Top 12 Politicians of Film and Television

In light of Governor Rick Perry’s recent decisions to drop out of the republican primaries we were saddened to think of the effect on at least one job. Josh Brolin is unlikely to be called upon to play President Rick Perry anytime soon. And with many current Australian politicians hard to tell apart from their core-flute cardboard cut-outs, we got to thinking here at the Uncommonwealth of Australia.

Are there better options on the silver screen?

We came up with our dozen favourite politicians of film and television.

11. Jay Billington Bulworth (Bulworth)

Warren Beatty has to make the list for giving us quotes such as (when asked if the Democratic Party cares about African-Americans) “You got half your kids are out of work and the other half are in jail. Do you see ANY Democrat doing anything about it? Certainly not me! So what’re you gonna do, vote Republican?”

10. James Marshall (Air Force One)

We approve Harrison Ford’s kill Gary Oldman policy, however the film doesn’t adequately address this President’s stance on tariff reform. Ford shows an even better right hook than Mark Latham.

9. Governor Jack Stanton (Primary Colours)

Travolta channels Bill Clinton in his portrait of a southern governor from a backwater state, who charms, lies and manipulates his way to the Whitehouse. We are waiting for Emma Thompson to reprise her role as Jack’s Hilaryesque wife.

8. Senator Palpatine (The Emperor from Star Wars)

Now, there is a man who is committed to electoral reform and a strong defence policy – hell he founded the original Star Wars missile defence program. If only he could have taken a stronger line on producers who mess around with their classic films.

7. Paul Keating (Hawke)

Felix Williamson gives an inspired performance as the Pavarotti of Australian politics in the telemovie Hawke. Williamson chose to go for a much softer and more sympathetic role when he played Sydney gangster, pimp and racketeer Phil “The Jew” Jeffs in Underbelly Razor.

6. Andrew Shepherd (The American President)

One for the ladies. Michael Douglas is indeed charming – but we cannot forgive him for giving us years of Martin Sheen and interminable West Wing re-runs.

5. Francis Urquhart (House of Cards)

Ian Richardson is spellbinding as the conservative whip who connives (and eventually murders) his way to Number 10. Homicide apart, the three season mini-series looked and felt incredibly real, helped no doubt by the fact that the author of the original books (Michael Dobbs) was a Tory MP (later lord) and Chief of Staff to the Iron Lady herself. Disagree if you like, after all “You might think that, I couldn’t possibly comment”.

4. Anthony Hopkins (As John Quincy Adams Amistad NOT as Richard Nixon Nixon)

Hopkins is stirring and inspiring as the former President who is fighting to free imprisoned slaves in Spielberg’s Amistad. Not so inspiring was his dithering, forced and not entirely historical portrayal of a tormented Richard Milhouse Nixon. For a more nuanced and less distracting performance, see Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon. Make the effort and tolerate Michael Sheen (who gives a better David Frost than he does Tony Blair in a string of chintzy depictions such The Queen and The Special Relationship).

3. George Walker Bush (James Brolin W and Will Ferrell Saturday Night Live)

Brolin gives an amazing performance in the movie W, especially considering he was a last minute casting after Harrison Ford and Christian Bale both bailed. Elizabeth Banks is also a little bit hotter than we remember Laura Bush to be. Although Oliver Stone could have turned to one of the other great Bush impersonators – Will Ferrell. Points to Ferrell’s characterisation for describing the axis of evil as “Iraq, Iran and one of the Koreas”. It is a shame we won’t see Brolin reprising his role as another US president. The similarity is uncanny.

2. Julia Gillard (2010 Labor Campaign Commercial)

As works of fiction go, it seems many people found her portrayal of a Prime Minister who stated there would be ‘No Carbon Tax’, utterly convincing. Although Gillard is now scoring a miserable 27% on the rotten tomatoes, she gets our vote for Gold Logie.

1. The Rt. Hon. James Hacker (Yes Minister)

Has there ever been a more legendary fictional political figure than Jim Hacker, former editor of Reform, Minister for Administrative Affairs and Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland? A man the civil service believed was “a pleasure to work with”. The genius in Hacker’s character (other than Eddington’s stellar performance) was the lack of farce – there was an discomforting ring of truth about him. And we cannot mention Hacker without acknowledging his eternal sparring partner Sir Humphrey Appleby. This combination had many politicians and public servants believe that they were watching a very discreet documentary.

Is Hacker the greatest fictional politician of all time?… I think the answer is resoundingly “yes minister”.

So there you have our office musings around the water cooler.

Who are your favourite fictional politicians? Leave a comment below in the comment box or send us an email with your contribution by clicking here.