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The American President [VHS] by Rob Reiner
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Product detailsActor: Anna Deavere Smith, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Michael Douglas, Michael J. Fox Director: Rob Reiner Edition: VHS Tape Audio: English (Original Language), Analog; French (Original Language) Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen Release Date: 1997-09-16 Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Publisher: Columbia/Tristar Studios Studio: Columbia/Tristar Studios
VHS Movie Reviews of The American President [VHS]Movie Review: One of my favorites! Summary: 4 StarsThis is a movie I can watch over and over again. As much as it is about politics, it is a love story. While giving you a good glimpse behind the scene of DC politics, it shows you how love can grab your heart when you least expect it.
Movie Review: Womnderful movie! Summary: 5 StarsA great movie about a fictional American President. Great writing and directing along with brilliant actors make this an all-time favorite.
Movie Review: The movie is great, DVD quality is lacking Summary: 3 StarsI purchased this DVD for my mother, as this is one of her favourite movies. The movie itself is excellent, but the DVD quality is horrible. I do not understand why it looks so incredibly bad, and is letterboxed to such a serious extent. This movie has been on HD cable before and does not suffer any of these problems, so I cannot understand why the DVDs look this bad. It is a very big disappointment.
Movie Review: The American President Summary: 5 StarsHow does the widowed leader of the free world balance his many obligations to his country with the ordinary demands and everyday rites of courtship? When President Andrew Shepherd, quite unexpectedly, falls in love with Sydney Wade, an environmental lobbyist, he must overcome obstacles not faced by average citizens; he must worry that the public's right to know will collide with the desire for personal privacy. He must contend with approval ratings, an inquiring press and an aggressive political opponent just to go on a date. The President's advisors, chief of staff, domestic policy advisor, White House pollster and press secretary help him get through his busy schedule, deal with demands of congress and quell any global predicaments. But political crises are different than personal ones and somehow the American President alone must find a way to balance his love for his country with his love for an incredible woman. Michael and Annette are a perfect match in this movie. Enjoy this excellent movie.
Movie Review: Lefties on Romantic Parade Summary: 2 StarsCan't image there's a lefty who doesn't love this movie. I can only watch about the first 40 minutes, and even then, Fox's character is a bit over-bearing about hand gun control, which is another lefty talking point. Then it gets into the assasination of Dreyfuss's character (they probably had to pay him a bonus to play Republican), legitimizing the global warming lobby, actually defending the ACLU, and showing tainted sleazy back room/closed door Republican secrecy (much like the Reid/Pelosi sleazy back room/closed door health care secret meetings of today). Don't know how I would have rewritten the final hour to make more palatible but then Sorkin/Reiner wouldn't have had their final version any other way. If they remade the movie today, no doubt they'd be defending ACORN as well, wasting trillions of our children's future on their version of health care, polluting the air space as thousands of lefties fly on their private jets to Copenhagen (much as Pelosi and her entourage have on the tax payers), and of course they'd cast Will Smith as the Andrew Shepard character (renamed Abdul Shepard). Watch it, but keep in mind it's been created by two of Hollywood's leading far left pin heads. For romantic comedy, it's diverting.. for political statement, it's lefty predictable.
Summary of The American President [VHS]What sounds like a high-concept romantic comedy pitch from hell--widower president falls for smart lobbyist while the world watches--is actually intelligent, charming, touching, and quite funny. Granted, it's wish fulfillment all the way (when was the last time you saw a president who was truly presidential?), but in the capable hands of writer Aaron Sorkin (TV's Sports Night) and director Rob Reiner, The American President is incredibly enjoyable entertainment with quite a few ideas about both romance and the government. Michael Douglas stars as the president, who after three years in office starts thinking about the possibility of dating. When he auspiciously encounters cutthroat environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), sparks begin to crackle and the two begin a tentative but heartfelt romance. Of course, his job gets in the way--their first kiss is interrupted by a Libyan bombing--but darn it if these two kids aren't going to try and make it work! However, they hadn't counted on the president's Republican antagonist (Richard Dreyfuss), who starts carping about family values. The predictable plot--Douglas finally goes to bat for his lady and his country--is leavened by Sorkin's wonderful, snappy dialogue and a light touch from the usually subtle-as-a-sledgehammer Reiner. Both manage to create a believable White House-office atmosphere (with a crack staff including Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, Anna Deavere Smith, and Samantha Mathis) as well as a plausible and funny dating scenario. The true success of the movie, though, rides squarely on Douglas and Bening; this is unequivocally Douglas's best comedic performance (ergo his best performance, period) and Bening, usually such a good bad girl, takes a standard career-woman role and fleshes it out magnificently. You can see in an instant why Douglas would fall for her. One of the best unsung romantic comedies of the '90s. --Mark Englehart
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