Presidential Movies
In honor of today's inauguration of the new U.S. president and vice-president, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, I decided to list my top ten favorite movies centered around American presidents - whether they be historical or fictional:
"PRESIDENTIAL MOVIES"
1. "My Fellow Americans" (1996) - Jack Lemmon and James Garner portray two former presidents and political enemies - Republican Russell Kramer and Democrat Matt Douglas, who become reluctant allies when they become the target of a conspirator in President Haney's (Dan Ackroyd) administration. Lemmon and Garner were absolutely hilarious as the two feuding ex-presidents forced to become allies in an investigation into a political scandal in this witty and very funny spoof on U.S. politics.
2. "Thirteen Days" (2000) - Roger Donaldson directed this first-rate historical thriller about the Cuban Missle Crisis through the eyes of President John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Kenneth O'Donnell and other members of the Kennedy Administration. An excellent historical piece that starred Kevin Costner as O'Donnell, Bruce Greenwood as JFK and Steven Culp as Bobby Kennedy.
3. "The American President" (1995) - Michael Douglas and Annette Bening star in this Aaron Sorkin comedy-drama about a widowed U.S. president and a lobbyist who fall in love. It's all aboveboard, but "politics is perception" and sparks fly - from both the President's staff and political enemies.
4. "Nixon" (1995) - Oliver Stone directed this biographical story of former U.S. President Richard Milhous Nixon, from his days as a young boy to his eventual presidency, which ended in shame. Both Anthony Hopkins and Joan Allen are superb as Richard and Patricia Nixon.
5. "All the President's Men" (1976) - Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman are excellent in this outstanding drama about WASHINGTON POST reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, who uncover the details of the Watergate scandal that leads to President Nixon's resignation.
6. "Lincoln" (1988) - Based upon Gore Vidal's novel, this excellent two-part miniseries tells the story about Abraham Lincoln's four years in office during the American Civil War. Sam Waterston and Mary Tyler Moore breathed life into their superb portrayals of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln.
7. "John Adams" (2008) - Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney deservedly won both Emmys and Golden Globes for their excellent portrayals of John and Abagail Adams in this excellent seven-part miniseries about the 2nd U.S. president.
8. "Head of State" (2003) - When a presidential candidate dies unexpectedly in the middle of the campaign, the Democratic party unexpectedly picks a Washington, D.C. alderman, Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock) as his replacement. Rock, Lynn Whitfield and Bernie Mac are hilarious in this first-rate comedy.
9. "Frost/Nixon" (2008) - Ron Howard directed this excellent dramatic retelling of the post-Watergate television interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and former president Richard Nixon. Michael Sheen and Frank Langella are superb in the title roles.
10. "Dave" (1993) - To avoid a potentially explosive scandal when the U.S. President goes into a coma, an affable temp agency owner with an uncanny resemblance, is put in his place. Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver and Frank Langella star in this warm comedy directed by Ivan Reitman.