Not that there isn’t enough real-life drama in the White House already, Hollywood loves making movies about the U.S. presidency. More specifically, the idea of what the president should be: strong, smart, handsome, doesn’t cheat — much.
You know, someone exactly like Jeff Bridges or Martin Sheen, or even better, Harrison Ford.
Bridges was recently nominated for an Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance as the strong, smart, handsome President Jackson Evans in last year’s “The Contender.”
His president is indeed a tough cookie, who recognizes a brilliant opportunity when he sees one. In the film, President Evans has to fill a vacant vice presidential position and if he chooses correctly, he will assure a second term. So, he picks Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen), a strong and independent woman who is deadly serious about maintaining her dignity when her reputation is marred by an alleged sex scandal. However, the key to Bridges‘ performance is not that he is noble and stands by his woman because it’s the right thing to do — his motives are far more selfish than that. He knows exactly what it takes to make his political career the best it can be — and has no problem doing the dirty deeds.
Sounds familiar.
Bridges has said that he really didn’t have a particular president in mind when preparing for the role, but took from a number of sources, including his father, the late Lloyd Bridges, whom Bridges thought was extremely “presidential” both as an actor and as a father.
In looking at some of the other actors who have taken on the role of the leader of the free world, we see a variety of interpretations, from the fictitious to the real deal, but one thing is certain — Hollywood’s Presidents are great fun to watch.
Here are a few of the best:
Martin Sheen — President Josiah ‘Jed’ Bartlet in “The West Wing”
On the hit television series “The West Wing,” Sheen‘s President Bartlet is simply a dream president and plays the part with an understated strength and conviction which truly attests to Sheen‘s acting talent. His character is 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. And his intensely loyal cabinet staff, week after week, makes him look good. Many of us actually wish Bartlet were the president. And, to top it off, he loves his wife.
Rule One: The Hollywood President and First Lady must truly be in love. If the First Lady should die, the President must still love her but is allowed to move on.
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Michael Douglas — President Andrew Shepherd in “The American President”
Douglas‘ President Shepherd, while still maintaining all the strength, smarts and dignity the President is supposed to have, is just a man, with feelings and desires just like the rest of us. Shepherd is a widower and up to now has not felt the need to find a replacement — until he meets a lobbyist named Sydney Wade (Annette Bening). He is immediately smitten, as is she, and they begin to date. But there’s the media issue, the image to uphold, the conflict of interest, blah, blah, blah. What it boils down to is two people, one who just happens to the President of the United States, as they begin to fall in love. And how even the President needs some “me” time every once in awhile.
Harrison Ford — President James ‘Jim’ Marshall in “Air Force One”
O.K., here’s a president who just plain kicks ass, and Ford is a natural to play the most powerful man in the world — as an action hero. Starting with the opening scene — in which he tells off some Russians — it’s pretty clear President Marshall is not one to tick off. Unfortunately, ticked off is what he becomes, as an angry ex-KGB guy (Gary Oldman) hijacks Air Force One. Not a smart move. As he successfully demolishes the entire band of terrorists, President Marshall shows concern for his family first and foremost. Now that’s a leader we can stand behind.
Bill Pullman — President Thomas J. Whitmore in “Independence Day”
President Whitmore is a definite cross between the sensitive type and the kick-butt action hero type, all nicely played by Pullman. He 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 Earth. Whitmore also gives one of those rousing patriotic speeches that stirs men’s souls and sends them into battle, armed and ready to go. This man can do it all.
The Real Deal
Bruce Greenwood — President John F. Kennedy in “Thirteen Days”
For an actor, it would be incredibly difficult bringing a legendary president to the big screen, keeping the facts true to form while at the same time projecting the strength these men possessed. Bruce Greenwood expertly handles the job of playing President John F. Kennedy in “Thirteen Days,” portraying JFK during one of the most intense moments in U.S. history — the Cuban Missile Crisis. Our country was on the verge of nuclear war, and the point of view we see in this film shows how incredibly powerful yet human Kennedy really was.
Anthony Hopkins — President Richard M. Nixon in “Nixon”
And if playing JFK were hard, ask Anthony Hopkins how difficult it must have been playing a president regarded as a failure. It wasn’t that President Nixon was a bad president, in fact he was one of the best. But there was Watergate. The President of the United States was caught lying to the American public — a no-no. But Hopkins plays it perfectly. His exquisite acting skills are a true testament to this part, as he gives us the cocky self-assuredness of Nixon’s early years and the paranoid pathos and agony of his latter.
For a little fun…
Then there is playing the president as a total caricature, as Jack Nicholson does in “Mars Attacks!” His President Dale is pompous, thinks he’s invincible and basically has no clue how to deal with the invading big-headed Martians who come to annihilate the Earth. Come to think of it, who would? Oh, that’s right, Bill Pullman.
Ex-President Bill Clinton should hurry up and get to Hollywood as fast as he can.
