Spotlight on Film Presidents
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In honor of the important election taking place on November 8, the four film-related items below should be of interest to movie fans.
● Best Film Presidents will be the “On Demand” featured episode on Movie Addict Headquarters from November 5 to November 11. This popular 2012 show includes rousing stump speeches for actors who played a U.S. President on film. Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, Henry Fonda, Bill Pullman and Polly Bergen are in the running, and their campaign managers include award-winning blogger Fausta Wertz, Mad Movie Man A.J. Hakari, Movie Mom Nell Minow, co-host Jazz Shaw, producer Nikki Starr and yours truly. Listen anytime by clicking here.
● A review of Kisses for My President is now posted on ReelTalk Movie Reviews. This 1964 comedy stars Polly Bergen as the first female President of the United States. Unfortunately, too many silly scenes and a ridiculous ending overshadow Bergen’s splendid performance. It’s no surprise that the film inspired me to write a short poem.
Glass ceilings crash and that’s not wrong,
for women know where they belong.
Everywhere – even the top
and to get there they shouldn’t stop.
Gender is not a crime or sin.
Don’t judge people by shape of skin.
Click here to read the entire review.
● Steven Speilberg’s Lincoln is also reviewed on ReelTalk. Diana Saenger writes that this movie “could have jumped right off the front pages of today’s newspapers, for it focuses on a weary president who wants to stop infighting among Americans and congressmen more attuned to their own agendas than to the people they’ve pledged to serve.”
● Swing Vote is another movie I want to include here. It features Kelsey Grammer and Dennis Hopper’s humorous performances as two opposing candidates vying for the support of one man after a bizarre set of circumstances makes his vote the deciding one in the election. Who is this person holding the fate of the nation in his hands? None other than Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner), who just happens to be a disheveled, uninformed, beer-drinking slacker. This timely comedy about presidential elections reveals how ridiculous pandering to voters during a campaign looks, especially in our age of mass communications gone wild. Find out more about this film by clicking here.
Your vote is very important. Please remember to participate in this crucial 2016 election.