The American President [Blu-ray]

Love these 2 movies wish we could go back in time when the Presidents job was to bring people together and not tear our democracy apart and get the people’s job accomplished without hatred and diversity

Okay, to weigh in on the key points of discussion that keep popping up with regards to this particular romantic comedy. First, I would have liked "West Wing" if I had never seen "The American President" and I would have liked "The American President" even if it was not a test balloon for "The West Wing." Second, of course a romantic comedy about the President of the United States is going to have a liberal in the White House. Conservatives are either (a) not that funny or (b) do not like to be laughed at, take your pick. Third, the part that bugs me the most is the "character" issue everybody keeps alluding to. I know part of the premise of this movie is "What is Hillary died and Bill Clinton was all alone in the White House and Chelsea was giving him dating tips?", but does that automatically mean we have to give all his sexual foibles to the fictional Andrew Shepherd? The man says he has only loved two women in his life and that it has been a long time since he has done anything sexual, so what is this character issue? Somebody explain it to me...like I was a six year old.The actual plot of "The American President" is as old as the hills: boy becomes President, boy meets girl, boys falls for girl, girl falls for boy, and the entire country has an opinion. But ultimately the story does not matter because we stop flipping through the channels when we come to this movie on television because of the snappy dialogue and the excellent acting performances. Somehow screenwriter Aaron Sorkin got from "A Few Good Men" and "Malice," to this choice piece of political drama. Michael Douglas turns in his best romantic comedy performance as President Andrew Shepherd while Annette Bening plays Sydney Ellen Wade, a paid political lobbyist who discovers she has more of the President of the United States than his ear.But ultimately "The American President" features one of those ensemble casts that makes you sit and shake your head in wonder. Actually, it is rather depressing to think that the actual occupants of the West Wing are no where as smart or as glib as this crew: Martin Sheen ("Come, friends, let us away"), Anna Deavere Smith ("I think the important thing is not to make it look like we're panicking"), Samantha Mathis ("Sir, I don't understan?"), and David Paymer ("Well, I could explain it better, but I'd need charts, and graphs, and an easel"), and in my choice for the best performance of his career, Michael J. Fox ("Can I just state very clearly I can't be part of anything illegal").Did I mention the dialogue is really good in this film? However, the film's only Oscar nomination was for Original Musical score. Go figure.Personally, I do not think the American people would turn upon a widowed President who started dating. But then I have this pesky idealistic streak that refuses to go away. This is a witty, literate romantic-comedy that harkens back to Hollywood's golden age. Ultimately the film's political leanings have little to do with our enjoyment because we know nothing ever happens with issues like gun control and fuel emissions in the real world and Bob Rumson's problem is not that he is running for President but that he is trying to break up the romance between these two kids.Most Romantic Lines: (1) "Well, first of all, the two hundred pairs of eyes aren't focused on me. They're focused on you. And the answers are Sydney Ellen Wade, and because she said yes." (2) "Perhaps I didn't properly explain the fundamentals of the slowdown plan." (3) "I've loved two women in my life. I lost one to cancer and I lost the other because I was too busy keeping my job to do my job. Well, that ends right now." Of course, these are not the best lines in the movie because those are all about politics more than romance.If you like "The American President," then check out these other films on the AFI's list: #74 "Woman of the Year" and #31 "The King and I." Why? Well, because in the former you find how hard it is to mix politics and love and in the latter you have a leader whose position does not allow him to fall in love.

Aaron Sorkin's first draft of the West Wing

I’ve seen this movie several times several more it’s something I would recommend it’s just something it’s a feel good movie with kind of a chick flick feel

This is a fun movie to watch. Funny and serious at times.

Some of the language and suggestive language

My 13 year old Daughter LOVES this movie… which is great bc it was one of my favorites at the same age :) West Wing was pretty much the only thing I watched for the first few years of her life- so the Sorkin banter and flow was introduced early… we watched a few good men the other day and it’s clear she appreciates the timing and delivery that is a staple of his work. Next up is bound to be Sports Night… at which point she will undoubtedly notice Joshua Molina and so many others are Sorkin casting faves. (Sports Night is his most endearing role, I believe.)Sydney Ellen Wade, we heart you… you get those votes!

Excellent movie, great cast. If you haven’t seen it, buy it, worth every penny. One of those feel- good movies you can enjoy over and over.

Before the genius of "The West Wing" - uber-writer Aaron Sorkin gave us the prelude film "The American President" starring Michael Douglas as a handsome and popular POTUS - Andrew Shepherd. Opening with a 63% popularity approval rating after three years of office - Douglas plays a smart and restrained President who is widowed in his private life and trying to raise a young daughter while he runs a complex country and staves off war just about everywhere.Martin Sheen is brilliantly cast as The President's pal and top advisor - A.J. - Sheen already displaying the dialogue subtleties that would endear him to the world when he took the big oval chair four years after the movie in 1999's TV winner "The West Wing" (a show he dominated for seven years until Season 7 brought it to a close in 2006).Throw in quality actors like White House staffer Ana Deavere Smith (who would go on to be in the West Wing TV show), newspaper editor John Mahoney (from "Frasier"), Michael J Fox and David Paymer as the hopeful and driven writers and policy makers for Shepherd's administration and the outside menace - an effective bad-guy in a smugger than smug Richard Dreyfuss - a political opponent who spots that the President's 'new girlfriend' the environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade is an opportunity to be exploited in a re-election environment by claiming that she’s privy to too many secrets (beautifully played by a luminous Annette Bening). Combined you get a rom-com with brains, a modern-day political satire with heart and all of it washed down with state dinners, situation room pathos (someone somewhere dies under the guise of a proportional response) and the sheer sexiness of power in the hands of good guys actually trying to do something lasting with it. Deftly directed by Rob Reiner - 1995's "The American President" was slickly written, superbly played and classy to the hilt.The BLU RAY has an immaculate print - the best I've ever seen the movie look (an anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen transfer). Re-watching it in this clarity has been a joy and makes me ache for the day someone-somewhere finally gives "The West Wing" a BLU RAY reissue akin to The Sopranos or The Wire - remastered and re-loaded. Disappointingly - and given that so much could have been expounded upon - the BLU RAY has zip in the way of Extras and Subtitles are only in English. At least there's a 5.1 Surround mix as well as the standard 2.0 Stereo.So - beautiful to look at but let down by a lack of Extras that would have so enhanced this brilliant and underrated bit of movie magic. In the meantime enjoy this political feast - set back in a time when the words "American President" actually had some respect attached to them and not the buffoon presently disgracing the office on a daily basis...

Primary a feel-good film with very good performances by Michael Douglas (rarely does he make a film that is uninteresting or bland) and Annette Benning, who I've always considered to be pretty without being stunningly beautiful and therefore isn't used nearly as much as she should be by Hollywood producers. She is extremely able without being glamorous.Both fit their roles perfectly here and their relationship isn't too syrupy, befitting Douglas's intelligent widowed President and Benning's bright lobbyist who meet in the White House and begin dating.This is ammunition for Richard Dreyfuss who will use any means to enhance his profile as an opposition contender in the upcoming Presidential elections.There are some good twists and turns that happen along the way to make this an entertaining watch which I think is well suited for both a male and female audience---It is not full of action nor is it mega-romantic, it just has the right balance in my opinion.The bonus for fans of 'The West Wing' is that the writer is Aaron Sorkin, and the terrific Martin Sheen has the role of Chief Of Staff here prior to his pivotal performance as President Bartlett in the tv series.As I write this dvd is under a pound on Amazon.That's better than Poundland!!!!!!!!

Is this the greatest film ever made? No! However there are some films that just give you the warm and fuzzies every time you see it and this film is that for me. I just love it - it don't know why, it's as cheesy as they come - but if ever i feel a bit off form and just need to relax and feel like all is ok again, i know that this film is as good as a hug and will set me straight again.

This was Aaron Sorkin's dry run for The West Wing, possibly the greatest television series ever made, and while it's not in the same league as that masterpiece, it's very enjoyable nonetheless. Michael Douglas and Annette Bening have real chemistry as the widowed president and the political lobbyist with whom he falls in love. West Wing addicts will feel right at home with Douglas's liberal president fighting the machinations of the Republican opposition over a range of familiar issues, like the environment and gun control. But relax. The politics is only applied with the lightest of touches, and the love story takes centre stage, given added charge by being set in the White House. Their first kiss -, in the presidential dish room - is unfortunately interrupted by some trouble with those pesky Libyans. The president has to break off to go and drop a few bombs. 'Twas ever thus. Part of the fun is spotting the cross-overs. For instance, the sister of the presidential girl friend is also one of President Bartlett's daughters in the West Wing. All in all, they don't come much better than this...

Annette Benning is lovely; she exudes obvious sharp wit and political astuteness in this role but it's perfectly balanced by her senior prom-girl delight and endearing naivety at the enormity of the context of the relationship being proposed to her.Aaron Sorkin's screenplay shows all the rapid fire acuity and understanding of complex political argot as would be so fabulously demonstrated later in The West Wing and it's nice to see some of the actors/characters (minor and major) who would also appear in that series.Yes, the politics are clearly biased towards liberal idealism (the press room speech is excellent and reminds me of something similar in The Contender) but who wants to watch a depiction of a right wing administration? The real thing's too horrible to experience although I'm sure it would make interesting viewing.Benning and Douglas are well cast in terms of their realistic and believable respective ages and the potential for what would have to be a truly romantic (and ultimately sexual) chemistry.Douglas delivers a very effective and engagingly appealing imperiousness which works well.Fox is great as a younger man with such a high responsibility.I had to keep pinching myself that Sheen's not Bartlett! First time I watched the film he just looked wrong but I got used to it.Easily takes repeat viewing to fully appreciate the large number of little gems Sorkin's worked into the dialogue.Super film