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Candidates’ Favorite Flicks

James Frazier has a piece in today’s Washington Times on the favorite movies of our presidential candidates. For what it’s worth, the choices, in the order in which they appear in the article, are:

Herman Cain: The Godfather

Michele Bachmann: Braveheart, “or maybe Saving Private Ryan

Newt Gingrich: “Probably” Casablanca

Rick Santorum: Field of Dreams

Ron Paul: “I don’t watch many movies”

Gary Johnson:  Dr. Zhivago

Mitt Romney: O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Rick Perry: Immortal Beloved

Barack Obama: Casablanca, The Godfather, Lawrence of Arabia, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

I am not sure how much we learn from this, other than that Perry’s pick is the most unexpected and that Paul, typically, is playing a different game than everyone else. I have written before on the movies presidents watch, and found that presidential movie selections are both unpredictable and not necessarily indicative of a president’s public persona. I doubt that anyone would have guessed that Jimmy Carter watched an astounding 480 movies during his one term in office. Still, it is a fun exercise, and good to know that Gingrich and Cain each share a favorite movie with Obama. It will give them something to talk about if they ever run into each other on the campaign trail.

New on The Corner. . .


COMMENTS   67

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   10/27/11 12:45

These answers are generally meaningless, because when asked, people always try to list things which they think will make them appear in a certain light -- smart, edgy, connected, avant garde, whatever.

My favorite, sincerely: "Ghostbusters." Says nothing whatsoever about me other than I really love "Ghostbusters."

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   10/27/11 12:49

"These answers are generally meaningless, because when asked, people always try to list things which they think will make them appear in a certain light -- smart, edgy, connected, avant garde, whatever."

It's Vertigo for me. Don't know how it makes me appear, but that's what it is.

Did that sentence make sense? Anyhoo, Immortal Beloved? That is a jaw-dropper.

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   10/27/11 13:04

Yeah, that one stood out to me too. I guess it was a decent movie, if somewhat forgettable.

So far as composer biopics go, it doesn't hold a candle to Amadeus (although I do think it's among Gary Oldman's best performances...and he's given some great ones).

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   10/27/11 13:35

RE: "It's Vertigo for me."

The Shawshank Redemption for me. What that has to do with my political ideology, I haven't a clue. I hate the views of the lead actors, for sure, and hardly think noble criminals are common, let alone the rule.

The laundry room shenanigans didn't even taint my views on gays in the military, but I guess they could have. "The Sisters have taken a real shine to you, Private Newguy, yes they have..."

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   10/27/11 12:49

Well, my respect for Mitt Romney just took a step up. I wouldn't go so far as to say that "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" is my favorite Coen Bros. movie, let alone my favorite overall. But, still, I kind of appreciate that he'd pick something quirky and offbeat rather than something obvious like Casablanca or The Godfather (great films, tho' those art).

"We.....thought......you......wuz......a....tooooooad."

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   10/27/11 15:12

You just recited the line from my favorite moment of many great moments.

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   10/27/11 12:52

This is the first thing I really like about Mitt Romney. Maybe he's not candidate-robot after all.

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   10/27/11 13:01

My list would be a bit different:

Herman Cain... "Mission Impossible"

Newt Gingrich.. "Million Dollar Baby"

Mitt Romney... "The Running Man"

Rick Santorum... "No Sex In The City"

Rick Perry and Michelle Bachmann... "Dumb and Dumber"

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   10/27/11 13:05

Newt's flick should be Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Tiffany's.

Okay, cheap shot

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Kevin Moriarty
   10/27/11 13:02

I recall Mr. Reagan was a big movie viewer as well. No count for him?

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   10/27/11 13:09

I wish Paul would have responded with Dr. Strangelove, that way the neocons here at NR could have had a months worth of columns to write about his foreign policy.

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   10/27/11 13:17

- That's the most interesting thing I've ever heard from Gary Johnson.
- Rick Perry's choice says something good about him. What, you say? Heck, I don't know.
- Obama? Four "favorites". Somehow that's just what I'd expect from him. Kind of Clintonian though.

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 GWB
   10/27/11 13:23

Hmmmm.... "Casablanca" is ok, and "Braveheart....

I get the joke with Cain saying "Godfather", but, ummm.... Well, I suppose I wouldn't be disappointed with hearing that Amadamnanutjob woke up to a horse head in his bed.

"Field of Dreams"?

Not a single answer of "Princess Bride"? Losers.
(OK - "Ghostbusters" would be high up in the running, too. If for no other reason than the three scenes with "d*ckless".)

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   10/27/11 13:24

How any presidential candidate, let alone all of them, offered such a perfect opportunity to illustrate metphorically his ideals of American character and leadership, could fail to pick something like "Sergeant York" (which actually is an outstanding movie as such), but instead to answer such a leading question in a simple pop culture movie critic fashion, is unfathomable.

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   10/27/11 14:38

So you're saying they should take a class and study the appropriate political answer to "what's your favorite movie?" as Herman would say...lighten up dude.

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   10/27/11 13:27

RE: "Herman Cain: The Godfather"

Is that some sort of word-association answer for Cain? Favorite fruit? Tomato. Favorite dairy item? Mozzarella. Favorite encased sausage product? Pepperoni. Favorite movie villain? The fat dude from Space Balls...

RE: "Mitt Romney: O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

Are we to conclude that Romney was interviewed by George Clooney or some other such interested party?

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   10/27/11 13:43

Fits like a glove...

Herman Cain: The Godfather

Michele Bachmann: Braveheart, “or maybe Saving Private Ryan”

Mitt Romney: O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Rick Perry: Immortal Beloved

Barack Obama: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

GWB :-D

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   10/27/11 13:31

Disappointed no one picked Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever. I saw that in the theater when it came out, knew then it was an instant masterpiece, and saw it again the same day. Never done that with any other movie before or since.

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   10/27/11 13:39

Suggestion for Obama: "The Great McGinty", although I wonder if he is capable of introspection.

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