Political Picks

The 2012 Presidential campaign is well underway, and if you're looking for a companion movie to leave the pundits behind, there are plenty to choose from. I just picked 5 of my favorites.

1. All The President's Men--Who couldn't love (or hate) this 1976 political thriller that tells the story of how two real-life news men broke the Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of President Nixon? Well played by Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford, lead an all star cast in this classic.

2. The Candidate--Just four years before he took a much more serious role in my #1 pick, Redford played a bubble gum-chewing candidate for U.S. Senate who didn't really have a chance of winning, so he just spoke his mind. The idea backfired in his favor. The very last line of the movie is still one of my favorites. Look out for Peter Boyle in a great supporting role. Redford has stated that he thought about revisiting the character, but for now, enjoy a look at the first film.

3. Bob Roberts--Jump ahead 20 years, and you've got the always enjoyable Tim Robbins in a documentary (sort of) about a folk-singing candidate for U.S. Senate. Robbins wrote many of the songs in the movie, but when asked about why no soundtrack was released, he said he worried it might be manipulated, and he's probably right. Many Bob Dylan references make it one of my favorites. Watch out for a young Jack Black and James Spader among many others in this one.

4. Truman--A fine HBO film starring Gary Sinise as Harry S. Truman, a man who started from literally the bottom of the political rung who eventually climbed to the highest spot on the ladder. The makeup artists did a fantastic job of making him look like the great man, and his story is a fascinating one indeed. But the buck doesn't stop here...




5. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington--Of course, I had to put this one in--it's too much of a gem (no pun intended). Frank Capra directs Jimmy Stewart as a junior Senator from the midwest who winds up fighting political corruption. His nemesis? None other than the magnificent Claude Rains.

Naturally, there are many other political films out there--definitely no shortage of them, and I'm sure we all have our faves.

"Butch Cassidy" Sequel... Huh?!?

So, I'm sifting through some entertainment news when I come across this headline from USAToday.com:

'Butch Cassidy' sequel filming  in Bolivia with no 'Kid' Here's the gist of the story from the Associated Press: -

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — The 1969 movie classic Butch Cassidy and  The Sundance Kid ends with neither of the famous outlaws appearing to survive a 1908 shootout with Bolivian soldiers. But Butch at least will ride again in a film entitled Blackthorn that begins shooting in Bolivia next month. American actor and playwright Sam Shepard plays the real-life Robert LeRoy Parker, who led the Hole in the Wall Gang. Cesar Perez is the director of Bolivia's national cinema council. He said Tuesday that Spaniard Mateo Gil is directing the story of Cassidy's attempt to return to the United States. Gil is known for his screenplay of The Sea Inside. The new film plot has Cassidy feeling compelled to commit just one  more robbery before he can retire. Ok, time to insert my opinion here. Is this movie really necessary??  Paul Newman and Robert Redford did such a wonderful job with the original that, to me anyway, it seemed complete.  The story was, in effect, told. Done, finis, kaput. I have a lot of faith in Sam Shepard, so the only thing I can say is "we'll see."  But, I think the best thing anyone can do is just go back and rewatch the original.  It still stands the test of time. Don't forget to check out this week's podcast on the right hand side  of the page under "blogtalkradio"--this week, we cover everything from  a new Captain America to Conan O'Brien's North American tour.

Here's The Pitch: Baseball Movies That Score

Tonight, the New York Yankees took on the Philadelphia Phillies in the first game of the 2009 World Series. So, here are my picks for some of the best baseball movies ever made.

"The Natural" Robert Redford is perfect as a natural born baseball player with a mysterious past, who finally gets to play pro ball late in life.
One of the best casts ever assembled. Watch out for Wilford Brimley as the stubborn manager of the New York Knights, as well as the great Richard Farnsworth at his side. Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, Robert Prosky, and Darren McGavin round out the cast.
The film also has a wonderful score by the truly gifted Randy Newman.

"Field Of Dreams" Kevin Costner leads another all star cast with this movie about a farmer (Costner) who risks everything after he hears a mysterious voice say "If you build it, they will come."
What he builds is a baseball field, and then he brings in James Earl Jones to help him solve the mystery. Also featuring Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe Jackson and the late, great Burt Lancaster, "Field Of Dreams" is indeed a wonderful film.

"The Pride Of The Yankees" Gary Cooper stars as baseball phenom Lou Gehrig in this heartfelt drama about a man who rose to baseball superstardom before he was cut down in the prime of his life by a terrible disease. Great story, great cast. Don't miss this classic baseball tale.

"A League Of Their Own" Penny Marshall directs Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Madonna in this story based on the real life women's baseball leagues of the 1940s. While most men were off fighting World War II, women came to the rescue of the great American pastime. Tom Hanks plays a baseball player just past his prime, who's given a second chance to coach one of the women's teams. Watch out for David Strathairn and Jon Lovitz as a baseball scout. And if you look closely, you'll also spot me in the stands. I was lucky enough to be one of the extras in this film, which was shot in Indiana. Tom Hanks very entertaining both off and on screen.