Too nervous to watch the election returns? Who isn’t? (10)
If you are like most of the country, you are in a panic about the results of tomorrow’s election. Whatever polls and prognostications say, whatever predictions you believe, it’s fear, anxiety and stress that dominate the emotions.
So, The Aspiring Critic says don’t watch the news stations. Most pundits suggest a confirmed outcome won’t be determined on election night anyway. What can you watch instead? Try these three elections:
Crocker Jarmon vs. Bill McKay
What? You say. I’ve never heard of these men. Well, those are the candidates in the aptly named movie, The Candidate. The movie had generally positive reviews when it was released in 1972, with a clever premise and an exciting trajectory. Featuring Robert Redford as Bill McKay and as gorgeous as ever (except maybe as Hubbell Gardner, but I digress), the film portrays the behind-the-scenes machinations of the making of a viable presidential candidate. It poses the question: Can a clever strategist, a charming candidate from political family and incredible training from the campaign team make even the most inexperienced person ready to lead the nation? Can political insiders really foist a Commander-In-Chief role onto someone unknown, unproven and uncertain?
The answer unfolds in just 109 minutes. While The Candidate can be categorized as satiric, the last line of the movie asks a very serious question. Worth a watch.
Matthew Santos vs. Arnold Vinick
Fictional election candidates might not sound familiar, but fans of The West Wing will recognize those names. Season 7, the final season, veered away from the goings on in the Bartlett administration to tackle the election of a new president — Matt Santos vs. Arnold Vinick. Santos, portrayed by Jimmy Smits, was the democratic heir apparent to Bartlett but faced the formidable — and not unlikeable Arnie Vinick (Alan Alda).
It is a commitment to watch the entire 22-episode season but at approximately 44 minutes a piece, you can get them all in in 16 and a half hours. If you set a clock to remind you to start watching at 7 am and take minimal food and bathroom breaks, you can be finished before 2 am the next day. Or take breaks! Watch until Wednesday or Thursday — we likely won’t know the U.S. election results anyway. Santos vs. Vinick is far more fun — and very satisfying. It shows TWO candidates with empathy, compassion, intelligence, experience, and knowledge. Isn’t that a concept?!?!?
Andrew Boone vs. Donald Greenleaf
The entertaining and perhaps underrated movie Swing Vote hinges on the premise that one man can determine the outcome of the U.S. Presidential election. That one man is Kevin Costner as a disinterested Bud Johnson. After all the votes are counted, the election comes down to Bud’s vote, since neither candidate generated a majority in the electoral college. There was an electrical glitch in Bud’s state of New Mexico, requiring a revote, and now New Mexico — and Bud hold the election in balance. Of course, the popular vote is tied there. Bud is the only citizen who hasn’t voted yet — and therein lies the titular swing vote that determines the next president.
While clearly comedic, the movie has heart. As the two candidates vie for Bud’s vote, they change positions, and begin to reduce the rhetoric to appeal to him as a person. Both of them. It is an interesting evolution. Semi -Spoiler alert — in the end the viewers must accept a conclusion that is inconclusive.
Kind of like tomorrow night, probably.
There are many other interesting political movies and TV shows. The very dark Manchurian Candidate — both versions — is quite harrowing. Primary Colors is a good movie, lightly veiled as fiction but clearly influenced by Clinton. And one can never forget a classic like All the President’s Men. Beyond The West Wing, the small screen has Madame Secretary and Veep, one which was serious and well done, the other funny with a large dollop of frustration. 1600 Penn is not a comedy classic — it was a short run show with a great cast including Josh Gad, Jenna Elfman and the president played by Bill Pullman, lasting only 13 episodes. The mini-series Political Animals had some legs, and also seems Clintonian.
All of these can be good alternatives to a rough night ahead. Do you have a favorite political movie or TV show? The Aspiring Critic and her readers want to hear! We’d like to tack on more options to the list.
And if you didn’t already, go vote!
