With a late-day candidate switch, two intense debates, and the potential (again) to elect the first female president, this campaign might be the most turbulent in US history. Meanwhile, the White House campaign has long captivated filmmakers, with some startling results. The goody-two-shoe of US cinema, Frank Capra, was skeptical of the method as well. All of the movies have themes that are fundamental to US democracy and ideals, even though some are thinly veiled fictions and others are futuristic dreams. These are a few of the greatest films about the presidential election, including a little-known masterpiece starring Mike Nichols and Elaine.
This satire, which features a brilliant screenplay by Elaine May, is among Mike Nichols’ best and least known movies. It follows a fictional but not at all obscure version of Bill Clinton as he makes his way through the primaries and onto the White House. As the unconventional but intelligent governor of the South, Jack Stanton, John Travolta can charm his way out of any situation. Without turning into a parody, Travolta manages to convey both the charisma of Clinton and the sympathetic “I feel your pain” looks. Emma Thompson portrays his spouse, Susan, as Hillary before she entered politics, but with astute instincts as anyone. Invoking the work of journalist Joe Klein (published in 1996 under the title Anonymous).
