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Review #295 of 365
Film: Death of a President (2006) [R] 90 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $13.00
Where Viewed: Starz FilmCenter at the Tivoli, Denver, CO
When 1st Seen: 2 November 2006
Time: 7:55 p.m.
Directed by: Gabriel Range
Written by: Simon Finch and Gabriel Range
Number one, I think it is important to insist that it is outlandish and un-American for people to judge this or any other film without actually having seen the film. To say this film is despicable or outrageous, not having seen it, is despicable and outrageous. It is ok, however, to cite critics if one wishes, and it is the job of critics, actually, to scope out projects prior to their being seen to help inform the public in making decisions as to whether to see something. That said, here are my thoughts on Death of a President (2006).
This is a bold and controversial film. It is bold because it features the assassination of a sitting head of state who is still very much alive; and, the powers that be willing, he should stay so until the natural end of his life. I would hope that even the most ardent and fervent critics of the President of the United States would never wish his untimely demise. The film is also bold and controversial because the director, Gabriel Range, decided to make the film as realistically as possible. So, he has filmed a real movie and edited in real footage of the President and the Vice-President making speeches, etc., so as one sits and watches this film unfold it is astonishingly real. Therefore, it is more impacting and scary to watch. The first thing that came to my mind in watching this film was what it must have been like for the citizens of the USA when JFK was assassinated. It is a horrible thing to behold in this film. In any case, prior to deciding if you want to see this film, you must ask yourself if seeing a very realistic, near-documentary style film set in the near future depicting the assassination of a sitting head of state is something you want to watch. I hope I'm wrong in doubting that many USAers wouldn't care one iota about the ethics of this film if it were any other head of state depicted in the film, and from that there is a great lesson to be learned. And, in the end, it is my feeling that, while I personally would never have made such a film about any head of state, I feel a similar set of points could have been made about a fictional state and its head, nonetheless, it is my feeling that this is one of the very powerful lessons that Mr. Range was trying to teach along with an entire host of other very important ones. We do not always like the way we are taught lessons in life, and certainly, teachers must pose the question, "Is the price of my methodology worth the value of the lesson?" In other words are there other ways to get across the same message? Can I teach kids about the horror of the death penalty, for example, other than by showing them footage of an actual person being put to death? For some, Mr. Range's methodology will not be worth the value of the lessons, and that is too bad, because the lessons are potent. Still, it is important to respect their choice.
Strictly speaking and analyzing the film itself in the body of mockumentaries made this year, this is a very good one. The editing is fantastic, the use of real footage and a real-life scenario makes for very compelling drama. For fans of the President who decry this film, they might like to know that the film does a brilliant job of making the President look like a great man and wonderful leader who stands for his beliefs and fights for what he thinks is right. He comes across as a great everyman, and his faux speech writer, Eleanor Drake (Becky Ann Baker) does a stupendous job of humanizing a man who, recently, has been demonized by a good percentage of the planet's population. I admit to being brought to tears, an effect I did not imagine given that I knew the plot and knew it wasn't real long before I sat down to watch it, at the thought of these events being real. The film, illustrates well, also, the impact such events would have on those around the President and the potential for mishandling the swift rush to justice to find the perpetrator. In these ways, it is a fascinating film. The film is a remarkable piece of work and tells an intriguing story using real-world scenarios. I can recommend the film for people who want to learn the lessons it bears, and who find themselves able to get past the shocking and tragic decision to set this using a real president in real times.
This is a bold and controversial film. It is bold because it features the assassination of a sitting head of state who is still very much alive; and, the powers that be willing, he should stay so until the natural end of his life. I would hope that even the most ardent and fervent critics of the President of the United States would never wish his untimely demise. The film is also bold and controversial because the director, Gabriel Range, decided to make the film as realistically as possible. So, he has filmed a real movie and edited in real footage of the President and the Vice-President making speeches, etc., so as one sits and watches this film unfold it is astonishingly real. Therefore, it is more impacting and scary to watch. The first thing that came to my mind in watching this film was what it must have been like for the citizens of the USA when JFK was assassinated. It is a horrible thing to behold in this film. In any case, prior to deciding if you want to see this film, you must ask yourself if seeing a very realistic, near-documentary style film set in the near future depicting the assassination of a sitting head of state is something you want to watch. I hope I'm wrong in doubting that many USAers wouldn't care one iota about the ethics of this film if it were any other head of state depicted in the film, and from that there is a great lesson to be learned. And, in the end, it is my feeling that, while I personally would never have made such a film about any head of state, I feel a similar set of points could have been made about a fictional state and its head, nonetheless, it is my feeling that this is one of the very powerful lessons that Mr. Range was trying to teach along with an entire host of other very important ones. We do not always like the way we are taught lessons in life, and certainly, teachers must pose the question, "Is the price of my methodology worth the value of the lesson?" In other words are there other ways to get across the same message? Can I teach kids about the horror of the death penalty, for example, other than by showing them footage of an actual person being put to death? For some, Mr. Range's methodology will not be worth the value of the lessons, and that is too bad, because the lessons are potent. Still, it is important to respect their choice.
Strictly speaking and analyzing the film itself in the body of mockumentaries made this year, this is a very good one. The editing is fantastic, the use of real footage and a real-life scenario makes for very compelling drama. For fans of the President who decry this film, they might like to know that the film does a brilliant job of making the President look like a great man and wonderful leader who stands for his beliefs and fights for what he thinks is right. He comes across as a great everyman, and his faux speech writer, Eleanor Drake (Becky Ann Baker) does a stupendous job of humanizing a man who, recently, has been demonized by a good percentage of the planet's population. I admit to being brought to tears, an effect I did not imagine given that I knew the plot and knew it wasn't real long before I sat down to watch it, at the thought of these events being real. The film, illustrates well, also, the impact such events would have on those around the President and the potential for mishandling the swift rush to justice to find the perpetrator. In these ways, it is a fascinating film. The film is a remarkable piece of work and tells an intriguing story using real-world scenarios. I can recommend the film for people who want to learn the lessons it bears, and who find themselves able to get past the shocking and tragic decision to set this using a real president in real times.
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