Producer-director Rob Reiner (“Stand By Me” 1986) has created a slick romantic comedy-drama called “The American President.” Michael Douglas plays a widowed Democrat U. S. President who starts to date an environmental lobbyist, portrayed by Annette Bening.
Reiner and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin waste no time in getting the President and Bening in bed together. Comparisons to the Bill Clinton era are clearly visible, with Douglas’ President Shepherd obviously being a cleaned-up version of the 42nd President of America.
Despite these factors, this movie does have good production values. It received one Academy Award nod for Marc Shaiman for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score. The film has the comfortable feel of motion pictures of the 1940’s and 1950’s.
The supporting cast includes Martin Sheen, David Paymer, Samantha Mathis, Michael J. Fox, John Mahoney, Anna Deavere Smith, Wendie Malick, Richard Dreyfuss, Gail Strickland, Joshua Malina, George Murdock, Anne Haney, Beau Billingslea, Taylor Nichols, Shawna Waldron, and Nina Siemaszko.
Sorkin went on to create the television program “The West Wing” (1999-2006), using elements and some actors (like Sheen and Malina) from this film. “The American President” was successful in theatrical release for Castle Rock Entertainment, Wildwood Enterprises, Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures, and Sony Pictures Releasing.
The American President (1995)
cinema
My Review
Producer-director Rob Reiner (“Stand By Me” 1986) has created a slick romantic comedy-drama called “The American President.” Michael Douglas plays a widowed Democrat U. S. President who starts to date an environmental lobbyist, portrayed by Annette Bening.
Reiner and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin waste no time in getting the President and Bening in bed together. Comparisons to the Bill Clinton era are clearly visible, with Douglas’ President Shepherd obviously being a cleaned-up version of the 42nd President of America.
Despite these factors, this movie does have good production values. It received one Academy Award nod for Marc Shaiman for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score. The film has the comfortable feel of motion pictures of the 1940’s and 1950’s.
The supporting cast includes Martin Sheen, David Paymer, Samantha Mathis, Michael J. Fox, John Mahoney, Anna Deavere Smith, Wendie Malick, Richard Dreyfuss, Gail Strickland, Joshua Malina, George Murdock, Anne Haney, Beau Billingslea, Taylor Nichols, Shawna Waldron, and Nina Siemaszko.
Sorkin went on to create the television program “The West Wing” (1999-2006), using elements and some actors (like Sheen and Malina) from this film. “The American President” was successful in theatrical release for Castle Rock Entertainment, Wildwood Enterprises, Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures, and Sony Pictures Releasing.