Prize Fighters (courageous, important, political film directors pat themselves on the back)

Newsweek ^ | February 6, 2006 | Sean Smith and David Ansen

[EveningStar]

They made the most moving, provocative films of the year. In our annual roundtable, five directors (one of whom sidelines as an actor) talk about passion, fear, politics, Oscar ads and crying at the movies.

[kjo]

I could not possibly care less about these jerks. I am now into my sixth years without seeing a Hollywood movie.

[EveningStar]

misc ping

[EveningStar]

I see a few movies a year. I admire them for their talent but that's about as far as it goes.

[Cinnamon Girl]

I haven't seen any of those films, and I don't want to. I saw "Walk the Line." That was good.

[Borges]

Why is Paul Haggis a jerk? Crash wasn't bad.

[SkyPilot]

Critics often groan that modern movies pander to middlebrow sensibilities, and fret that smart movies are being killed by candy-coated kid fare. These men prove them wrong.

This is such garbage.

First the Newsweak article get in a dig that any film that does not celebrate leftist sacraments like abortion is wonderful, homosexuality is fun, Bush-is-Hitler, etc with is "middlebrow sensibilities" comment. Get it America? If you don't think like a radical liberal, you are not as smart as us.

Next, Hollywood's free for all of gay sex and Bush bashing by Hollywood is in stark contrast to its films while the Clintons were in office.

During the Clinton years, Hollywood made films to try to prop Clinton up. Remember these?

- Air Force One (President Clinton is a loving husband and father who personally machine guns terrorists)

- The American President (A liberal fantasy where President Clinton is single and does not have to worry about Hillary screeching her way around the West Wing)

- Dave (Clinton is just a simple, lovable guy who occupies the oval office)

- Independence Day (Clinton saves the human race by flying a fighter plane and leading an attack, while also being a loving husband and father)

This is not an exaggeration. The script writers later said they wanted to put his Presidency in a favorable light.

Today, we have a real former fighter pilot, loving father and husband in the White House, and Hollywood hates him. They make awful films and break their arms patting themselves on the back.

Pathetic.

[backhoe]

Well said.

I haven't been to a theatre in years, largely due to what you outlined. As an aside, am I the only one who has noticed that most of the "entertainment industry's" output in the 1990's was dreck and drivel?

[Borges]

The 90s were an improvement on the 80s in my book. Tarantino gave the industry a much needed shot in the arm.

[Borges]

What did 'Air Force One' have to do with Clinton? The Presidnet was a strong and moral Vietnam Vet.

[EveningStar]

Maybe the filmmakers were trying to convince the public that Clinton WAS a strong and moral Vietnam Vet. :D~

[SkyPilot]

Hello Borges,

You answered your own question.

Moreover, below is more info for you to back up what I said. You can dismiss it if you wish, but Rush Limbaugh read another article from the LA Times (I can't find it on Yahoo) where the script writer said they wanted to prop up Clinton's image.

"But Bill Clinton is the first president to spawn movies that feature fictional presidents functioning as his stand-ins, movies made by directors fighting to define, and redefine, his image.....Air Force One" is a fantasy of what it might take for President Clinton to become all things to all people. The movie's Clinton stand-in, President James Marshall (Harrison Ford, appropriately displaying the facial mobility of Mount Rushmore), is a leader who defies his timid advisors in his efforts to set policies against injustice and tyranny and is willing to take on Congress to enforce those policies. But this is a fantasy designed to silence Clinton's conservative critics, so not only is Jim Marshall a dedicated family man, but he's a Vietnam War hero to boot. There's a combo you can't beat, a guy who knows how to kill a Commie and keep his pecker in his pocket.

Further, Clinton even admitted he had a role in the movie, including asking Glenn Close to play the Vice President:

Clinton Had 'Role' In 'Air Force One' Movie

Also, Stephen Hunter said about the film; This is the one into which Clinton should have had himself inserted!

Well, he did.

[Borges]

The fictional President played by Ford in the film had nothing in common with Bill Clinton at all. FDR's populism inspired a lot of movies as well but that doesn't make 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' a veiled portrait of him.

[SkyPilot]

You aren't listening and I don't think you want to regarding this subject. I posted at least three links and sources backing up what I said, but you just pretend they don't exist.

Must be nice to live like that.

[Borges]

I'm aware what the critics said. I'm interpreting the films for myself. 'Air Force One' as it stood on film had nothing in common with the Clinton presdiency. And to refer back to another you mentioned...'The American President' was an Aaron Sorkin script so what did you really expect in that case? It was an idealization of the sort of President liberals dream about.