With recent situations, and unsettling worries about the future of the society I happen to be living in, I have rounded up some movies that has satirically painted a picture of this phenomenon called
P-O-L-I-T-I-C-S.
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer
Being married to someone who is a fan of all things Stephen Fry, it was a matter of time before I saw a Peter Cook film.
I was born in the 80's and an understanding of politics if any, had to develop from the mid 90s till now. This film made in 1970 however is a primer as good as any out there, of what politics has become. So, what I had partially suspected it had become, was in 1970 shown in a film across Britain! Brilliant! The writers of this film include its star Peter Cook, John Cleese and also the director Kevin Billington.
About the Film (IMDB)
Wag the Dog
As you can see, this one has the pair from the Meet the Parents series! This pairing might be less known to some of the younger folks of the day, had it not been for this comedy franchise. Wag the Dog also has a comic undertone, and portrays the increased role of the media in politics in terms of creating or controlling opinions.
Dustin Hoffman is brilliant as the temperamental film director who is hired on behalf of Robert De Niro who is the Go-To man working on behalf of an administration that is trying to cover up a scandal that would affect the president's popularity. Ain't that a pickle!
About the Film (IMDB)
In the Loop
There is a full on onslaught of swears in this one from the get go. Peter Capaldi plays a major role here, and he is the source of this onslaught, who is making sure things go as planned. There is talk about a war, which seems to have been made necessary by no real reason at all. It is most interesting to see the relationships between the people who fall in different heights in the hierarchy. We are from the start on Britain's side of things, and then there is also a trip to the White House, USA, where there is again a tug-of-war for control, and last words.
About the Film (IMDB)
While watching this foul mouthed civil servant at work in the movie, I had the bouts of those "Where have I seen him before"s, and when it finally came to me, I had to wonder what happened to that nice young man! That movie was called "Local Hero", also a nice movie, but not political as the rest here. The soundtrack of that movie was incidentally done by Mark Knopfler, who also wrote music for the film Wag the Dog.
Conspiracy
Lets end the list with one with a serious (maybe an understatement) tone. Its a reenactment of a very hush hush meeting organized by the SS Gestapo under Hitler's orders to decide the fate of their enemy - Jews, not just in Germany, but as the viewers will find out - all of Europe. Besides military personnel, there are also lawyers present who had previously created laws that would stop an increase of the Jewish population. The discourse that we hear, is a particularly chilling one. You will be astonished at what human minds are capable of conjuring in the name of peace, and glory.
About the Film (IMDB)
All in all, there are quite a few others that are also really good movies and give us quite a good idea of what kind of nonsense, almost, that we have created in trying to create governments. Maybe things were not so fickle or greedy at some time, or maybe this is how things always were. There are more great films that could go on this list, V for Vendetta, and Bob Roberts (Was quite surprised that it was both written AND directed by Tim Robbins) are also really good ones and highly recommend. Maybe I'll cover them in a part two, who knows!
P-O-L-I-T-I-C-S.
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer Being married to someone who is a fan of all things Stephen Fry, it was a matter of time before I saw a Peter Cook film.
I was born in the 80's and an understanding of politics if any, had to develop from the mid 90s till now. This film made in 1970 however is a primer as good as any out there, of what politics has become. So, what I had partially suspected it had become, was in 1970 shown in a film across Britain! Brilliant! The writers of this film include its star Peter Cook, John Cleese and also the director Kevin Billington.
About the Film (IMDB)
Wag the Dog As you can see, this one has the pair from the Meet the Parents series! This pairing might be less known to some of the younger folks of the day, had it not been for this comedy franchise. Wag the Dog also has a comic undertone, and portrays the increased role of the media in politics in terms of creating or controlling opinions.
Dustin Hoffman is brilliant as the temperamental film director who is hired on behalf of Robert De Niro who is the Go-To man working on behalf of an administration that is trying to cover up a scandal that would affect the president's popularity. Ain't that a pickle!
About the Film (IMDB)
In the Loop There is a full on onslaught of swears in this one from the get go. Peter Capaldi plays a major role here, and he is the source of this onslaught, who is making sure things go as planned. There is talk about a war, which seems to have been made necessary by no real reason at all. It is most interesting to see the relationships between the people who fall in different heights in the hierarchy. We are from the start on Britain's side of things, and then there is also a trip to the White House, USA, where there is again a tug-of-war for control, and last words.
About the Film (IMDB)
While watching this foul mouthed civil servant at work in the movie, I had the bouts of those "Where have I seen him before"s, and when it finally came to me, I had to wonder what happened to that nice young man! That movie was called "Local Hero", also a nice movie, but not political as the rest here. The soundtrack of that movie was incidentally done by Mark Knopfler, who also wrote music for the film Wag the Dog.
ConspiracyLets end the list with one with a serious (maybe an understatement) tone. Its a reenactment of a very hush hush meeting organized by the SS Gestapo under Hitler's orders to decide the fate of their enemy - Jews, not just in Germany, but as the viewers will find out - all of Europe. Besides military personnel, there are also lawyers present who had previously created laws that would stop an increase of the Jewish population. The discourse that we hear, is a particularly chilling one. You will be astonished at what human minds are capable of conjuring in the name of peace, and glory.
About the Film (IMDB)
All in all, there are quite a few others that are also really good movies and give us quite a good idea of what kind of nonsense, almost, that we have created in trying to create governments. Maybe things were not so fickle or greedy at some time, or maybe this is how things always were. There are more great films that could go on this list, V for Vendetta, and Bob Roberts (Was quite surprised that it was both written AND directed by Tim Robbins) are also really good ones and highly recommend. Maybe I'll cover them in a part two, who knows!
