4th of July Special: Your Top 5 American Movie Presidents

So, it's 4th of July weekend. For most of the nation, this means time spent outside, with fireworks and grilling. However, let's suppose that there's a fireworks ban where you live, it's over a hundred degrees out so you risk heatstroke if you stay out more than fifteen minutes and your history of chronic migraines makes it impossible to enjoy the outdoors what with the blinding sunlight and the general lack of musical taste in your neighborhood. So, what do you do? You go inside where you can control the temperature and the light source and enjoy this marathon of great American movie presidents in film. So, in no particular order...

The American President, President Andrew Shepard played by Michael Douglas

With a brilliant script by Aaron Sorkin, this film is the precursor to The West Wing (because we're talking movies, not TV, that's a whole other can of worms, people). It's the same great mixture of gravitas and humor that made that series such a success, along with the necessary Capra-esque elements.



Seriously, can't explain it. Go watch this movie, I love it.

Dave, President Bill Mitchell/Dave Kovic played by Kevin Kline


In this film, Kevin Kline, plays the dual roles of President and guy who looks like the President with a stellar supporting cast in this take on the Prince and the Pauper. Ordinary guy Dave is called upon to replace the President when the real one has a stroke. There are so many great parts in this movie, especially Sigourney Weaver as an embittered First Lady and the great part when Dave tries to cut the federal budget. Why can't real presidents be more like that?



Head of State, President Mays Gilliam played by Chris Rock

This is one of those movies that just fires on all cylinders. This script is so dense, writer/director/star Chris Rock leaves no opportunity for comedy wasted, but he never leaves behind the truth that is the hallmark of his stand up work. Once again, we have another brilliant supporting class including the late great Bernie Mac, Lynn Whitfield and a recurring odd Tracy Morgan.



Also, Mays' presidential opponent is genuinely funny. Not to mention Stephanie March as a new breed of super whore meant to quash political scandals. You will be quoting this film for days. Seriously, go watch it now.

American Dreamz, President Joseph Staton played by Dennis Quaid

This is a film you probably haven't seen, so I feel it's worth mentioning. I had a huge disappointment earlier this year when I rented The Special Relationship just to find out Dennis Quaid was playing Bill Clinton and not George Bush. What the hell? Michael Sheen was still playing Tony Blair, why wasn't Dennis Quaid playing Bush? Anyway, this film has a lot of things to enjoy, a terrorist in training who loves show tunes, Mandy Moore as a narcissistic singer who will stop at nothing for fame, Hugh Grant as pretty much Simon Cowell, but chief among these is Quaid as a Dubya-like president who is struggling through an existential crisis.



Independence Day, President Thomas J. Whitmore played by Bill Pullman


I think you know what I am going to say. So, here is my case for this film:



And don't forget to check out the alternate Master Pancake version of that speech here! Bill Pullman's Alternate Speech

Happy Independence Day! Since we are celebrating the birth of the nation, please feel free to use your First Amendment rights to make a comment and tell me where I screwed up.

Field Trip! Independence Day, 1996

Apparently, one of the signs you're getting old is when a movie you saw in the theater plays on Turner Classic. I had this happen to me recently when they showed The Last of the Mohicans. I've heard more of this from my parents. Anyway, Independence Day isn't playing on Turner Classic yet but wait for it.

The film is a symbol of a simpler time. Back in 1996 when Will Smith was just a TV actor and blowing up the White House wasn't actually something people were trying to do. It's reminiscent of the great disaster films of the 1970s and features a huge cast: Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Vivica Fox, Randy Quaid, Judd Hirsch, Brent Spiner, that girl who plays Anne on Arrested Development and of course, Bill Pullman as the president, back when fake presidents were still only white guys. Roland Emmerich directed the film and came up with the idea while doing press for Stargate. He and his partner apparently wrote it during a month-long vacation in Mexico which pisses me off for a few reasons. The film was epic, the marketing was epic, the hype was epic, one of the first summer movies to have a Super Bowl commercial. If you didn't see it, I don't know where you were during the summer of 1996. This film was destined to become a Fourth of July ritual. Come on, I live in Texas. It's freaking a hundred degrees in July.

I remember when I first saw this movie. I was thirteen, I lived in a smallish town and could not freaking wait to see this movie. Some of you may recall it came out July 2nd. What I really remember besides how awesome I thought it was is that it took thirteen days for me to get to see it because every time my mom or dad went to buy tickets they were sold out. Thirteen days! That's like the Cuban Missile Crisis!

Why bring this up? I don't know if you have ever been obviously but Austin, Texas is home to one of the most magical places on Earth the Alamo Drafthouse, commonly known as the Drafthouse. The Drafthouse is a movie theater but that description hardly does it justice. It is a movie theater where you are served awesome food at your seat, not just popcorn, but I do think they make the best popcorn. It is also notable for its programming, not just movies but events like The Lord of the Rings feast which they are known for (you eat when the hobbits eat in all three films) and things like a Moulin Rouge singalong. They are also home to Master Pancake a performing troupe that mocks well known movies, with a running commentary during the film and a mid-film sketch. It is hilarious. Anyway, not too long ago Master Pancake mocked Independence Day as part of Fantastic Fest and their special guest was Bill Pullman! President Whitmore with the speech! I almost didn't get tickets but I prevailed. It was amazing and some of the best money I have spent. It reminded me of how I felt about that movie and how much I love that speech. I just read that apparently other countries don't quite care for the speech, they think it's jingoistic and apparently why the world hates us. It still gives me goosebumps. Take a look:



Sorry for any foreign readers, but remember when the aliens invade, we've got the weapons, okay? Anyway, the mid-movie sketch this time involved that famed speech. Luckily, someone else there made a video so I don't have to subject you to the crappy pictures I got off my cellphone and try to explain how freaking hilarious it was. The premise is that President Whitmore takes questions on the fight against the aliens and one is from Thomas Jefferson, who resents his usurping the Independence Day leitmotif in his speech. Thus, he delivers an alternate speech.



I guess if you thought the last speech was too pro-American you didn't much like this one either. I find it difficult to decide between the first and the second. Let me know if you remember anything about the time you saw Independence Day or the first time you saw a movie you saw in the theater on Turner Classic.