Flashback Friday-Women In Power-The Contender (2000) & Commander In Chief (2005-2006)

I have a dream. I have a dream that one day, we will be able to refer to the President Of The United States as Madam President instead of Mr. President.

We’re getting there. Between Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton, we came close to the title of Madam President a few years ago.  While we have yet to see a woman in the oval office, Hollywood has already put her there.

In 2000’s The Contender, Laine Hanson has been nominated to become Vice President Of The United States. During her confirmation hearing, lurid details about her private life are brought to the surface. Will she fight back or will she refuse to answer the allegations?

I fully believe that every woman should see this movie at least once in their lives. With all of the advances that American women have had in the past few decades, we still have a long way to go. While this movie is an entertaining drama, the message is that women must continue to fight for our rights and for equality.

Commander In Chief (2004-2005) starred Geena Davis as Mackenzie Allen, the first female President Of The United States. Nathaniel Templeton (Donald Sutherland) is determined to get her out of the oval office. While Mackenzie is POTUS, she is also balancing the demands of a husband and three growing children.

This show, like many new shows, had a good start. But due to changes in show runners and the creative team, it began to slowly die a painful television death. It’s a shame that this show lasted a short time, because for a while, it was a good show with good writing, good acting and good production values. But such is life.

I recommend both.

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Flashback Friday-John Adams (2008)

The lives of our historical figures are sometimes shrouded in mystery. We may have their letters, journals or other personal writings and maybe a painting of them. But how much do we really know about them?

The 2008 HBO miniseries John Adams chronicled the life of John Adams, one of the founding fathers  and the second President of the United States.  In the title role of John Adams is Paul Giamatti with Laura Linney as his wife Abigail, John Dossett as Benjamin Rush and Stephen Dillane as Thomas Jefferson.

Based on the book by David McCullough, this miniseries brought history to life in a new and very exciting way. We sometimes think of the founding fathers as perfect beings without flaws or past mistakes. The reality is that they were no different from any human being who has both good and bad characteristics. These were men who believed so strongly in democracy and right to self government that they chose to fight for what they believed in rather than to continue to submit to the British crown in silence. It is a compelling story that is both entertaining and teaches it’s audience.

I recommend it.

Dear Hollywood

Dear Hollywood

You gave the public many movies in 2014. Some we wonderful, some were merely decent and others were downright horrible.

Earlier this week, the 2015 Oscar nominations earlier this week.

Among the nominees, there is not one person of color, nor has a woman been nominated for best director.

While I recognize that there were many nominees to choose from, the list feels like it is 1965 and not 2015.

While the rest of the country reflects the diversity of the United States, Hollywood has not quite caught up with reality.

It’s time to do so.

Sincerely, a member of the movie going audience.