Want to Learn About Politics? Go to the Movies

By David Sirota, Creators Syndicate. Posted August 1, 2008.

Many filmic treatments of Washington present a more hard-edged political reality than most of today's so-called journalism.

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David Sirota is a best-selling author whose newest book, "The Uprising," was just released this month. He is a fellow at the Campaign for America's Future and a board member of the Progressive States Network -- both nonpartisan organizations. His blog is at www.credoaction.com/sirota.

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Hollywood:The WalMart of phony [Report this comment] Posted by: weathered on Aug 1, 2008 7:23 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] hollywood is a zip code of myths. Look at the profile of those who seemingly dominate its structure:a tossed salad of ego, agenda and guile. A self-serving, small, cheap, shallow and petty people made to look big. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] It is Sad.... [Report this comment] Posted by: Godfather89 on Aug 1, 2008 7:39 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] It is sad and unfortunate that people can learn more in movies and actors than from the actual people who are supposed to give the unbiased research to public scrutiny. SIGH At that rate Colbert for Prez! Just Kidding [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] How Could You Leave Out "Bulworth"? [Report this comment] Posted by: ebishirl on Aug 1, 2008 8:26 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] A list of dark, insightful political movies can't be complete without Warren Beatty's "Bulworth." Weird, funny, sad, scary and fascinating, it leaves me with chills every time I watch it. (Which reminds me, it's been a few years ... time to rent it again!) [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Left out The Parallax View [Report this comment] Posted by: JERSEYDAN on Aug 2, 2008 8:45 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] the most haunting, bold, and visionary film of the lot, and sadly,probably more accurate than we'd like to admit. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Left out The Parallax View Posted by: weathered » Interestingly, director Alan J. Pakula's death Posted by: mclemens Don't Forget "Bob Roberts"... [Report this comment] Posted by: msteryis on Aug 5, 2008 6:59 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] ...which was brilliant. You can probably also add "A Face In the Crowd" and "All The King's Men." [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Ah, and did you catch the 'FISA moment' in Dark Knight? [Report this comment] Posted by: feduphoosier on Aug 5, 2008 8:51 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] In desperation (to fight the terrorist tactics of the Joker,) Batman rigs a system to utilize all of the cell phones in Gotham, so he can both map the city and pick up any transmission by the Joker; all without the knowledge or consent of the people. Lucious Fox tells Batman that 'this is too much power for one man.' He says he will help Batman catch the Joker 'this once,' and then resign. Ah, imagine that such morality could exist... in Washington D.C.; where members of Congress actually took oaths of office -- swearing to uphold the Constitution, including that pesky 4th Amendment (the one they recently gutted to protect Bush and the big telecoms.) [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Greatest Political Films [Report this comment] Posted by: funnyguy on Aug 5, 2008 12:19 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] David: You missed the two greatest political films ever made---"The Lives of Others" and "The Conformist." No American film can even scratch the surface of these films. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » The Lives of Others Posted by: thinks4herself2008 Wag the Dog [Report this comment] Posted by: Wildroots on Aug 5, 2008 12:37 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] was directed by Barry Levinson. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Left out The Parallax View Posted by: weathered

» Interestingly, director Alan J. Pakula's death Posted by: mclemens

» The Lives of Others Posted by: thinks4herself2008

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» RE: Left out The Parallax View Posted by: weathered

» Interestingly, director Alan J. Pakula's death Posted by: mclemens

» The Lives of Others Posted by: thinks4herself2008