The American President [Blu-ray]

Great movie! Annette Bening and Michael Douglas had wonderful chemistry. It had other famous actors, Michael J. Fox, Wendy Malick, John Mahoney, Richard Dryfess.

Highly recommend.

I cannot believe I have not seen this before!! As a huge Aaron Sorkin fan, and someone who believes that the West Wing was one of the best television shows ever done, this was a real treat. You can see Sorkin‘s thought processes throughout this film. Look for lots of neat little Easter eggs that presage the West Wing, including people’s names and even some of the actors. Secret – Martin Sheen is in this! But he’s in Leo McGarry‘s position. If you love the West Wing, like I do, and you’d like another optimistic Sorkin show, watch this!!

Have not got to watch the movie yet, but it's very good. So, are you ready?

This is a movie that I pull out when in need of hope in our democracy experiment - when we worked across the aisle for consensus building in doing what is for the greater good. The movie's characters were fascinating and the leads had palpable chemistry and absolute conviction that their efforts, their work was for the greatest good for AMERICA and AMERICANS. The message was you can sell what is right, if you will. There were some great laughs too. This cast of this Rob Reiner movie was beyond superb and this is a movie to be watched again and again. Just beautifully done.

Okay, to weigh in on the key points of discussion that keep popping up with regards to this particular romantic comedy. First, I would have liked "West Wing" if I had never seen "The American President" and I would have liked "The American President" even if it was not a test balloon for "The West Wing." Second, of course a romantic comedy about the President of the United States is going to have a liberal in the White House. Conservatives are either (a) not that funny or (b) do not like to be laughed at, take your pick. Third, the part that bugs me the most is the "character" issue everybody keeps alluding to. I know part of the premise of this movie is "What is Hillary died and Bill Clinton was all alone in the White House and Chelsea was giving him dating tips?", but does that automatically mean we have to give all his sexual foibles to the fictional Andrew Shepherd? The man says he has only loved two women in his life and that it has been a long time since he has done anything sexual, so what is this character issue? Somebody explain it to me...like I was a six year old. The actual plot of "The American President" is as old as the hills: boy becomes President, boy meets girl, boys falls for girl, girl falls for boy, and the entire country has an opinion. But ultimately the story does not matter because we stop flipping through the channels when we come to this movie on television because of the snappy dialogue and the excellent acting performances. Somehow screenwriter Aaron Sorkin got from "A Few Good Men" and "Malice," to this choice piece of political drama. Michael Douglas turns in his best romantic comedy performance as President Andrew Shepherd while Annette Bening plays Sydney Ellen Wade, a paid political lobbyist who discovers she has more of the President of the United States than his ear. But ultimately "The American President" features one of those ensemble casts that makes you sit and shake your head in wonder. Actually, it is rather depressing to think that the actual occupants of the West Wing are no where as smart or as glib as this crew: Martin Sheen ("Come, friends, let us away"), Anna Deavere Smith ("I think the important thing is not to make it look like we're panicking"), Samantha Mathis ("Sir, I don't understan?"), and David Paymer ("Well, I could explain it better, but I'd need charts, and graphs, and an easel"), and in my choice for the best performance of his career, Michael J. Fox ("Can I just state very clearly I can't be part of anything illegal"). Did I mention the dialogue is really good in this film? However, the film's only Oscar nomination was for Original Musical score. Go figure. Personally, I do not think the American people would turn upon a widowed President who started dating. But then I have this pesky idealistic streak that refuses to go away. This is a witty, literate romantic-comedy that harkens back to Hollywood's golden age. Ultimately the film's political leanings have little to do with our enjoyment because we know nothing ever happens with issues like gun control and fuel emissions in the real world and Bob Rumson's problem is not that he is running for President but that he is trying to break up the romance between these two kids. Most Romantic Lines: (1) "Well, first of all, the two hundred pairs of eyes aren't focused on me. They're focused on you. And the answers are Sydney Ellen Wade, and because she said yes." (2) "Perhaps I didn't properly explain the fundamentals of the slowdown plan." (3) "I've loved two women in my life. I lost one to cancer and I lost the other because I was too busy keeping my job to do my job. Well, that ends right now." Of course, these are not the best lines in the movie because those are all about politics more than romance. If you like "The American President," then check out these other films on the AFI's list: #74 "Woman of the Year" and #31 "The King and I." Why? Well, because in the former you find how hard it is to mix politics and love and in the latter you have a leader whose position does not allow him to fall in love.

I found The American President to be both humorous and romantic. There was just enough real drama to hold my attention. Michael Douglas and Anett Bening made a good pairing for the story of a widowed President finding love is a very unusual way. It showed how being a public servant can keep you from having a life outside of the public arena. They meet, they fall in love and they make love while under the microscope that the press puts all public figures under. Michael J. Fox was great playing a role as an advocate of the right thing to do. He always plays such roles with gusto. It makes you believe he is that sort of person in real life. Martin Sheen as the Chief of Staff proved to be a good casting. I loved him in West Wing. The movie is one that tells the age old story. " Love conquers all". The other movie in this package was Dave. It got three stars from me. The movie is about a look alike of the president who is called on the stand in for him at a public function but due to a stroke of the real president he has to become the role player to keep the political bad guys on a roll to due the nasty deeds they had planned. When the president , Kevin Kline sees a program that is meant to help needy kids get gutted by the bad guys, steps in and stops it from happening. He calls in an accountant he knows well from his small town and has him figure out what should be obvious to everyone where the money can be found to keep the program alive. This happens to be a pet project of the first lady and draws them together. Oh if only this would happen in real politics today. I won't spoil it by telling all of the details but with this particular package you get two movies worth your time to watch. Good stories and great actors make for a delightful combination. Enjoy!!

Love this movie would recommend

An old favorite. I watch it now equipped with irony.

Excelente película muchos recuerdos con doblaje al español y subtítulos al español latino los dos espero que esta opinión sirva para alguien llegó bien en la paquetería sin problema alguno

Le respect des 2 ci dessus

Good

My review is about Dave. The premise for the film is captivating and rapidly pulls you in. Deep down inside, we all believe that politicians are a bunch of crooked selfish bums and this film portrays it well. We all believe as well, I think, that Mr. Taxpayer is much better suited to making decisions than the crooked selfish bums and, again, this film plays to that feeling. The result?? The good guys win and make people happy and the bad guys either die or pass into oblivion. Poetic justice. The acting is on an excellent level. Kevin and Sigourney play their roles with realism without getting schmucky and pretentious. They seem to be real people you could get to know and understand, which is the benchmark of a true actor. No special effects here. No boom bang crunch to hide behind. An excellent film highly underrated. And yes, Kevin gets the girl!