Thought Provoking Movies to See During This 2008 Election

Idiocracy - Describes the “dumbing down” of America.  Although it’s a highly fictionalized tale, it’s scary how much of it is reflected in today’s society and playing itself out in the presidential campaign.  If you don’t appreciate irreverant, dark humor - stay away!!!   (This is a complete aside, but if you’re interested in Idiocracy from the illuminary women who host “The View”, check this out Mick LaSalle’s blog at:  http://sfgate.info/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=38&entry_id=22502)

Here’s Sherri Shepherd, showing that she doesn’t understand the concept of B.C.

And here’s Jacob Bronowski, in the early 1970s series THE ASCENT OF MAN, talking about the dangers of ignorance and dogma.

Primary Colors - Interesting in the context of personality types and presidential candidates.  Bill Clinton (an Enneagram Three Type and ENTP, Myers-Briggs type) is played by John Travolta (also a Three in real life).  Hillary Clinton (an Enneagram Type One and INTJ, Myers-Briggs type) is played by Emma Thompson (also a One in real life).  The casting for these roles is perfect.  If you want to understand the dynamics between Bill and Hillary, Bill’s personality on the campaign trail vs. Hillary’s you’ve got to watch (or rewatch this movie).  Great insight.  Watch how Bill Clinton (Three, ENTP) modifies (manipulates?) his handshakes, his manners, his speech to adapt to his audience in the film.  There’s a connection between Obama and Bill Clinton as political campaigners given their similar personalities.  Both are Enneagram Type Threes (charming, seductive, charismatic, optimistic, hopeful, manipulative?, phony?, narcissistic?) .  Both are NF Myers Briggs types which means that they can “instantly connect” with voters.  They are intuitive and feeling oriented which means that they can pick up and “use” the energy of the audience to their advantage.  They come across as being compassionate, concerned and empathetic.  NFs are generally good counselors, “cheerleaders” and counselors because of their strong communication (listening skills) , empathy, insight and positive feedback.  On the downside,  personality types like Bill Clinton and Obama can come across as “phony”, “dishonest” “lying” and “manipulative” - and, in fact, in  their unhealthy states ”Threes” can be.  Monica Lewinsky comes to mind….  Threes tend to value efficiency and political expediency which means they can have a tendency to “cut corners”, to “tell white lies” for the purposes of getting done what they want to get done.  If you watch Primary Colors with a critical eye you’ll be able to see what I mean….   

Ralph Nadar: An Unreasonable Man - Great documentary.  I didn’t know a lot about Nadar before I viewed the movie.  It was very inspiring to me.  He really is a largely “unsung” hero of the American people.  I bet most Americans have little idea as to the vast number of consumer protection and safety legislation and reform Nadar has successfully crusaded.  He has saved the lives of thousands of people from traffic accidents that would have otherwise resulted in fatalities had his safety legislation not passed Congress.  Nadar is the founder of the group Public Citizen, a watchdog agency that oversees consumer safety issues in most every aspect of Americans lives.  I greatly respect his intellect, determination and integrity.   Although, I don’t believe that he should be president of the United States, I believe he makes a rational argument for the need for a three party system in this country.  He also makes the important point that true liberals are “shooting themselves in the foot” by moving to the center –> right to get votes.  Liberal politicans would actually be more successful if acted on integrity and conviction, if they stood for the issues that true liberal value, made sure that their platforms reflected interests of liberal voters rather than selling themselves and their party out to the right (and corporations).   

The Queen - Not really a great movie.  But interesting in the context of the “Obama as Savior” political phenomenon.  The British press has picked up on the “gushy” sentiments conveyed by many Obama supporters at the mere mention of his name…Obamites get weak in the knees…their hearts begin to race…  A similar phenomenon occurred after the death of Princess Diana.  Hordes of British dropping off flowers at the castles for weeks after her death,  camping out for days at the castle, crying, expressing strong sentiment for a woman they really didn’t know but felt they did (Idol Worship?)  The fact that “royalty” is an antiquated concept having been replaced with a representational democracy seems to be have lost on the folks that idealized her.  There seems to be no contradication in emoting over the death of a woman who chose the life of a “princess” for the access to fame and power the royal family provided.  I am amazed that so many British people continue to believe in their own Camelot ”fairytale” of royal goodness and benevolence.  The fact that Diana traveled as a world ambassador not so much as a promoter of charity, but rather for the benefit of public relations.  As Tony Blair acknowledges in the movie,  Princess Diana possessed charisma embodied people with a “sense of hope”.  It was in the interest of England, and politicans like Tony Blair, at the time to maintain this ”positive spin” of “hope” for England, “hope” for those oppressed in third world countries (even if England was responsible for the oppression), regardless of economic and political events that pointed to the contrary.  Royalty was able to use Diana to bolster their self image as well.   But the truth is that there really wasn’t much depth or substance to Diana.  Her power lied in her ability to evoke “sympathy” (ironic given the unequal access she had to fame, power and wealth via the royal family - I guess she ended up using the royal family in the end).   Obama has been called “Princess Obama” in the British press because he is able to evoke similar emotions on the part of Americans - the idea of “hope”, “progress”, “benevolence” and “kindness” without having to produce a single act - a specific policy or a specific plan which would legitimately engender those feelings, in my view.   Would ”hope” be enough to move this nation forward in a progressive fashion?  Not so IMO, when the candidate in question has sold out to corporate interests, but his supporters still haven’t figured it out…

The End of Suburbia - Thought provoking. Similar to ”An Inconvenient Truth”, not a movie for the “faint of heart”.  Provides a history of the development of American suburban society over most of the last century.  The consequences of this kind of community development is that it has left most Americans completely dependent on their automobiles as its primary source of transportation.  Quality of life has diminished as Americans are forced to drive hours a day to get to their workplaces.  The Walmartization of communities has occurred as small business are forced out of communities where they can no longer compete.  Natural resources are being depleted from the world at an alarming rate.  We have already reached the point of “diminishing returns” when it comes to the world’s oil supply.  And when the world’s oil supply is gone…it will be gone.  The so-called alternative fuel sources are not really practical, require more energy to produce and really will not resolve the problem.  Globalization becomes a questionable future in a scenario where the world does not have enough fuel (or fuel is too costly) to transport goods around the world.  We will have to find creative ways to become self-sufficient as communities else we will not survive as a nation.  Or we can all go to sleep and hope it was all a bad dream?