BOPsy gets political: Candidates choose favorite films
Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona)
“Viva Zapata” (1952) — “The story of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, who led a rebellion against the corrupt, oppressive dictatorship of president Porfirio Diaz in the early 20th century.”
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-New York)
“Casablanca” (1942) — “An American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications.”
Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-New York)
“The Godfather” (1972) — “The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.”
Senator John Edwards (D-North Carolina)
“Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” (1964) — “An insane general starts a process to nuclear holocaust that a war room of politicians and generals frantically try to stop.”
Gov. Bill Richardson (D-New Mexico)
“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969) — “Two Western bank/train robbers flee to Bolivia when the law gets too close.”
Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts)
“Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) — “Renowned archeologist and expert in the occult, Dr. Indiana Jones, is hired by the U.S. Government to find the Ark of the Covenant, which is believed to still hold the Ten Commandments.” Reportedly Mitt Romney had said (to the Boston Herald in 2007) that the Coen Brothers’ film “O Brother Where Art Thou” was his favorite flick. Speculators suspect he made the switch because “Raiders” biblical undertones would be a secret message to voters.
After reading the CNN article I was sure that if one of the candidates had listed LAWRENCE OF ARABIA as their favorite movie that – to me – would surpass all of their political leanings and I’d blindly support them for President. None of them did. So that means that I have to actually look at the issues.
And while looking at the issues is pretty boring, I decided I’d use the candidates’ favorite movies to help shape my opinions:
John McCain - I find it very interesting that McCain’s favorite movie is about someone who stood up against corruption and oppression yet we’ve seen McCain recently as the political lackey of the oppressive, corrupt Bush presidency. Kind of makes him seem like even more of a sell-out than he already is.
Hillary Clinton – She picked CASABLANCA as her favorite - the classic film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, but also the tale of spies and long-lost lovers. I think there’s a lot we could possibly draw upon in her pick of long-lost lovers if we are to think of her relationship and marriage to former President Bill Clinton.
Rudy Giuliani - Perhaps cliché is Giuliani’s favorite of THE GODFATHER. Everyone knows that THE GODFATHER Part II is the best film in the trilogy, yet by picking the first film he comes off as less pompous and signifies that he is both proud of his Italian heritage and believes that politicians and gangsters are one in the same.
John Edwards – he selects the brilliant political satire from legendary director Stanley Kubrick. Perhaps not the safest choice for a candidate who comes off as sweet as apple pie but perhaps secretly wishes to destroy the planet! I think this pick comes off as a bit of a warning on a candidate I otherwise might have leaned towards.
Bill Richardson - Governor Richardson’s choice of the William Goldman classic BUTCH CASSIDY shows that Richardson is keen on representing himself as a Westerner and that ultimately he’ll run off to Bolivia if everything in the country goes wrong while he’s running it.
Mitt Romney - His selection of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK is interesting since he’s super religious and perhaps his fascination with this film doesn’t revolve around the action or romance, but the subject matter of finding the Ark of the Covenant and the Ten Commandments. Perhaps an indication that he would like to amend the US Constitution to 10 biblical laws and spend government funds to find lost biblical relics such as the Holy Grail (insert Monty Python pun).
Barack Obama Selects “Casablanca”, “Godfather I & II,” “Lawrence of Arabia” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” All classic and good films!
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