Whether you’re an American worried about the upcoming US election results or a Canadian paying close attention to the impact of our neighboring country, the race to be elected president has always been an intriguing playground for filmmakers. Several films combine reality with fiction and have been inspired for years by the American elections and the candidates for them.
As we await the outcome of the race between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, some may prefer to shift their attention to a more stylized version of the US election. That’s where movies come into play.
All the president’s men
The film, an absolute classic starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford, is widely regarded as one of the greatest journalistic films ever made. In Alan J. Pakula’s film, Hoffman and Redford play Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, who try to uncover the truth of the Watergate scandal, which led to the resignation of Richard Nixon.
Where to watch All the President’s Men: Available to post or rent on sites like AppleTV
The Ides of March
Leaning on the deceit of politics is George Clooney’s film The Ides of March. Ryan Gosling plays Stephen Meyers, campaign worker for Democratic presidential candidate Governor Mike Morris (Clooney). Meyers eventually becomes embroiled in scandals and lies on his journey to survive Morris’s political race.
Where to watch The Ides of March: Prime Video
Primary colors
Adapted from Joe Klein’s novel, Mike Nichols’ film features a stacked cast including John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Adrian Lester, Kathy Bates and Billy Bob Thornton. Released during the Monica Lewinsky-Bill Clinton scandal, the film follows presidential candidate Governor Jack Stanton (Travolta) as he runs for office with his wife and First Lady, Susan Stanton, by his side. And Henry Burton (Lester) joins Stanton’s campaign. It’s a particularly interesting film to watch if you know the history of Clinton’s indiscretions.
Where to view Primary Colors: Available to buy or rent through sites like AppleTV
The Manchurian candidate
Although there was a remake in 2004 starring Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep, let’s go back to 1962 with the Frank Sinatra film directed by John Frankenheimer. The political thriller, adapted from Richard Condon’s novel, is about American soldiers captured and brainwashed during the Korean War. While Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) is seen as a hero, Bennett Marco (Sinatra) has nightmares in which he remembers what happened in Korea and uncovers a terrible plot.
Where to watch The Manchurian Candidate: Free on Tubi
Citizen Ruth
Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth is one of his films that certainly doesn’t get as much love as his other films, but the 1996 film starring Laura Dern is a great political satire that focuses on different opinions on abortion rights. When Ruth Stoops (Dern) is pregnant, having already had four children in foster care, she finds herself caught in the middle of activists on both sides of the debate.
Where to watch Citizen Ruth: Available to buy or rent on sites like AppleTV
Election
While we’re on the subject of Payne, let’s not forget a film that is being discussed more widely: Election. Starring Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick, high school teacher Jim McAllister (Broderick) manipulates the student election in favor of the school jock, played by Chris Klein, over Witherspoon’s Tracy Flick. The film was referenced extensively in a number of articles comparing the circumstances of the film to Hilary Clinton’s 2016 presidential election.
Where to watch Election: Available to buy or rent on sites like AppleTV
All the king’s men
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Robert Penn Warren, inspired by Louisiana Governor Huey Long, the Oscar-winning film All the king’s men is another essential film in the history of political dramas. Directed by Robert Rossen and starring Broderick Crawford as Willie Stark, it is a classic look at power and corruption in politics. Although the film was remade in 2006 with Sean Penn, there is something particularly impressive about Rossen’s version.
Where to watch All the King’s Men: Buy or rent on sites like AppleTV
