I put this 1995 comedy-drama in the "Romance" category, as that's also the category that the cable company listings put it in. Michael Douglas plays, of course, the titular character, Andrew Shepherd, a no doubt idealized version of Bill Clinton (as visualized by writer Aaron Sorkin and director Rob Reiner.) His character comes under attack when he falls for environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening.) His refusal to address the allegations against him is the core plot here. Martin Sheen plays the President's best friend and chief of staff. His performance here doubtless was instrumental in getting him the role of the President on The West Wing. A good supporting cast, consisting of Michael J. Fox, Samantha Mathis, John Mahoney, Anna Deveare Smith (she was also in Dave) and others rounds out this pic. Rated "PG-13" for adult situations and language.
There was a time when both TBS and TNT seemed to show this pic almost weekly, along with The Shawshank Redemption.
Nits:
I find it inconceivable that when this film was made that a politician would not fight back against charges against his character. Politics had begun to get very dirty even before this pic was even conceived. Of course, if he did fight back, there would be no movie.
In one scene late in the film, while the President and staff are riding in his limousine, the view out the back window has a strobing effect, making it look like the rear projection it probably was. Ironically, the view from the front of the limo in the same scene does not. Even Star Trek, back in 1968, handled the rear projection shot in "Spock's Brain" better than they did here.
I thought this was a great movie. No nits come to mind offhand, but I'm surprised that there aren't more comments here.
Great movie; I love Sorkin.
Note: Anna Deavere Smith was also on West Wing, as National Security Advisor Nancy McNally.
Samantha Mathis plays White House secretary Janie Basdin in this pic. I just found out that her mom is the late Bibi Besch.
President Shepherd wants to order flowers on his own for Sydney, so he asks for his credit cards. His staff tells him that his cards, along with other personal items, have been put into storage. Is that true? Is a sitting President denied access to his own credit cards?
I don't think he's denied access. He just didn't need them. He has shelter, transportation, food & pretty much everything that he needs paid for by the government, plus with no living expenses he gets paid several hundred grand per year. For other stuff like X-mas presents he probably sends his assistant out to do that and just writes her a check after. Don't forget this is the 1990s, before all shopping went to cash/credit/debit. Back than people still wrote checks at the store.