BEST FILM PORTRAYAL OF A REAL PRESIDENT

indianasmith · February 15, 2019, 09:24:52 PM

Love them or hate them, Americans have been hiring actors to portray our Chief Executives for as long as we have been making movies. Some have been woefully miscast, and some have been absolute spot on. What were your favorites?

Number one, for me, is Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln in Spielberg's biopic LINCOLN.
It was a powerful portrayal of our greatest President (IMO, I know you hate him, Lester!) taking on his last and greatest political battle: passage of the 13th Amendment. With a brilliant script and excellent supporting cast, I still think this film deserved Best Picture.

A close second: Frank Langella as Richard Nixon in FROST/NIXON. I am old enough to remember Nixon, albeit more clearly as an ex-president than as a President, and this was a great portrayal in a great movie.

So what actor do you think Hailed the Chief most effectively?

RCMerchant · February 16, 2019, 02:52:57 AM

Whoever played Abe in ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER

indianasmith · February 16, 2019, 07:59:20 AM

I honestly wasn't as impressed with him as I was with the dude in ABRAHAM LINCOLN VS ZOMBIES!

Rev. Powell · February 16, 2019, 09:32:39 AM

Day Lewis was the first that came to mind.

But Anthony Hopkins was surprisingly good in NIXON.

indianasmith · February 16, 2019, 10:09:45 AM

I haven't seen that one; but I will say Hopkins was brilliant as John Quincy Adams in AMISTAD, one of my favorite films.

Svengoolie 3 · February 17, 2019, 05:29:25 AM

Hey indy, did you know that the hyistory channel is starting a series of presidents who've been in the military tonight?

I ought to watch it just to have an hour of tv where i know i won't see trump's revolting face!

https://www.history.com/shows/presidents-at-war?cmpid=paidsearch_M_PresidentsAtWar_General&s_kwcid=AL!4850!10!77240770408865!77240816824264&ef_id=XDG0HgAAAFBAlhzp:20190217103626:s

Trevor · February 17, 2019, 06:07:05 AM

Quote from: indianasmith on February 16, 2019, 10:09:45 AM
I haven't seen that one; but I will say Hopkins was brilliant as John Quincy Adams in AMISTAD, one of my favorite films.

I agree with the Rev: Sir Anthony makes Nixon human.

Trevor · February 17, 2019, 06:14:09 AM

The actors who portrayed Nelson Mandela (Sir Sidney Poitier, Danny Glover, Dennis Haysbert, Idris Elba, Terrence Howard, Morgan Freeman) fell far short of portraying the man correctly.

dean · February 17, 2019, 07:55:49 PM

Yes you say real but its a little too real isn't it?