EVEN DeepER Blurting!: Politics in the movies?

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Politics in the movies?

Posted by DexterBG on 9/21/2008, 2:13 am

I'll say it here, rather than in some blog I can't compete in for the screaming. I can't help but wonder if some movies aren't timed for their political effect on an upcoming election? Though many that you might suspect of this, manage to come out sort of in between voting years. So that tends to blow the theory. And since it takes up to a year to make one. You have to wonder how their producers would know in advance, who would be running by end of the primaries? But anyway.

Two such movie recently gave me such pause to speculate. And both of them put out by Sony Pictures. The first one was "Hancock". Interesting that this name was once most famous for being the largest name on the Declaration of Independence. But in this case, it's the name of a black dude, who has super powers like Superman. And apparently he's something of a bad boy. Misusing his powers to generally mess with people. At some point in the picture, I suspect that he redeems himself. Straightens up and flies right, so to speak. What's important to remember here is, that he's a black man with great powers that are abused.

A few months pass, and now comes movie two, Lakeview Terrace. An interracial couple moves into a home in LA. And a black police officer neighbor does everything he can to force them to move out. Normally this would be a plot involving a white southern sheriff. But Sony pictures thought it would be more entertaining if they employed Samuel L. Jackson to be the racist cop. Once again, a black man abusing his power and authoriti.

So here's what got me thinking. We now have the first ever black candidate for president of the US. And these two movies come out back to back from Sony, portraying what can happen if a black man gets too much power and authority. Nice. Just a coincidence, eh?

The movie industry probably knew far enough back to make any negative pictures, that Hillary Clinton was going to run. But I don't see any pictures about a white woman abusing power. Unless it's gathering dust on some studio shelf, because she didn't win the primary. Could it be the industry cranks these things out in advance of knowing which way the wind will blow, politically? And then chooses the appropriate ones to release prior to November. They can hold the rejects back six months. We'll know if this is the case, sometime next spring. Then someone can wonder if the industry is being anti-Palin?

And while there may be no movies this year, dedicated to portraying a US P.O.W. officer from the Vietnam War, in a highly favorable way. I have noticed that Time/Life has recently been pushing one of their DVD sets of this war. I thought the timing a little bit strange. With our current war becoming somewhat unpopular. Seemed a bad time to sell war documentaries. But if they're out to promote McCain's image, it makes sense.

Normally we might think of Hollywood to be more behind the Democrats. And that's probably true as far as the actors go. But I have to doubt that the film industry chiefs and studio board members feel this way. They tend to be tied to Aerospace and Defense industries as well. And might think a democratic president could spell economic trouble for them. Not being pro defense spending, in most cases.

So anyway, it's something to think about when you're (if you're) watching any of these movies this summer. Don't let Hollywood bully you in the voting booths. Nor FOX News, for that matter.
-Dex-