The American President (1995)
What it’s like: Delightful, entertaining, quite educative. A political romantic comedy. Also a light introduction to the working life and challenges of being the US President.
Plot: The US President Andrew Shepherd is nearing the end of his first-term as President. His approval ratings are high; and he is aiming for re-election through passing two moderate Bills on crime and the environment through Congress. His political advisers think he could do more. He is a widower and single parent and has enjoyed public sympathy for this reason. At this points, he meets Sydney Ellen Wade, an environmental lobbyist who is campaigning to make the green legislation stronger. They start dating, and soon it becomes complicated, as the President’s personal and political lives cross paths.
Cast: Michael Douglas as the President, Annette Bening as Sydney Ellen Wade, Martin Sheen as senior political adviser, Michael J Fox as junior political adviser, Michael Dreyfuss as political opponent.
Themes: It really has two themes:
(1) The difficulty of dating when you are President ie world-famous and v powerful. Some difficulties are amusing and some more serious. It is difficult to date and also the dating makes it difficult to be President.
(2) A general portrait of how the Presidency works: how one has to navigate Congress, the interest groups and elections; and the need for boldness, pragmatism and leadership. In the end, the film is a plea for political leaders to be bold and visionary, rather than timid and careful.
Comment: A light drama. Amusing and fun rather than hilarious.
The script is very sharp and strong, with witty conversations and exchanges; and a tour de force speech near the end.
It shows a very good understanding of the political world and its dynamics; but also works as a light introduction to how top politics works. It’s interesting to draw comparisons with the UK system: it is easy to spot the equivalents of Private Offices, SPADs and Comms.
The writer Aaron Sorkin is an outstanding wordsmith and dramatist, so the script and dynamics are v strong. The storyline is v well put together.
It has a lot of warmth and humanity, in various areas: the personalities of the various staff members; the President’s relationships – with Sydney Ellen Wade, with his advisers, and with his daughter.
Memorable quotes:
Diary Secretary: ‘That’s Jane. It’s her birthday.’
Mr President: (calls out loud) ‘Happy Birthday, Jane!’ (whispers to Diary Secretary)– ‘I should send her some flowers’
Diary Secretary: ‘You already have, Mr President.’
‘I was so busy trying to keep my job that I forgot to do my job’
‘My name is Andrew Shepherd and I am the President.’
Did you know ? 1: The success of this film inspired the major tv series The West Wing (1999-2006), about the working life of political staff in the White House. Both were written by the top screenwriter Aaron Sorkin; and some of the film cast also joined the tv series. However, The West Wing is a straight, serious drama, contrasted with the light comedy of The American President.
Did you know ? 2: Two actors in The American President appear in The West Wing but in different roles: Martin Sheen moves from Chief of Staff to President; and Anna Deveare Smith moves from senior private secretary to National Security Advisor.
Did you know ? 3: There are many parallels between the US White House and UK's Whitehall. The US Oval Office has a Private Office with experienced diary secretary, young private secretary and more experienced senior private secretary. Then the President has a Chief of Staff (rather like a British Permanent Secretary) and a range of political advisers (like Special Advisers), as well as Comms people.
Rating: 4.5/5
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