THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1995 Ben Hoffman
It is not likely that many people imagine an American President's life is easy. Director Rob Reiner has made a most delightful film about what goes on behind the scenes in running the country, and still made it a most entertaining movie. The film not only has humor but it packs a powerful punch at our Right Wing (with the dastardly Senator Rumson played by Richard Dreyfuss.) It also takes on the NRA and those who would destroy our environment, comes out convincingly in favor of the ACLU and why free speech is so important. Even media harassment is covered. Terrific.
President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) is a widower with a young teenage daughter. Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening) works for an environmental group where she is in the forefront of trying to get their agenda voted on and passed by Congress. When the President and accidentally meet, at the White House, Sydney meet, he is, to use an old but charming word, smitten. He has got it bad.
After a series of humorous incidents where she does not believe the phone calls to her sister's home where she is staying, are really coming from the White House, they finally get together. When the President invites her to a State dinner, the right wing goes into action to smear him and to find out what they can about her past life. And when you look, you find.
As part of the President's staff are Martin Sheen, Michael J Fox, Anna Deveare Smith, Samantha Mathis, Shawna Waldron and David Paymer. Great cast, great story, great entertainment. Oscar, here we come.
4 bytes
4 Bytes = Superb
3 Bytes = Too good to be missed.
2 Bytes = So so.
1 Byte = Save your money.
-- Ben Hoffman
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