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A quickie tonight, because I'm at work and won't get back to my own computer before tomorrow evening. Another great political film starring Robert Redford. I saw this during the summer as part of Bryant Park's summer movie series.
The Candidate
Redford is Bill McKay, a young, idealistic lawyer whose father was a well known political figure. His involvement with civil rights and ecology catch the attention of the Democratic party and is persuaded to run for the U.S. Senate. He is told up front that he will not win, because he's up against an unbeatable incumbent. But since he has no chance to win, he can pretty much say what he wants about whatever topics he likes.
Things change, though, when it starts to look like he could actually win. Suddenly, there is all kinds of pressure to do things exactly right and not talk about certain things. And it works - McKay is elected.
And in what will probably be the last moment he has away from the public eye, he asks the head of his campaign - "What do we do now?"
Great political film, and a very 1970s attitude. Politicians spend more of their energy running for things than they actually do governing. That says a lot about our world, but I'm not sure what anyone could do to change that.
The Candidate
Redford is Bill McKay, a young, idealistic lawyer whose father was a well known political figure. His involvement with civil rights and ecology catch the attention of the Democratic party and is persuaded to run for the U.S. Senate. He is told up front that he will not win, because he's up against an unbeatable incumbent. But since he has no chance to win, he can pretty much say what he wants about whatever topics he likes.
Things change, though, when it starts to look like he could actually win. Suddenly, there is all kinds of pressure to do things exactly right and not talk about certain things. And it works - McKay is elected.
And in what will probably be the last moment he has away from the public eye, he asks the head of his campaign - "What do we do now?"
Great political film, and a very 1970s attitude. Politicians spend more of their energy running for things than they actually do governing. That says a lot about our world, but I'm not sure what anyone could do to change that.
working