The 411 Top 5 11.07.08: Week 138

Posted by Trevor Snyder on 11.07.2008

The Top 5 Movie & TV Presidents

Well, it's all over folks. After what sometimes felt like a 20-year election season, Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States of America. And while I know people are probably sick of hearing about it, and while I don't want to use this space for my own political soapbox (suffice to say that I'm very happy with the results), I still thought it might be appropriate to take a look at the former Presidents Obama will have to live up to. No, I'm not talking about the actual former Presidents. I'll leave up to the real pundits. Here at the 411 Movies/TV Zone, we'd rather offer our takes on the fictional side of things, with a look at:

THE TOP 5 MOST MEMORABLE MOVIE & TV PRESIDENTS


Trevor Snyder

5. President James Dale (Jack Nicholson), in Mars Attacks!

OK, so maybe James Dale isn't the most effective President to have in office when Martians come to our planet. Ignoring any possible threat, he sees the situation as a perfect opportunity to cement his place in history. When things go incredibly bad, he really has no idea how to handle it, and after locking himself into the nation's war-room, he essentially allows all those around him to make the important decisions. He even eventually caves on his stance to not use nuclear weapons. So why does he make this list? Because he's Jack Nicholson! There's just something undeniably cool about Jack in the White House. Besides, the guy really seems to be doing the best he can. Do you really think McCain or Obama would have all the answers in an attack from outer space? I also had to include Dale for this classic line, delivered shortly after the Martians lay waste to Congress: "I want the people to know that they still have 2 out of 3 branches of the government working for them, and that ain't bad."

4. President Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers), in Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

On one hand, Muffley almost deserves his place on this list for his name alone. You think "Barack Obama" doesn't sound presidential? Imagine having to vote for a guy named "Merkin Muffley." In a lot of ways, Muffley is exactly like James Dale – he too spends his final hours in office locked up in the war-room while everything goes to hell outside. And, like Dale, he seems somewhat ill-equipped to handle it all. But instead of Jack Nicholson, it's Peter Sellers here…still equally cool. It's easy to say that Muffley's weak, timid nature paints him as a poor President, but really it just kind of makes him the ultimate everyman. He represents the sort of person who just ends up in over his head in the worst way possible, and then has to deal with the consequences the best he can. Considering the movie ends with the planet destroyed, I guess you could say Muffley doesn't do a great job of it. But damnit, he tried…and he also gets to deliver one of the best cinematic President lines of all time: "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"

3. President Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin), on 24

OK, sure, maybe Dennis Haysbert's David Palmer was technically the better, more decent President (is it odd to wonder if the popularity of that character actually helped some attitudes towards a potential Obama presidency?), but in terms of sheer entertainment value, you really can't top apparent coward but secret-supervillain Charles Logan. His amazing character arc made 24's fifth season its most memorable, and his scenes in the sixth season were about the only good moments in that dreaded year. It might seem odd to see me include such a horrible person on the list, one that seems to symbolize everything that could possibly be wrong with a President (heck, this guy made Nixon look nice). Maybe it's just that after the past eight years, I like the idea of a President who's really not as dumb as he seems...even if it means the trade-off is that he's an evil genius.

2. President James Marshall (Harrison Ford), in Air Force One

I'm just gonna go ahead and say it - America hasn't had a truly bad-ass President since Teddy Roosevelt. Oh sure, apparently some people think being macho is defined by walking with a certain swagger, dressing up and landing on aircraft carriers, and ignoring Congress to declare your own war. But forget that. Give me a President who can take on an airplane full of Russian terrorists, any day. Marshall also earns bonus points for being Ford's last truly good role.

1. Dave Kovic (Kevin Kline), in Dave

Like anyone else who has lived in America their entire life, I have a natural suspicion and unease regarding just about any elected official. I therefore have absolutely no problem accepting the general idea of this movie - that one of the best Presidents the country has ever seen wouldn't be a real politician at all, but rather a look-a-like hired to play the role after the actual President suffers a stroke while sleeping with his mistress (yep, now that sounds like a real politician). Although he was originally supposed to just go along with the plans of the President's corrupt Chief of Staff (Frank Langella, who will soon take on an even more diabolical political role as Richard Nixon), Dave committed the ultimate political sin - he actually cared about the people. GASP! This, in turn, allowed him to become the President we all wish we could really have. Heck, he even actually went through the national budget line-by-line, a time-honored promise that every candidate makes but is never really expected to follow through on (I'm an Obama fan, but even I had to roll my eyes when he trotted out that old chestnut). Alright, there's something a little creepy about Dave eventually hooking up with the First Lady of the man he is impersonating, but I'll forgive that...because, at the end of day, I would love to see a guy like Dave in the Oval Office, even if he's really not supposed to be there.



Bryan Kristopowitz

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The President of the United States (Donald Pleasance), in Escape from New York (1981): A U.S. President who is obviously British? What the heck is that about? Director John Carpenter figured that, yes, people would notice that the President had a British accent, but after a few minutes the audience would just accept it and move on. And, really, it's Donald Pleasance. You kind of think he really could be President (especially of a fascist future America because even then the best villains are going to be British). What's interesting about Pleasance is that he's essentially powerless throughout the movie, held hostage by the Duke of New York and his followers. He doesn't assert himself until the end, when he blasts the Duke to bits with an M-16. And after all that, after being rescued by Snake Plissken, one would think that Pleasance would be grateful. He tells Snake he is grateful. But Pleasance's mind is somewhere else. You get the sense that he really isn't grateful. Makes that big "fuck you" Snake gives him at the end that much more satisfying. Take that Donald Pleasance!

President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman), in Independence Day (1996): How exactly did Bill Pullman's President Whitmore become President? He's a war hero, a renowned Gulf War fighter pilot, we get that, but was that it? Was that all he brought to his election? It sure seems so. He didn't seem to have much of a legislative agenda. Before the big ass alien invasion he was basically a lame duck President. But then the aliens came, blew up the White House, and then the fight was on. Suddenly the lame duck President was a reluctant war President. He even suited up and fought the invaders himself. How many other Presidents would be able to do that? Not many. And how about the "July 4th for the world" speech? Pretty dang inspiring, don't you think?

President of the United States (Alan Alda), in Canadian Bacon (1995): I think the best thing about Alan Alda's President character in director Michael Moore's only non-documentary movie is that he really liked the idea of making Canada America's next great enemy, sort of a new Soviet Union, and then went along with it. I mean, come on, why would anyone believe Kevin Pollak or Brad Sullivan? They're the ones who came up with the "plausibility" of Canada being a major US threat. Again, why would anyone believe them? If Alda's character just buckled down and figured out how to fix the economy instead of going for a quick fix public distraction, he wouldn't have lost his reeelction campaign and ended up the host of a morning show in Cleveland.

THE TOP 5

5. President Tom Beck (Morgan Freeman), in Deep Impact (1998)

As Blair Underwood said during an interview on the old Keenan Ivory Wayans Show (and I'm paraphrasing here) it figures that the first time there's a black President a comet is coming to destroy the planet. All kidding aside, Freeman's President Beck works so well because, well, he's played by Morgan Freeman. Freeman is one of those actors who just screams dignity and authority, and he doesn't even have to say a word. So, in that sense, he's a natural for the role. And he's also forced to initiate a new "Ark" plan in an attempt to save humanity despite the impending doom from space. I guess if someone has to make that decision, you want Morgan Freeman making it.

4. President James Marshall (Harrison Ford), in Air Force One (1997)

I think to some degree, Ford's President Marshall is the kind of ass kicking President most Presidents wished they were. You know, the kind of guy who could take on a band of Russian terrorists and Gary Oldman in an enclosed space and come out of it alive (not to mention the kind of guy who could travel via rope from one plane to another in the air and not completely freak out). In short, President Marshall is an action hero, a real man, someone patriotic citizens can be really proud of. So, I guess President Marshall is a kind of wish fulfillment for everyone.

3. President Camacho (Terry Crews), in Idiocracy (2006)

In the wacked out future world of Idiocracy, President Camacho is exactly the kind of President the American people deserve and want: a loud, profane, former pro wrestler who wears big medallions, rides a big ass motorcycle everywhere, and starts off his State of the Union Address with "Shit." There isn't much more the American people could possibly want, anyway. President Camacho is also sort of the embodiment of the ultimate alpha male (he's big, strong, and charismatic, which is what makes all great alpha males alpha males). But then again, even with that designation, he's still not a very good leader. President Camacho is an idiot. He's also a great example of what happens when you vote for people you want to have a beer with, not people who can actually solve problems and fix things. Wow. President Camacho kind of sounds like George W. Bush, doesn't he?

2. The President of the United States (Cliff Robertson), in Escape from LA (1996)

Cliff Robertson's President is an ultra right wing religious extremist who managed to convince the United States that God wants him to run the country for life (after all, Robertson did "predict" that Los Angeles would be destroyed by God for being the "city of sin, the city of Gomorah, the city of Soddom"), and then who managed to galvanize the entire Third World into mounting an attack on America. He's also the President who pissed off violent psychopath Snake Plissken by lying to him about the Plutoxin-7 virus and asking him to assassinate his daughter Utopia. My God, what an asshole. It's obvious from the outset that Robertson is incredibly dangerous and mentally unstable, but that doesn't stop people from getting behind him and allowing him to run roughshod over everything America supposedly stands for. The American people freaking voted the guy in, and then didn't get upset when he changed the Constitution and started serving a lifetime term in office. So, I guess he's the end game for the right. He is what could happen if the wingers are allowed to take power. A cautionary tale of sorts? Yeah, that could be it. Hey, if Cuervo Jones is a cautionary tale (and he is) why can't Cliff Robertson. "I've got to go to my quarters. I've got to pray!" Sure you do. "Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." Indeed.

1. President Andrew Shepard (Michael Douglas), in The American President (1995)

I think President Andrew Shepard's greatest asset is his decency. He's the leader of the free world, he's more often than not the smartest guy in the room, and he knows how to govern, yet he isn't smug about it. When he's forced to "fight" and engage in "partisan politics" (you know, attacking the opposition), he does it in a measured way and, still, he isn't mean about it. Andrew Shepard is the President we all wish we had a chance to vote for, the kind of guy all candidates aspire to but never really measure up to. But, to a certain degree, he's also the kind of guy I don't think anyone in real life would ever vote for in the first place. He's too nice. Where's the prick in him? He doesn't want to bomb people, man. How can the American people get behind that? So, in conclusion, Andrew Shepard is the guy we all want to be and the guy we can't stand. So he's the ultimate American electoral conundrum. If you want this guy, why don't you vote for him?



Rick Tym

5. President (Donald Pleasance) John Carpenter's Escape From New York (1981)

I've always successfully ignored the fact that the President of the United States in Escape seems to be of European citizenry and will continue to do so, even while acknowledging Mr. Kristopowitz's comments above. I find it fascinating that Donald Pleasance went from near-reluctant participant to willing conspirator in John Carpenter's films; he starred here as POTUS, and also participated in more Halloween goodness (or badness, if you're not a fan) and Prince of Darkness. As usual, he plays the presidential character to its hammy but convincing best, going from a President in peril ("God save me, and watch over you all") to a sniveling prisoner ("Y-You are the...Duke of New...New York...you're A-number one") to badass wielding a machine gun ("YOU'RE THE DUKE, YOU'RE A-NUMBER ONE!!!!" accented with bullet spray). Then, when the city has been escaped from, he's back to being calm and collected, even getting a quick shave before going live to deliver information via a cassette tape (man, remember those things?) that may prevent global conflict. Too bad all he had to play went the feed went live was Cabbie's greatest hits.

4. President James Marshall (Harrison Ford) Air Force One (1997)

Harrison Ford was born to play the President; it was only a matter of time. I have this DVD on my shelf, still in the plastic, and feel like I want to revisit the film immediately after fondly remembering all its cheesy goodness. Some great actors are featured in this tale which shows POTUS taken hostage aboard his tricked out Boeing 747, such as Gary Oldman as terrorist Ivan Korshunov and Glenn Close as the VP. But it is Harrison Ford's performance as the commander-in-chief that highlights this film, as he is able to convey a believable everyman sense as a father and friend even while being the most powerful man in the free world. When I think of him in this film and read about what may be done with Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, I wonder why they don't grab some more ready-made storylines from the novels and let Harrison Ford continue the character's progression from CIA analyst to Oval Office inhabitant.

3. President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) 24 (2001-2006)

Before Obama, there was a black man in the office, but only on FOX's hit television show. (I know Obama is really only half-black, but it helps me with my opening statement, so please allow me this small digression.) Early on as a presidential candidate and then holding office during some of the most harrowing crises in a fictional Los Angeles' history, President Palmer was a strong, unwavering figure who would not let anyone, even his wife (that sneaky little—oh, sorry), compromise his morals. Only when he had no choice and millions of lives were at stake would he make his own decision to call upon Jack Bauer and his magic sack. Always grateful to the CTU agent for saving the day in the nick of time, David Palmer was a stand-up guy in addition to being a great fictional president who transcended the issue of race. A lot of TV moments don't manage to shock me, but when Palmer was assassinated in the opening minutes of the show's fifth season (spoiler!), it didn't just catch me off guard—it made me sad that 24 lost one of its greatest characters.

2. President Andrew Shepard (Michael Douglas) The American President (1995)

Love, love, love this movie. I truly believe that this is one of Michael Douglas' finest performances. Here he plays a widower POTUS seeking reelection. He is a patriot and a loving father. He is also a human being, and that's exactly what makes his romance with lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (a classy and beautiful Annette Bening) so compelling. At its heart The American President is an unlikely love story (and really, what one isn't?). However, even though I was extremely happy to see Sydney come back to the White House and reconcile with Andy, I remember the film most for the scene which shows the President and his staff deciding to bomb an enemy's government building, and Shepard's insistence that collateral damage be kept to a minimum. Gone is the tough guy persona often (fairly and unfairly) associated with the commander-in-chief. Instead we see a compassionate human being with massive and unforgiving power who laments the seemingly right choice to use it. So great is the character's integrity that he won't let his staff spin the retaliatory measure into PR gold, instead stating that his order to attack is one of the "least Presidential" things he's done during his tenure.

1. President Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers) Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

President Merkin Muffley lacks many of the character traits inherent to the other fictional Presidents on this list. Relying on smarts instead of charm and machismo, he seeks a viable solution to an impending nuclear attack on the Soviet Union—one that is better than Air Force General Buck Turgidson's (George C. Scott), anyway. While Sellers performs multiple roles (including the titular character) with great gusto, it will always be President Muffley that I remember most fondly, an intellectual egghead oblivious of the inherent irony of the proceedings that surround him, trying to break up a fight by admonishing the combatants with the statement "Gentlemen! You can't fight in here! It's the War Room." Obviously a classic satirical piece, Sellers' President Muffley is the glue holding the pieces of Stanley Kubricks's outrageous political commentary together.



Jeremy Thomas

HONORABLE MENTIONS

President James Dale (Jack Nicholson) in Mars Attacks! (1996) (R-??) - Mars Attacks! is, in my mind, a seriously underrated black comedy that pays a loving homage to the sci fi B-movies of the fifties. And part of that is because of Nicholson's over-the-top but quite funny portrayal of Dale, a president who is in the midst of a re-election campaign when the Martians land on Earth. He's convinced to try and be peaceful, and it backfires pretty drastically. In the end, he dies impaled on a Martian flag. Pretty rough way to go for such a funny performance.

President Lindberg (Tom Lister Jr.) in The Fifth Element (1997) (Party Affiliation And Home Location Unknown) - President Lindberg is someone you gotta feel for. He's just trying to do his job when a giant planet starts speeding toward Earth. Now, he's got to rely on a taxi driver and a wierd-yet-hot alien chick to save them all. I think he holds up pretty well, considering the circumstances.

Dave Kovic (Kevin Kline) in Dave (1993) (D-DC) - This is only this low because technically Dave was never legally president. But Dave is a great little political comedy that features Kevin Kline in one of his always-solid performances as President Mitchell, an asshole who happens to be President, and David Kovic, the regular guy who's a lookalike and has to pretend to fill the role when Mitchell dies. It's touching and uplifting, yet really funny as well, thanks in no small part to Kline and Sigourney Weaver as the First Lady.

THE TOP 5

5. President Nathan Petrelli (Adrian Pasdar) and "President Nathan Petrelli" (really Syler; Zachary Quinto) in Heroes (R-NY)

Ahh, good old Heroes. Thank you for future timelines, which gives us TWO President Petrellis to consider. I love them both, so it's got to be a tie here. The first and more straight-forward is Nathan Petrelli, the flying man-turned-Senator who becomes President in the future presented in "I Am Become Death" from the current third season. He's president in a world where everyone has powers, and the world is about to end because of it. The second is in "Five Years Gone" from Season One, where Nathan Petrelli is actually his (now known to be) brother Sylar who killed him some time before then and assumed his identity. Of the two, I'd prefer a real President Petrelli, but as one of my friends told me, how much would get done if Sylar was president. "Pass this bill or I'll slice you open and take your brain." "Yes sir, Mr. President." In fact, I'm starting the campaign now. Petrelli/Sylar for President in '12. Watch shit get done!

4. President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman) in Independence Day (1996) (R-CA)

I know a lot of people love Harrison Ford in Air Force One for ass-kicking presidents, but for my money Tom Whitmore's got him beat hands down. Whitmore not only goes mind-to-mind with a psychic alien, but he hops in a plane and leads a combat fighter unit against overwhelming odds, only to win. Also, he never has to utter that ridiculous line "Get off my plane." This is a Republican I might actually vote for

3. President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) in 24 (2001 - 2005) (D-MD)

When it comes to TV presidents, no show's been through as many as 24. And no 24 president has stood out like David Palmer. While Jack Bauer was running around like a chicken with his head cut off through the worst days of all time, it was Palmer who provided the moral backbone of the cast and stands head and shoulders above the West Wing folks, the Commander-In-Chief people, and any other tv presidents you can name as the most competant, intelligent, and all-around effective fictional Chief Executives of all time.

2. President Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers) Dr. Strangelove (1964) (D-IL)

Pure comedic value here. Anyone who saw the Top 5 Comedic Characters knows of my love for Strangelove, for which Sellers deserves the lion's share of the credit. While Merkin isn't my favorite Sellers character here, he's absolutely hilarious in his own right as he tries to handle an impending nuclear holocaust. Based largely in demeanor and resemblance on failed two-time presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson, and the character is a pretty pathetic, wishy-washy guy who clearly has no idea what he's gotten into, and tries to talk to the Russian president like he's a five-year-old. How anyone can not laugh when he shouts out "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the war room!" is beyond me.

1. President Andrew Shepard (Michael Douglas) The American President (1995) (D-WI)

Politics and romantic comedies don't seem like a good mix, but this movie did it and did it very well. Andrew Shepard is one of Michael Douglas's finest roles, and Sydney Ellen Wade is most certainly Bening's. You have to admire this president no matter what side of the political spectrum you're on; he plays pool with his chief of staff, thinks about his daughter's feelings before making any move on his love life, and refuses to engage in a mudslinging debate with his re-election opponent Bob Rumson--a great performance from Dreyfus, too, by the way. Every single person nails their roles, but none better then Douglas with the possible exception of Michael J. Fox's speech writer, and this is a president I would vote for in a heartbeat.

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