5 must-see films about US politics

The United States has just gone to the polls and elected a new president. After the frantic, frenetic days leading up to the hotly contested election, political enthusiasts may not have had their fill of all the drama.

If you count yourself among them, here are five movies that focus on the wheelings and dealings that go on in the world of American politics.

‘All the President’s Men’ (1976)

This is one of the most important films of the 1970s. “All the President’s Men” is the adaptation for the big screen of the book of the same name written by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, two journalists from The Washington Post who uncovered the Watergate scandal.

The controversy forced the resignation of President Richard Nixon, the only head of state to step down in the history of the United States. Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford are the actors who breathe life to the characters in the film. It is a journalistic movie that demonstrates the ins and outs of power.

‘Frost/Nixon’ (2008)

This movie also revolves around Nixon. The Ron Howard film tells the story of the interviews between English journalist David Frost and the former US president years after his resignation from power due to the Watergate scandal.

Played by Michael Sheen and Frank Langella, the journalist and politician came face to face in one of the most watched American television shows at the time. Frost manages to get a juicy revelation out of Nixon during the interview. “Frost/Nixon” is an adaptation of Peter Morgan’s play.

‘Wag the Dog’ (1997)

Amidst all the seriousness of political films, “Wag the Dog” brings a bit of black comedy. The movie with a stellar cast (Dustin Hoffman, Robert de Niro, Anne Heche) narrates how the president of the United States is caught making advances towards a minor less than two weeks before the elections.

This is when his advisor hires a man to divert attention from the scandal and invents a fictitious war against Albania. From here on, it is a narrative that talks about the power of the media, the megalomania of those at the top, and fake news.

‘Vice’ (2018)

‘Vice’ is a biographical film about U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney (played by Christian Bale), George Bush Jr.’s right-hand man and the real decision-maker in the White House.

It chronicles his rise from his teenage years to becoming the most powerful man in the world. Much of the film focuses on elections. It is directed by Saturday Night Live’s Adam McKay, so the viewer has an idea that there is some humor to be found.

‘The Ides of March’ (2011)

George Clooney’s third film as a director was about the 2004 presidential elections. Using fictional characters, it tells the story of a political campaign consultant who becomes involved in a project to get a Democratic candidate chosen to run for office.

“The Ides of March” delves into the underbelly of the political world, where nothing is what it seems and the people deemed to be trustworthy are the ones who end up guilty of betrayal.