[IMG:L]Now that the one of the most significant presidential elections in our history is about to reach its conclusion, it’s time to look at Hollywood’s version of the presidency.
10. The president: Thomas J. Whitmore
The movie: Independence Day
The actor: Bill Pullman
Why we loved him: A definite cross between the sensitive type and the kick-butt action hero, Whitman is a devoted father, goes through the pain of losing his wife and leads the air strike against the marauding aliens hell-bent on destroying the planet. This president can do it all.
KEEP READING: see No. 9
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9. The president: Andrew Shepherd
The movie: The American President
The actor: Michael Douglas
Why we loved him: While still maintaining all the good qualities of a president, Shepherd is also just a man. In this case, a widower who starts dating a lobbyist (Annette Bening) against his advisers’ better judgment. Hey, even the President needs some “me” time every once in a while. Just ask Bill Clinton.
KEEP READING: see No. 8
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8. The president: James “Jim” Marshall
The movie: Air Force One
The actor: Harrison Ford
Why we loved him: OK, this is a guy who just plain kicks ass. The president as action hero — terrorists be damned; if you piss off President Marshall, you’re in trouble. What’s more, as he successfully demolishes the entire band of bad guys who take over Air Force One, he shows concern for his family first and foremost.
KEEP READING: see No. 7
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7. The president: George W. Bush
The movie: W.
The actor: Josh Brolin
Why we loved him: Brolin handles the chores of playing a less-than-stellar real-life C-i-C with aplomb, even if his portrayal of present-day Bush leans a bit more toward SNL caricature. But he’s awesome in those good-old-boy scenes when he gets to eat Cheetos with his mouth open and say things like, “History? In history we’ll all be dead!”
KEEP READING: see No. 6
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6. The president: John Adams
The miniseries: John Adams
The actor: Paul Giamatti
Why we loved him: Playing the second president of the United States, however, is a different matter, especially if you are portraying one of our founding fathers of democracy. No pressure or anything. The wonderful thing about Giamatti’s performance as Adams is how human he makes the man. Not necessarily the most charismatic of men, Adams still knew how to get the job done.
KEEP READING: see No. 5
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5. The president: David Palmer
The show: 24
The actor: Dennis Haysbert
Why we loved him: He is a strong, cool, thoughtful African-American responding to terrorist threats. Does that sound familiar? But could Obama handle it as well if his VP were the devil and his wife a double-dealing conniver?
KEEP READING: see No. 4
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4. The president: Richard M. Nixon
The movie: Nixon
The actor: Anthony Hopkins
Why we loved him: Hopkins had to bring a lot of baggage to bring to the table, considering how Nixon is so regarded as a failure. But he plays it perfectly. He gives us the cocky self-assuredness of Nixon’s early years, as well as the paranoid pathos and agony of his latter, and never lets it fall into easy parody.
KEEP READING: see No. 3
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3. The president: Bill Mitchell (aka Dave Kovic)
The movie: Dave
The actor: Kevin Kline
Why we loved him: If given the chance to be the president of the United States, could you change anything? Dave plays out that wish fulfillment, and he does it just by playing it smart, such as reducing the federal budget in a few easy steps. Of course, this can’t be rooted in reality — since handling the federal budget is much more complicated than that. Right?
KEEP READING: see No. 2
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2. The president: James Dale
The movie: Mars Attacks!
The actor: Jack Nicholson
Why we loved him: Finally, the president as a total caricature. Dale is pompous, thinks he’s invincible — but basically has no clue how to deal with the invading big-headed Martians who come to annihilate Earth. Come to think of it, who would? Oh, that’s right, Bill Pullman.
KEEP READING: see No. 1
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1. The president: Josiah “Jed” Bartlet
The show: The West Wing
The actor: Martin Sheen
Why we loved him: Bartlet is simply a dream. He’s rarely afraid to speak his mind but knows when to play the game. He’s fair, incredibly brilliant and believes and supports all the right things. Like we said, way too good to be true.
