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Knock-Around Guy
Entertainment Weekly's Ben Svetkey: "If you could be any superhero, which superhero would you be?"
Barack Obama: "I was always into the Spider-Man/Batman model. The guys who have too many powers, like Superman, that always made me think they weren't really earning their superhero status. It's a little too easy. Whereas Spider-Man and Batman, they have some inner turmoil. They get knocked around a little bit."
Svetkey: "For instance, who's your favorite movie or TV president?"
Obama: You know who was a great movie president? Jeff Bridges in The Contender. That was a great movie president. He was charming and essentially an honorable person, but there was a rogue about him. The way he would order sandwiches -- he was good at that.
Svetkey: Is that one of the things you're looking forward to? Confounding the White House kitchen staff with obscure sandwich requests?
Obama: "Absolutely. I want to test them. I want to see if I can get any sandwich I want." -- from an interview posted on August 6th.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 7, 2008 at 1:12 PM
comment #1
LYT says ...
Interesting, considering that Jeff Bridges' major issue in The Contender was selecting a strong woman to be vice-president.
Posted by LYT at August 7, 2008 1:46 PM
comment #2
Joshua Mooney says ...
You think Lurie will try to get a shout out from Barack on Inauguration Day?
Posted by Joshua Mooney at August 7, 2008 1:46 PM
comment #3
p.Vice says ...
Kind words for The Contender? Maybe all those doubts about his ability to lead the country aren't so far-fetched...
Posted by p.Vice at August 7, 2008 1:47 PM
comment #4
dp4m says ...
I *also* usually list Jeff Bridges in The Contender as one of my tops. Michael Douglas and Morgan Freeman also get high marks from me usually.
Posted by dp4m at August 7, 2008 1:50 PM
comment #5
twicks says ...
I don't suppose we'll read any props for McCain's EW interview...or for choosing "Viva Zapata!" as his favorite film of all time. Guy knows his Elia Kazan OK:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20217335,00.html
Posted by twicks at August 7, 2008 1:51 PM
comment #6
Mgmax says ...
I think The Contender is basically crazy, but Bridges WAS great.
And anyway, try to think of another answer for the question, who's your favorite movie president? Merkin Muffley, I guess.
Posted by Mgmax at August 7, 2008 1:51 PM
comment #7
twicks says ...
I don't suppose we'll read any props for McCain's EW interview...or for choosing "Viva Zapata!" as his favorite film of all time. Guy knows his Elia Kazan OK:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20217335,00.html
Posted by twicks at August 7, 2008 1:52 PM
comment #8
twicks says ...
Apologies for the double.
Posted by twicks at August 7, 2008 1:53 PM
comment #9
Geoff says ...
I've never had a shark sandwich.
I do have to say that McCain's responses were just as fun by the way.
Posted by Geoff at August 7, 2008 1:54 PM
comment #10
twicks says ...
The guy in Superman II who says "Oh God," only to be corrected by Terence Stamp:
"Zod."
Posted by twicks at August 7, 2008 1:54 PM
comment #11
Carter L. says ...
Obama is absolutely right. Bridges was a FANTASTIC movie President, maybe the best ever. I saw the film three or four times because of him mostly - though Joan Allen and Gary Oldman were jpys - it was also the last time that Christian Slater came close to giving a good performance. I also really like Michael Douglas in "American President", but it was not as quirky and inventive as what Bridges did. I really think that he should have been nominated.
Posted by Carter L. at August 7, 2008 1:55 PM
comment #12
corey3rd says ...
did they really have motion pictures when John McCain was a kid? Or just nickelodeons?
Posted by corey3rd at August 7, 2008 2:05 PM
comment #13
PhilipGalasso says ...
Bill Pullman.
Posted by PhilipGalasso at August 7, 2008 2:06 PM
comment #14
George Prager says ...
McCain's favorite movie president was, let me guess....Robert Culp in THE PELICAN BRIEF, or Gordon Pinsent in COLOSSUS: THE FORBIN PROJECT.
Posted by George Prager at August 7, 2008 2:07 PM
comment #15
Michael says ...
For me, this list is one name long:
President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho
And The Contender...oy. If it weren't for Jeff Bridges and Sam Elliott (growling the best line, "we are no better than he is") it would have been a total waste.
Posted by Michael at August 7, 2008 2:08 PM
comment #16
Josh Massey says ...
Mel Brooks in Spaceballs. Or did it say U.S. President?
McCain's favorite Vietnam movie is We Were Soldiers? There goes his last chance at getting my vote.
Where's Bob Barr's interview?
Posted by Josh Massey at August 7, 2008 2:12 PM
comment #17
clancy says ...
"The Contender" was on the other night and I stayed up until two ayem (tribute to Jeff) watching it. Yes, it has a certain crass sentimentality that has always hurt Lurie's films, but it is a very good film with a really sharp screenplay. Bridges is very good, but Joan Allen owns that film. It's a classic performance. Oddly, I think one of the other really entertaining Presidents is Geena David in Lurie's TV show "Commander in Chief".
Posted by clancy at August 7, 2008 2:13 PM
comment #18
LYT says ...
Tiny Lister in The Fifth Element.
Posted by LYT at August 7, 2008 2:14 PM
comment #19
SaveFarris says ...
It's possible to like Bridge's Presidency, but Obama does it for the stupidest of reasons ("He's a scoundrel who knows how to order a sandwich.") No wonder Obama thinks he's qualified to be Commander in Chief: all you have to do is say "Pass me the roast beef on rye, toots"...
Oh and my favorite Presidents are Morgan Freeman (Deep Impact), Lloyd Bridges (Hot Shots) and Arnold (Demolition Man)
Posted by SaveFarris at August 7, 2008 2:16 PM
comment #20
twicks says ...
Forgot about President Camacho...you are completely right, of course.
Posted by twicks at August 7, 2008 2:16 PM
comment #21
BurmaShave says ...
Great performances in a terrible movie. One of the least knowledgeable Washington movies I've ever seen. Also tremendously cheap looking, from the hotel ballroom style Congressional hearing rooms to the claustrophobic White House. So it evens out to about a C+.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 7, 2008 2:18 PM
comment #22
SaveFarris says ...
... and Tim Robbins (Spy who Shagged Me)
Posted by SaveFarris at August 7, 2008 2:19 PM
comment #23
Midwest Doug says ...
Unhandled McCain is somewhat likeable -- I dig his taste in TV shows, and his passion for Viva Zapata is nice to see. Plus he likes David Palmer!
Posted by Midwest Doug at August 7, 2008 2:21 PM
comment #24
BurmaShave says ...
Haha obviously speaking of THE CONTENDER. IDIOCRACY and Camacho got everything exactly right.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 7, 2008 2:21 PM
comment #25
dinovelvet says ...
Well McCain wins this "debate" for me...he liks Dennis Haysbert's President from 24, and watches Dexter!
Posted by dinovelvet at August 7, 2008 2:26 PM
comment #26
DarthCorleone says ...
I think the acting in The Contender is outstanding, and Bridges definitely gives a fun portrayal.
The only thing that gives me pause in naming him the best movie President is that the whole shtick about ordering food was cribbed either from Kevin Kline in Dave or an earlier movie I haven't seen. Bridges' character even says so explicitly, referencing that he got a kick out of a movie President reveling in the freedom of the kitchen. And then I think about how Dave wasn't even technically the President, and it all becomes very confusing.
Posted by DarthCorleone at August 7, 2008 2:32 PM
comment #27
George Prager says ...
Speaking of Merton Muffley...
Here's McCain as Gen. Buck Turgidson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nqtL-P8kzo
Posted by George Prager at August 7, 2008 2:34 PM
comment #28
supertaster says ...
I'm fine with admiring Batman for his lack of a superpower, but spiderman?
And what does this say about Obama? That he might more of a bureaucrat than he's letting on ... he'd rather have a "hand" in the solution than let a perfectly fine and natural force, like say the free market, be the solution.
Obama's dismissal of Superman is a little disturbing. First, Superman's power was completely renewable, derived from the yellow sun, and one would think Obama would point to Supes as the archetype for our energy policy. Then there's the whole emotional sacrifice and call to civic duty that Supes accepts as his responsibility...this should not be overlooked. Finally, thwarting evil may have come a bit more naturally to Supes, but try being the only one of your kind, see how much fun that is.
Frankly, this is the last straw. McCain '08.
(joking, just joking)
Posted by supertaster at August 7, 2008 2:37 PM
comment #29
racsluos says ...
At the very least you gotta like Bridges' president for his out-of-nowhere scream in this scene...
http://www.intenseguys.com/intense_guys/2008/01/joan-allen.html
Posted by racsluos at August 7, 2008 2:43 PM
comment #30
qwiggles says ...
The Contender shoutout is nice, but Obama sounds way out of his league whenever he's asked to discuss his favourite films, TV shows, books, etc. His responses have a ring of "Have I said enough? Did I say too much?" Plus, the last movie he could recall seeing was Shrek 3.
Enough already! Ask him about things he knows and let us just imagine he has better taste in lieu of evidence.
Posted by qwiggles at August 7, 2008 2:46 PM
comment #31
Edward says ...
Except for his love of ABBA, McCain did well. It surprised me he liked Dexter. If he could get rid of his handlers and be himself, he might be ok.
Posted by Edward at August 7, 2008 2:47 PM
comment #32
Rothchild says ...
I would vote for this president in a heartbeat.
"I know shits bad right now with all that starving bullshit and the dust storms and we are running out of french fries and burrito coverings."
Posted by Rothchild at August 7, 2008 2:53 PM
comment #33
Krillian says ...
The Contender was a two-hour DNC commercial for how evil the GOP is and how the media should stop asking Lewinsky questions. BUT Jeff Bridges was indeed a very good president (nominated for BSA for it) and Gary Oldman was great as the nuanced villain. But I laughed more at the pro-Clinton propagana of The Contender than almost any other movie that year.
I'm looking that much more forward to How to Lose Friends & Alienate People because Jeff Bridges is in it.
Posted by Krillian at August 7, 2008 2:55 PM
comment #34
bluefugue says ...
>And anyway, try to think of another answer for the question, who's your favorite movie president? Merkin Muffley, I guess.
By a country mile, although there are a lot I haven't seen yet.
Posted by bluefugue at August 7, 2008 3:00 PM
comment #35
Count Thread says ...
First off, no thread invoking Barack Obama and Morgan Freeman can be had without the obligatory reference to the best Onion headline this year:
"Do We Really Want Another Black President After The Events Of Deep Impact?"
http://www.theonion.com/content/opinion/do_we_really_want_another_black
Second-- I've got a soft spot for Kevin Pollack in Deterrence. Not only is he the most implausible POTUS ever, he's got brass ones.
Interesting-- both Deterrence and the Contender are Lurie films. They share the same pedigree-- great performances in absolutely mind-fuckingly stupid films. (I'll echo Burma-- The Contender is to Washington reality what the Vegas Venetian hotel is to Venice, Italy).
Posted by Count Thread at August 7, 2008 3:08 PM
comment #36
lebowski19 says ...
If I made my vote solely on these interviews, I'd go with McCain.
Posted by lebowski19 at August 7, 2008 3:14 PM
comment #37
sutter kane says ...
Best movie president- Sam Rockwell's Zaphod Beeblebrox in Hitchhiker's Guide.
Posted by sutter kane at August 7, 2008 3:19 PM
comment #38
televisiontears says ...
Maybe it's just been a long day, supertaster, but you really had me going with that one. Especially the "Obama's dismissal of Superman is a little disturbing" line. Good stuff.
Posted by televisiontears at August 7, 2008 3:26 PM
comment #39
snoop says ...
Carter L.,
I know you posted a while ago, but thought I'd mention that Bridges did get a nom for The Contender.
Posted by snoop at August 7, 2008 3:29 PM
comment #40
PerfectTommy says ...
Eddie Albert - Dreamscape
Posted by PerfectTommy at August 7, 2008 3:36 PM
comment #41
Carter L. says ...
Snoop- Thanks for pointing that out. I see that Benecio won that year. I am shocked that Gary Oldman was not nominated for "The Contender" that same year. I really do not understand the comments form a couple here saying that the film is unrealistic. I am just curious if those posters are Washington insiders. It had a very real flair to me - especially the hearing scenes.
Posted by Carter L. at August 7, 2008 3:42 PM
comment #42
Vince says ...
A shoutout to Colossus: The Forbin Project? Outstanding!
Richard Belzer in Species II is the chief I want to hail.
Posted by Vince at August 7, 2008 4:09 PM
comment #43
Mgmax says ...
OT: Check out the slide show of Roland Emmerich's house at the NYTimes site. Every bit as breathtakingly stupid as his movies, but in a more pretentious way...
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/08/07/garden/20080807-EMMERICH_index.html
Posted by Mgmax at August 7, 2008 4:14 PM
comment #44
corey3rd says ...
Nothing tops Pepi Hermine as the president in Putney Swope.
Posted by corey3rd at August 7, 2008 4:17 PM
comment #45
BurmaShave says ...
Carter L. I work Defense related stuff here in NoVA, so I wouldn't call myself an insider perse, but I've been around enough to know how grade-school the depiction in CONTENDER is, stuff like Congressman jogging up the steps of the Capitol to report to work. Just mindblowingly stuff. I understand its budget limitations, but it seemed very small.
Also the Governor of Virginia lives and works in Richmond, and not, as the movie would seem to suggest based on time passed, in Alexandria or Arlington. Not to mention its politics were very confused- Conservative Congressman writing a hate crimes bill, Joan Allen's various apostacies thrown in for random flavoring.
And even as a Lib I concede the absurdity of the snarling Republican villains, something straight out of the Transylvanian GOP mansion on THE SIMPSONS and about as off-base as the eeeeeeeevil gun CEOs in RUNAWAY JURY. Just a very silly movie.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 7, 2008 4:25 PM
comment #46
MilkMan says ...
Donald Pleasance in Escape from New York.
If I was President of the United States, that's exactly what I would look like, exactly what would happen to me, and exactly what would happent o the fate of humanity.
Everytime I see Escape I'm convinced that there are subliminal images peppered throughout the movie, that Carpenter spliced in naked pictures of Pleasance, which is the only explanation for why I feel that I know that Donald Pleasance had a tattoo of the Swedish flag on his right butt-cheek.
Posted by MilkMan at August 7, 2008 4:26 PM
comment #47
Supernetuser says ...
Superheros are just over done by now.
Posted by Supernetuser at August 7, 2008 4:30 PM
comment #48
K. Bowen says ...
News to Obama: Bush is Batman. You're Harvey Dent.
Posted by K. Bowen at August 7, 2008 4:35 PM
comment #49
ikez78 says ...
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12330.html
Jeff,
You totally made Voight's point in your Stalinist intolerant rant.
People really are sick and tired of you anti America far left scum pumping out your drivel each year, that's why we don't go to your lousy left wing movies any more. This country doesn't hate America like you intolerant Stalinists in Hollywood.
Posted by ikez78 at August 7, 2008 4:45 PM
comment #50
MilkMan says ...
Hey, ikez78, you seem like a really pleasant guy to hang out with.
Posted by MilkMan at August 7, 2008 4:48 PM
comment #51
Carter L. says ...
Burma-
I do not remember any scene of congressman jogging to work (though Allen jogs at Arlington - which was allowed in the nineties... I did it myself) and the Peterson character lives in Richmond in the film. I also do not think there was any Dem writing a hate crime bill. However, there are political stances that make no sense at all and it is insane that she is an atheist. This is clearly part of the director and the writer's own beliefs imposed on the rest of us.
Posted by Carter L. at August 7, 2008 4:49 PM
comment #52
BurmaShave says ...
I meant Congressman marching up the stairs into the actual Capitol building- these people work in House Office Buildings. And Gary Oldman's character is supposed to have written a Hate Crimes bill- his wife tells him how proud she was of him for it. Unlikely to say the least.
And the public admission of atheism, however heartening, is completely unrealistic. Though Howard Dean did come very close in 2004.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 7, 2008 4:59 PM
comment #53
Edward says ...
Hey, remember: It's only a movie.
Posted by Edward at August 7, 2008 5:13 PM
comment #54
EOTW says ...
David Palmer from 24.
Posted by EOTW at August 7, 2008 5:14 PM
comment #55
scooterzz says ...
wells pretty much held his own on o'reilly just now....
but i'm betting we'll some new names in the 'comments' section.......
Posted by scooterzz at August 7, 2008 5:21 PM
comment #56
Carter L. says ...
Wells was on O'Reilly???? What was the topic?
Posted by Carter L. at August 7, 2008 5:28 PM
comment #57
Josh Massey says ...
Dammit! I missed it.
Posted by Josh Massey at August 7, 2008 5:33 PM
comment #58
supertaster says ...
Wells, I was wrong suggesting you should back out; you did a good job up there. O'Reilly seemed uncharacteristically tame--more mystified by your position than angry--and while you agreed with 90% of what he said (your head was shaking yes the entire time), I think you came out on top ... your admissions about your intentions and that you're just a guy with a big mouth rang sincere.
What made you sound like a bitter fool was you statement about disliking conservatives. I understand disliking people who want different things for this country, but sometimes conservatives and liberals want the same thing, they just disagree on how to go about it.
Massey, you can catch it at 11 EDT.
Posted by supertaster at August 7, 2008 5:35 PM
comment #59
Carter L. says ...
Burma- The reason that the wife was proud of him for writing the crime bill was that be broke with party ranks. I thought it was pretty cool. You're too tough on the film. And, frankly, those stairs that Oldman climbs were probably the best the production could do with their low budget. Never once bothered me.
Posted by Carter L. at August 7, 2008 5:39 PM
comment #60
Circumvrent says ...
Henry Fonda in FAIL SAFE! I can't be the first person to bring him up, the thread's got more than 50 comments already!!
Posted by Circumvrent at August 7, 2008 5:48 PM
comment #61
Richardson says ...
Sorry, guys, but I'm pretty sure the "best movie president" conversation ended as soon as President Camacho was brought up. Who else could compete with him?
Posted by Richardson at August 7, 2008 6:31 PM
comment #62
nemo says ...
Henry Fonda and Merkin Muffley are both excellent choices.
But my eccentric favorite movie president is Charles Durning in Robert Aldrich's Twilight's Last Gleaming. Durning isn't at all believable as a television-age president. He's more of a throwback to the Harding administration, or all those interchangeable post-Civil War 19th century presidents.
In fact, what I love about Durning is that he's basically just a poker-playing Chicago ward heeler who somehow ended up becoming President of the United States. Kind of like Mgmax's view of Obama.
Posted by nemo at August 7, 2008 6:38 PM
comment #63
corey3rd says ...
the rerun O'Reilly at least two more times over the night. What minute did Jeff battle the Falafel king?
Posted by corey3rd at August 7, 2008 6:39 PM
comment #64
BurmaShave says ...
Carter L., perhaps I am, it's been awhile, but I stand by my assessment of great performances of a putrid screenplay. We didn't even get to the President's statement to a joint session in a room that looked like it had just held Patch Adams' medical license hearing.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 7, 2008 7:12 PM
comment #65
Aladdin Sane says ...
Where's Walter?! McCain likes The Wire! Rejoice people! Rejoice!!!
Posted by Aladdin Sane at August 7, 2008 8:02 PM
comment #66
btwnproductions says ...
It's been posted here:
http://patdollard.com/2008/08/wells-answers-to-oreilly-on-hollywood-blacklisting-jon-voight-with-video/
Posted by btwnproductions at August 7, 2008 10:29 PM
comment #67
D.Z. says ...
ike: If people are tired of the Left, then why is FOX News experiencing a decline in ratings?
Posted by D.Z. at August 7, 2008 11:09 PM
comment #68
Nate West says ...
That McCain...he's so astonishly hip to television. Knows it almost too well. And, it seems, he's a personal friend of Usher's. What a celebrity. But his wife's admiration for Big Love may spell trouble for Mitt Romney.
Posted by Nate West at August 8, 2008 12:10 AM
comment #69
Josh says ...
obama is more wayne palmer than anything
Posted by Josh at August 8, 2008 8:11 AM
comment #70
Mgmax says ...
If David Palmer was such a great president, how come everyone he ever knew (including his wife and his chief of staff) tried to kill him or remove him from office? Where there's smoke...
Posted by Mgmax at August 8, 2008 8:17 AM
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