious, apple-pie earnestness to caustic cynicism, these films are just the thing for election fever.
“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” Director Frank Capra’s 1939 classic remains the granddaddy of political films. Jimmy Stewart stars as a naive newcomer to the U.S. Senate, and his climactic filibuster scene is the stuff of Hollywood legend. They don’t make films like this any more – or politicians.
“Bulworth” Warren Beatty delivers a crazy- like-a-fox turn in this 1998 film about a suicidally disillusioned senator who takes out a contract on his own life and suddenly finds himself liberated to spout the utter truth.
“Election” Reese Witherspoon as the student we all once knew: Smart, ambitious, ingratiating – and irritating beyond words. Matthew Broderick is the teacher who decides that the Tracy Flicks of the world must be stopped at the student-council level before they ever get to the Beltway. This 1999 film is also one of the better high-school films around.
“The Candidate” Robert Redford is memorable in this 1972 film about a U.S. Senate candidate in California confronted by the compromises he must make while running for office. Redford’s final line is a minor classic in caught-in-the-headlights panic.
“Advise and Consent” Fine 1962 Otto Preminger film about machinations in Foggy Bottom. Charles Laughton plays a cagey Southern senator bent on blocking Henry Fonda’s nomination as Secretary of State. Based on Allen Drury’s bestseller.
“Wag the Dog” Director Barry Levinson delivers a wicked sendup of spin doctors in this 1997 satire on media manipulation. The premise: The president is caught in a seamy sex scandal just before election day. What to do? Fabricate a war with Albania, naturally. Starring Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro and Woody Harrelson as a most unlikely hero.
“All the King’s Men” Broderick Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge won Oscars in this 1949 adaptation of Robert Penn Warren’s classic novel. Based on the life of Huey Long, Louisiana’s Depression-era governor, it traces how a rural pol is corrupted in his rise to power.
“Primary Colors” John Travolta channels his inner Bubba in this 1998 film based on the Joe Klein novel, loosely based on Bill Clinton’s first presidential run. Alternately funny, frosty and poignant, it asks a blunt question: Just how much are we willing to forgive the private transgressions of our public officials? Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton and Kathy Bates are superb in supporting roles.
“Dave” When the president is incapacitated, his lookalike is thrust into the limelight. Trouble is, the nice-guy stand-in is the antithesis of the snaky prez. Kevin Kline is the doppelganger, with Sigourney Weaver and Frank Langella, who is hilarious as the nasty chief of staff. Ivan Reitman directed this 1993 film.
“The Contender” Joan Allen plays a nominee for vice president and Gary Oldman is the vicious congressman bent on blocking her nomination – armed with compromising allegations from her past. This 2000 film is an illuminating look at power politics, with great performances by Jeff Bridges and Sam Elliott.
“Bob Roberts” Tim Robbins is chilling in his directorial debut, playing a fascist folk singer running for the Senate. This faux documentary is as biting now as it was in 1992. Trivia note: Robbins refused to release a soundtrack of the hate-filled songs spouted by his title character, lest they were used by right-wingers who actually believed in the poison spouted.
“Tanner ’88” Robert Altman’s film was an acclaimed 1988 HBO special. Michael Murphy is a dark-horse candidate, with cameos by Bob Dole, Pat Robertson, Gary Hart and others. “Doonesbury” creator Garry Trudeau wrote the script.
Staff writer William Porter can be reached at 303-954-1877 or at wporter@denverpost.com
