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Michael Douglas,
Michael Douglas,
Annette Bening,
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Rob Reiner,
Rob Reiner
see all cast/crew...
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: Warner Home Video
: Comedies, Romantic Comedy
: 115 min.
: English
: English, French
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This earnest, intelligent, and well-written romantic comedy is enjoyable and optimistic in classic Hollywood style, even if its idealism doesn't seem quite so credible against the cynical political backdrop of the Nineties. President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), an unabashedly liberal Democrat, is just gearing up for re-election when he meets an attractive and sharp environmental lobbyist named Sydney Wade (Annette Bening). The two fall in love and the President must soon deal with the political repercussions (Sydney is trying to get legislation through Congress), as well as the cynical machinations of Republican opponent Senator Bob Rumson (Richard Dreyfuss), who attempts to paint Sydney as a radical and use "family values" rhetoric to smear Shepherd. With the attacks affecting his standings in the all-important polls, and his love's legislation causing him headaches in the Capitol, Shepherd must decide whether he can risk continuing his relationship. A rich supporting cast, solid characterizations by Douglas and Bening, and an articulate approach make this an appealing, if not particularly weighty, study of the tensions between public and private life. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
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| The Art of the Possible
by RJones3
October 14, 2007 - 3:32 PM PDT
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1 out of 2 members found this review helpful
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| Let me confess up front that I was moved to tears at some points in An American President, which is perhaps in the movie's favor. At the same time part of me resented having the strings of my secret patriotism pulled so violently. There is nothing wrong for sure in being patriotic, but is the presidency really like this? The dramatic arts often play shamelessly on our sense of right and wrong. Politics, on the other hand, does not proceed on the assumption that right and wrong are foregone conclusions. That is why Ronald Reagan's characterization of the Soviet Union as an "evil empire" was so outrageous. In one of his grade B movies, the phrase would have made perfect sense. In thinking about the movie at hand, I cannot help having flashbacks of the Meathead (a character once played by director Bob Reiner) delivering a zinger to the politically inept Archie Bunker. We were all so self-righteous then. Even now I sometimes have the feeling that if only the President could stand up and tell it like it is, the issues would all resolve themselves. I envision the President saying, with all the charm of Clinton and all the sincerity of Nixon, "Well, my girlfriend is not a whore." |
| romance around the white house..
by psychodrama311
May 19, 2003 - 8:57 AM PDT
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0 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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| good movie with michael douglas playing the president of america's dream. a strong minded president standing up for america's principle fact of life.. freedom. annette bening plays a hired gun for a major enviromental agency who falls for the widowed president. three unsung actors help these movie become more fully realized. richard dreyfuss as the president's republican counterpart..who begins to campagin for the presidency. martin sheen as the president's chief of staff.. who give's douglas the chance to be a man by reminding him of who he is.. michael j fox as the president's press (actually i don't know what his position was) but he wrote his speeches.. but he also reminds the president of why he became the president. altogether..not a bad movie at all. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 6.08)
152 Votes
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