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LOS ANGELES: There are the spoofs,satires and late-night show laughs with their fair share of takes on the US presidential that can make or break a candidate. And then, there is the big screen.
Apart from lending their voice to campaigns - actor John Voight was most recently out and about at a rally by Republican VP nominee, Sarah Palin - Hollywood’s famed directors are using satires, documentaries and biopics to display their political stands.
Forget the usual blockbusters for now. As the US presidential elections draw closer, Hollywood is set to unleash a slew of political movies which will no doubt send messages to American voters who have to make a decision between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain on 4 November.
First off the block was Michael Moore, director of “Fahrenheit 9/11” and “Bowling for Columbine”. He released his documentary “Slacker Uprising” for free on the Web last month.
The film follows Moore on a whirlwind 62-city tour of key swing states during the 2004 US presidential election, where he tried to convince young non-voters to vote.
No surprise then, that this latest Moore documentary comes with a plea urging young people to vote, and “save this country from four more years of Republican rule.”
And there's more on Moore. Director David Zucker made a film inspired by Moore just as Moore released a film about voting.
“An American Carol”, which opened in the US last week, is a satire of a left-wing populist character akin to Michael Moore who comes around to loving America.
“I don't think (Moore) does hate America,” Zucker said. “I think we're taking dramatic license.”
Oliver Stone, known for political movies such as “World Trade Center”, “Wall Street”, JFK” and “Nixon”, will release his biopic “W” on current US president George W. Bush on October 17, mere weeks before Election Day.
“W” chronicles Bush’s transition from a simple man to the most powerful leader in the world.
Tom Ortenberg, executive producer of “W” said, “The movie is an examination of how a man like George W Bush became president, and frankly how anyone can become president.”
With the onslaught of political movies, it remains to be seen if Americans can be swayed by Hollywood’s persuasion or would many skip the voting booths and watch a movie instead.
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