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Top 19 Washington politics movies Hollywood can't stay away from films about the White House and the fights around there. “Lincoln,’’ “Argo’’ and the upcoming “Zero Dark Thirty’’ all hit audiences late this year. Here are picks of cinema's post-1960 presentations of the presidency. In the comments, tell us your favorites.
“All the President’s Men” (1976)
What else would you expect us to put first? We had to lead with this mesmerizing look at two young journalists whose work helped down a presidency. Brad Pitt said he sought to replicate the pacing of the Alan Pakula-directed drama in his latest film, "Moneyball."
AFI Stills Collection
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“The American President” (1995)
Aaron Sorkin warmed up for his "West Wing" TV work with this Rob Reiner-directed look at fictional President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) and the tough decisions he’s faced with as an occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Universal Pictures
“Thirteen Days” (2000)
More tough decisions. Cuba. Missiles. Commies. Khrushchev. And Kevin Costner. This serious film, from the point of view of Kennedy aide Kenneth O'Donnell (Costner), steers clear of the Marilyn Monroe-Mimi Alford stuff.
2000 New Line Cinema
"Bob Roberts" (1992)
Enough about Democrats for a moment. Tim Robbins plays a proud member of the 1 percent who can sway clean-cut hippie offspring with his guitar and conservative spin on the Dylan canon, from a sendup of "Subterranean Homesick Blues" to "The Times They Are a Changin'." Let's just say he had a super PAC before super PACs were cool.
Miramax Films
“Game Change” (2012)
Julianne Moore gave an Emmy Award-winning performance, portraying Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in this cinematic presentation of the 2008 presidential campaign, from the bestseller by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann.
HBO
“Head of State” (2003)
Chris Rock as the president. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more mordant (and direct) satire of Washington power and influence than "State," which features a bravura performance by Bernie Mac as Rock's street-smart, straight-talking brother.
Dreamworks LLC
“Primary Colors” (1998)
Well, this is pretty mordant. John Travolta and Emma Thompson work on their Clinton impersonations in this version of Joe Klein's not very camouflaged "novel" about a very charismatic — but unconventional — political couple.
Universal Pictures
“Dave” (1993)
A presidential look-alike (Kevin Kline) finds himself thrust into power. With determination and common sense — and the help of his accountant pal (Charles Grodin) — he begins to figure it out.
Warner Bros. Pictures
“Being There” (1979)
How's this for an ordinary guy thrust into power? Peter Sellers is Chance, a simple gardener whose aphorisms are liberally interpreted by the power elite, sending him soaring into the president's inner circle. Being simple, Chance stays on message, not tempted by money or a sexy Shirley MacLaine. "I like to watch," he parries.
Warner Bros. Entertainment
“Dick” (1999)
So, you're in high school, like, and you end up hanging out in the Nixon White House. And OMG, they're not such bad guys after all. But — now this is the weird part — there's this whole secret taping system. Sorry, Woodward and Bernstein, here's how Kirsten Dunst and a pre-"Marilyn" Michelle Williams saved American democracy.
Columbia Pictures
“Wag the Dog” (1997)
Imagine a country that would fire cruise missiles into another country, partly to distract a nation's attention from a growing scandal surrounding the president. Barry Levinson's all-star satire (with Dustin Hoffman NOT playing a role of a Washington Post reporter) entertains as well, at least most of the way.
New Line Cinema
“The Ides of March” (2011)
George Clooney, whose dad was once a Senate candidate, plays a charismatic governor with his eyes on the Executive Office. Will an insider on his own staff lead to his downfall? Here's Ann Hornaday's review.
Sony Pictures
“JFK” (1991)
Paranoia runs deep. Into the Oliver Stone "JFK"/"Nixon"/"W" triptych it did creep. "JFK" seeks to demolish the single-bullet theory behind Kennedy's 1963 assassination.
Warner Bros.
“Nixon” (1995)
Nixon has poor Anthony Hopkins swaying and raging through the White House in his final days of power, his mind addled by alcohol and Henry Kissinger.
Cinergi Pictures Entertainment
“W.” (2008)
"W." portrays an emotionally needy 43, always seeking daddy's love, delivering the master stroke — the race-baiting Willie Horton ad — to make dad tough enough to win the 1988 elections. But did 41 appreciate him? No! That darned Jeb! I'll show them all! Get me Karl Rove. And Dick Cheney. Josh Brolin transcended the agitprop to portray a very human (and occasionally sympathetic) George W. Bush. Favorite cameo: Rob Corddry as spokesman Ari Fleischer.
Lionsgate
“Frost/Nixon” (2008)
Is there a better performance of the autumn of a president than Frank Langella's turn as Nixon? Lonely, guarded, strategically candid, Langella's Nixon duels with Michael Sheen's driven David Frost (a journalist not previously known as a heavyweight). The taut screenplay, by Peter Morgan ("The Queen," "The Damned United," "The Last King of Scotland"), forms a tidy bookend to "All the President's Men."
Universal Pictures
"Lincoln" (2012)
Much of Stephen Spielberg's film takes place in the drawing rooms of Washington, as Daniel Day-Lewis, center, wrestles with the stark decisions of a wartime president.
David James
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AP
"Zero Dark Thirty" (2012)
In the darkest hour of the night, elite Navy SEALs raid Osama bin Laden's compound — while President Obama and his advisers watch from Washington. Director Kathryn Bigelow's film is released Dec. 18.
Jonathan Olley
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Columbia Pictures
"Argo" (2012)
What kind of president approves a daring mission, then cannot claim success, even when he needs to show strength in a desperate reelection bid? Jimmy Carter provides the final words in Ben Affleck's Tehran rescue film.
Claire Folger
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AP
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