MR. PRESIDENT

There were two good movies about presidents in 2008: W and Frost/Nixon. My favorite actor-president is actually Martin Sheen in the late great West Wing. Shoot, I think I even voted for him a couple of times. There are lots of good portrayals of the Commander-In-Chief. 

The disgraced and enigmatic Richard Nixon is the subject of several movies. Frank Langella is fairly amazing in Frost/Nixon, but at least as good is Sir Anthony Hopkins in Oliver Stone’s Nixon (1995). This film bears little resemblance to the truth (typical of Mr. Stone’s style), and I know Mr. Hopkins looks nothing like  Nixon. And yet, his portrayal seems so close to the real character of the man. Also, note Joan Allen’s amazing acting job as Pat Nixon. 

W  is Oliver Stone’s fictious account of George W. Bush’s presidency. It is, unsurprisingly, a hatchet job. But it's also a good film. And I must add here Vice (2018) which is really about Dick Cheney but features Sam Rockwell’s hilarious take on W. “So, we gonna do this or what?”

With not a whole lot to go on, Paul Giamatti fulfills our expectations of our second president as John Adams (2008), an HBO movie. And even better is virtual unknown David Morse as George Washington. If that’s not what Washington was like, well, it should be. 

Primary Colors (1998) is by Anonymous and just might possibly be about Bill Clinton, and he might just be about perfectly portrayed by John Travolta. Whatever your politics, this portrayal of the ultimate pol is a delight! Add in Emma Thompson, Kathy Bates, Billy Bob Thornton and Diane Ladd and we have a winner. 

Franklin D. Roosevelt is certainly an iconic figure in our history, and has attracted lots of Hollywood portrayals. Edward Hermann is quite good in Eleanor and Franklin (1976) but my vote would go to Ralph Bellamy in Sunrise at Campobello (1960).

Never heard of Alexander Knox? Well, although he was in more than 70 movies, you’re not alone. But check out Wilson (1944) and you’ll see as good a portrayal of Woodrow Wilson as there is. 

Our great president Lincoln (2012) portrayed by a Brit? Yep, and Daniel Day- Lewis makes this one go. The time is 1865 near the end of the Civil War and mainly concerns Lincoln’s push to get the 13th Amendment ratified. Sally Field is along as a ditzy Mary Todd Lincoln. There was a boatload of Oscar nominations but only Day-Lewis won. 

Last but far from least, there is James Whitmore’s amazing depiction of Harry Truman in Give ‘Em Hell, Harry! (1975). An absolute joy, and Harry’s reputation just grows year by year. 

Writers. producers, directors and actors have to be licking their chops to get at the presidency of the late, unlamented Donald Trump. Stay tuned!

All of the movies in this article are available on DVD. All are suitable for 12 and up, factoring in the boredom quotient.