JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Happy Independence Day, my fellow Americans. It's a little difficult you know what to write about today, and not just because we already covered favorite summer specialties. Instead of pontificating, I'm going to suggest movies that encompass the thrills, chills, music and mayhem that make up our country
Jaws: It's been 50 years since this adaptation of Peter Benchley's thriller came out, and it's as compelling as ever. Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw have to rescue Amity, NY's 4th of July holiday from a terrifying and iconic killer.
Born on the Fourth of July - Oliver Stone's Oscar-winning anti-war story proves Tom Cruise can really act, not just do stunts.
Independence Day - my family's must-watch movie for today! If you like major American landmarks blown up by evil aliens, this one's for you.
A Day in the Life of America. A masterful documentary of July 4th, 2017, shot by 92 film crews scattered across the US and Puerto Rico.
Yankee Doodle Dandy: the all singing, all dancing, all delightful biopic of "the man who owned Broadway," George M. Cohan.
Mr Smith Goes to Washington - nothing specifically takes place on July 4th, but it's a great evocation of the ideals that founded this country.
And finally, a classic it-can-happen-here novel turned into a miniseries, The Plot Against America.
How about you, dear readers? What do you suggest for the perfect Independence Day flick?
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ReplyDeleteHappy Independence Day . . . .
ReplyDeleteI don't think there are many films to add to this list, Julia; perhaps "1776" and "This is America, Charlie Brown" . . . .
Joan, I almost added 1776, but I wanted to keep the list short and I bumped it in favor of Yankee Doodle Dandy, which, nowadays, is more obscure.
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DeleteI love both of those. I just got 1776 from the library for my annual re-watching, and might also ask for Yankee Doodle Dandy. -- Storyteller Mary
Glory with Denzel Washington, Live Free or Die Hard with Bruce Willis.
ReplyDeleteOh, Grace. I used to show GLORY to my 8th grade history students every year. "Give 'em hell, 54!" Great movie with terrific performances by all. (Selden)
DeleteI agree with Grace and Selden: GLORY is a superb movie. Extremely sad, though, but how can a movie about men dying in the Civil War--or in any war--not be sad. Just writing about it here makes me want to see it again, even if it makes me cry.
DeleteGrace, I almost included both those movies!
DeleteSomething to Stand For with Mike Rowe
ReplyDeleteOh, great suggestion, Brenda!
DeleteThese are great suggestions. Is there a movie featuring Lincoln and his remarks about not letting the civil war soldiers die in vain and showing decent Americans upholding our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution instead of trying to destroy both? If not, I doubt I will be watching any movies today, but it's good to have a list!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Edith!
DeleteEdith, there's a 2012 film, "Lincoln," starring Daniel Day-Lewis that focuses on Lincoln's attempts to pass the 13th amendment during the Civil War . . . .
DeleteI thought sure that Spielberg movie "Lincoln" included the Gettysburg Address but, according to Wikipedia, it doesn't.
DeleteLincoln is a fantastic movie; it shows what a savvy politician the president was, which isn't how we usually think of him. One of the best casts ever assembled - look for a very early appearance by Adam Driver and Lincoln's telegraph operator.
DeleteThanks, friends!
DeleteEDITH: We saw the Lincoln movie with Daniel Day Lewis, who is an English ? Irish actor.
DeleteNational Treasure, with a map hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's another family fave of ours, Margaret!
DeleteOh, that would be fun!
DeleteMy favorite from this list is MR SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, though Jimmy Cagney as George M. Cohan in YANKEE DOODLE DANDY is also fabulous, as is "1776," mentioned by Joan. I must say it is hard to think of watching any of them while grieving. (Selden)
ReplyDeleteSometimes, a cheerful reminder of what is possible is what's needed, Selden...
DeleteYes, of course, you are right. Actually, for me what is helpful is to remember all the times when the country was in dire straits internally and made it through. (Selden)
DeleteAmen, Selden.
DeleteHappy Independence Day to my American friends
ReplyDeleteThanks for being such a good neighbor to our north, Danielle!
DeleteI can't think of anything to add to the list, but will weigh in if I do. Happy Independence Day! As a joke, my dad used to wear a black tie on the 4th, because it was the day Britain lost the colonies.
ReplyDeleteNow seems to be a very important time to stand for our founding values!
Yes, it does, Gillian!
DeleteI confess that I'm feeling singularly UN-patriotic today after the passing of Trump's evil bill. How about a movie about people standing up for what they know in their hearts is right, even if it means they lose their jobs? Are Collins, Tillis, Massie, and Fitzpatrick truly the only currently elected Republicans with any courage? (Sorry, but Rand doesn't count!)
ReplyDeleteHonestly, Kim, Collins doesn't count; she only votes against when it won't change the outcome.
DeleteWell, she's yours so if you say I should count her out, I will! One fewer brave person.
DeleteWe watched a ridiculous movie over the last two days called Heads of State. It was so ridiculous and so ludicrous and SO completely hilarious, and I really think it was actually a pretty biting satire about the times we live in. It has Idris Elba as the Prime Minister of England, and John Cena as the United States president, Cena is an actor in swashbuckling war movies who gets elected president on the basis of his popularity with the public and his famous role as an muscleman action hero a la Schwarzenegger.
ReplyDeleteElba is deeply philosophical and reserved, and Cena ridiculously patriotic and clueless, and it’s a sort of road trip bromance in politics. With lots of bombs and car chases and an incomprehensible plot. And turns out to be about saving NATO. That is not a spoiler. Somehow it was absolutely so much fun, even though it was incredibly stupid on the surface, it might have had some deeper lessons. Anyone else see it?
I saw the trailer and knew I wanted to catch it, Hank! It's on Amazon Prime, for anyone else interested.
DeletePlot Against America hits WAY to close right now, and I wish I hadn't watched the clip. I read the Roth novel back when it came out, and never in a million years would have thought it was as prescient as it was.
ReplyDeleteOn a lighter note, that Yankee Doodle Dandy scene is a favorite of mine. People forget that Cagney started out as a hoofer! He was an amazing performer. I miss musicals.
The American President is another good one, if I'm remembering it correctly.
The American President is a LOT of fun with Michael Douglas somewhat awkwardly wooing Annette Benning. The scene where he sends her a Virginia ham has always made me laugh.
DeleteOh, yes, The American President--loved that.
DeleteFor me the best thing to watch is the old tv series, The West Wing. Love watching their commitment and passion. Also, Hamilton is streaming on a few channels, and perhaps we all need to hear the reminder: “Immigrants…we get the job done.”
ReplyDeleteBoth excellent suggestions, Anon!
DeleteI took my own advice and watched JAWS last night and yes, it really does stand the test of time. It was also a blissful little bit of nostalgia - I was about the age of the Brody's oldest boy in 1974 (when the movie was filmed) also living in a small town, and SO much was familiar to me. Giving proof that when we yearn for "the good old days" when life was better, we're really just yearning for our childhood.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is truly a perfect movie. And a master class in suspense.
DeleteMy husband was a 22-year-old policeman on the Vineyard when it was filmed. If you knew him, you'd know how ridiculous this was. He was taken by a friend to the dump to learn how to shoot a pistol, and then in anxiety carried his unloaded. (Selden)
DeleteAll good suggestions. I love "1776" - not historically, factually accurate, but it does capture the emotion of the times.
ReplyDelete"Gettysburg" is another one. It doesn't contain the Address, which was given much later than the battle, if I remember correctly. But great performances.
The speech was given about four months later, to commemorate the battle and bless the huge graveyard. That poor little town, covered with the bodies of more than 7000 dead men and so many horses! (Selden)
DeleteHow about Dave?
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking this, Hank! What I love about the movie is the very end--the ruse exposed, yet the little guy (and Sigourney Weaver) not giving up, because they value what this government should be--a service to ordinary people.
DeleteHANK: I just asked the same question in my comment! DAVE is a family favorite.
DeleteLot of good suggestions here. I do like 1776 and Yankee Doodle Dandy. I save Mr. Smith Goes To Washington for election time. We used to watch Boston Pops on PBS. I'd never go to that crowded concert, but really enjoyed watching it from afar.
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in DC I used to go to the Fourth of July celebration on the Mall. Great music, but I think I'd find the coming and going too exhausting these days!
DeleteDid anyone watch the movie DAVE with Kevin Kline as the doppleanger for the President of the USA? Signourney Weaver played the First Lady. This movie is a family favorite.
ReplyDeleteI love that one, Diana!
DeleteSadly, a dystopian film might be mosr relevent for our times, however, I think I'd go with SCHINDLER's LIST. It's not America and it's not the Fourth of July, but it is the story of a brave people eventually overcoming horrific evil -- something I need to hold onto these days.
ReplyDeleteI might also go with some great television episodes, like the "Chuckles the Clown Is Dead' episode from THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, or Tim Conway's "Siamese Elephant " but from a Momma's Family episode on THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW, or perhaps some Roadrunner cartoons, where the little guy always wins. The older I get, the more I find that laughter is one of the three essentials of making it through hard times, along with voting and speaking the truth.
All good suggestions, Jerry. — Pat S
DeleteAgreed, Jerry!
DeleteMy husband and I have a tradition that in even years we watch 1776 and in odd years we watch The Music Man. I don’t really feel the usual big patriotic “feels” today so I might just watch baseball all day. And read and eat! (Our dog has been in a veterinary hospital since Tuesday and comes home today so I think I will just soak up his doggy goodness and be grateful he’s still with us.) — Pat S
ReplyDeleteBest of luck in your pupper's recovery at home, Pat!
DeleteI needed to see this post today. I woke up this morning seeing that (at least on the surface) everyone seems happy about The Bill passing yesterday. Me? I feel conflicted. I start to wonder if it's just me at fault here. Am I looking at this wrong? Am I just being unreasonably pessimistic? And then I read your views here. Thank you all. I'm not totally nuts after all. This really is a dangerous and frightening time we're going through. I've seen many of the movies mentioned here, but maybe I'll choose "The Wizard of Oz", because it is plain that "we're not in Kansas anymore".
ReplyDeleteYou are not nuts at all, Anon, and you have LOTS of supportive company, me among them. Take heart. We'll make it.
DeleteEchoing Edith. You're not alone, Anon.
DeleteFrom one anon to another, I agree. I often feel I live in a blue island in MA since I know the red areas are not that far away.
DeleteToday let’s just try to remember the positive parts, the reasons people want to come here for the freedoms that we do have and those who care enough about others who want to make life better for everyone.
Ha! I am on my way to see How to Train Your Dragon right now. :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, JAWS messed me up for life :( Still scared of deep dark water! EEK!
ReplyDeleteWeirdly, it made me want to go sailing, Jenn!
DeletePicnic! Lenita
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th all. No films to suggest…would rather read than watch moving pictures. Your Luddite curmudgeon, Elisabeth
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