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The American President

The American President

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Great movie, terrible DVD
Review: I love this movie and was excited to check out the DVD. What a disaster! The picture quality is decidedly poor and there are absolutely no extras. I hate to say it, but don't buy this one.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: If Only It Were True...
Review: Imagine, if you will, a President of the United States untouched by scandal, nefarious business dealings, cronyism, or anything else. An intellectual, thinking, feeling patriot who is President because he believes in serving his country. Wow! What a concept!

Now imagine this president being played by a terribly noble but very believable Michael Douglas, a presidential single father who lost his wife to cancer a few years back, and who has avoided any hint of dating since then. Enter environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade, playing charmingly by a sprightly and beautiful Annette Benning, and you have the beginnings of a romance reminiscent of the "good old days" of Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman.

In these post-Monica days, it's hard to think of a president seriously courting and falling in love with a worthwhile and intelligent woman. The problems they encounter (inquisitive press, sniping by political adversaries) seem so tame in light of real life! But they are very real to this couple, and they are solved in a manner that still makes me sigh with pleasure.

A word to the politically conservative: Although it is never stated, Michael Douglas's president is definitely not a Republican. And his chief adversary, played smarmingly by Richard Dreyfus, is the quintessential scary right-winger. The movie, however, mostly skirts politics and centers on the romance. And I love every single minute of it.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: it seemed a bit preachy
Review: but that's just my view of the film.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Hollywood And Politics Do Not Mix
Review: When Hollywood plays politics, it's largely liberal, and it's largely for the Democrats. Rarely can tinsel town take a conservative idea and grant it a positive spin; sadly, they just don't have an imagination large enough to consider other points of view. I shudder to think that, had Michael Douglas's character been a Republican, a Libertarian, or an Independent, what would they have called this picture? "The Communist President"? In fact, the film goes so far as to demonize a Republican senator (played by Richard Dreyfus) for his expression of personal opinions in the public forum ... so much for freedom of speech through Hollywood's rose-colored glasses.

Politics aside, THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT surprisingly succeeds on no level. A widowed President (Michael Douglas) tries juggling managing the affairs of a nation and his teen daughter while juggling a relationship with a member of the White House press corps (the sometimes incandescent Annette Benning). All of the relationships seem forced and frail, making the possible weight of the picture crumble like a bad White House of cards in this uninteresting picture.

When all the screenwriters can muster for the President to speak forcefully and convincingly about is the integrity of his personal, sexual relationship with a reporter, methinks we need new screenwriters.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An well made film on the fantasy of romance.
Review: When a American President (Two Time Oscar-Winner:Micheal Douglas) enjoys his unpreccedental popularity until he`s attractive to a perky environmental lobbyist (Annette Bening). When his growing passion, he has for the Lobbyist but until American Citizens have become curious about his life and it might hurt his carrer as President.

Directed by Rob Reiner (Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, Misery) has made Aaron Sorkin`s Screenplay into a Populist Fantasy. This film has Terrific Performances by Douglas, Bening, Martin Sheen and Micheal J. Fox. This film was Critically Successful from Critics and Audiences. The Film was an Oscar Nominated for Best Score. This is a Smart, Romantic, Dramatic Comedy film. Panavision. Grade:A-.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The ultimate mix of love and politics
Review: Anything written by Aaron Sorkin is fabulous, don't get me wrong, and this movie is amazing, right up to his West Wing standards. Although seeing Martin Sheen as chief of staff instead of president takes a little getting used to, you will fall in love with President Andy Shepard and Sydney Ellen Wade!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Hollywood and Political Movies
Review: Other than an interesting performance from Douglas, this movie is bland, predictable, and follows the typical Hollywood agenda for a political movie. I'm ready to see a movie espousing pro-life rhetoric just so I can hear and see something different out of Hollywood.

Overall, this movie just didn't push any buttons for me except I thought Douglas was interesting in a low key role which he hardly ever plays.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: on of my favorites
Review: great movie, from the writer of the west wing. Great story. The DVD is lousy though. Extremely poor quality video

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Charming and Well-Executed Film
Review: I remember when I first saw this movie. I was on a bus, touring around Colorado and Nebraska as part of a Concert Band Tour. The director said we were going to watch it, and I was like, "Oh, great, this is gonna put me to sleep."

Well, it didn't put me to sleep. In fact, I was glued to the screen from beginning to end.

The first thing I remember thinking was, "Man, Michael Douglas just had the greatest lines." And he did - he had a witty comeback for everything that was thrown at him. And when he wasn't being witty, such as when he is addressing his character towards the end of the film, it is still great writing. Aaron Sorkin, the writer of the movie, should win an award for "Best Lines" or something.

Every character in the film gives a great performance. Annette Bening is as great in this film as she is in "American Beauty." I just loved how her character was vulnerable one minute, sexy the next, and then sharp as a whip later. The supporting cast also deserves kudos for rounding out this great film. Michael J. Fox (an early childhood favorite of mine) gets the "Silent Hero" award because even though he was not a major factor in the film, he uses what he's given to his fullest extent. His showdown with Douglas towards the end of the film about Douglas' character is great. Also to be commended are Martin Sheen, Anna Deavere Smith, David Paymer, and Richard Dreyfuss, who perfectly plays the snot-nosed Republican only looking out for his own personal political gain.

In what I thought was going to be a sleeper, "The American President" is anything but. It's just too bad that not all presidents can be as charming and witty as Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas).

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Eh.....
Review: I got this for my grandfather. He liked it. My sister like it. I didn't enjoy it that much. So basically, if you like love stories like my sister you will like it. If you are 50+ like my grandfather, you will like it. If you are a 19 year old male college student, ummm.... no, you won't like it.....


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