Politics as Usual

In case all of the election news/commentary/insanity is not enough political entertainment for you, a slew of new movies are vying for your attention with their own takes on the political process.

In theaters:

Choose Connor is a cynical look at small-town political corruption by actor and first time director Luke Eberkl. Alex Linz plays 15-year-old Owen, who is brought on by creepy congressman Lawrence Connor to help Connor with his senatorial campaign. The New York Times has a nice overview.

Oliver Stone chronicles the life and presidency of George W. Bush in his upcoming film W. Variety calls it a heavily researched, “relatively even-handed, restrained treatment of recent politics.” Josh Brolin stars as the current President surrounded by an all-star cast - Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush, Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney, etc.

On the documentary side, Frontrunners follows the student council presidential election at uber-competitive Stuyvesant High School. The film, which stars smart and self-conscious students as they try to become Student Council President, aims to be “a microcosm of the U.S. Presidential elections.”

Another documentary, Please Vote for Me, centers around 3rd graders in China who use elaborate techniques to gain votes and destroy their opponents in an election for classroom monitor. Ryan Stewart of Cinematical says, “Apparently, everything you see and hear in this film is legit, which is a truly head-spinning prospect.”

Online:

Call it Democracy is a “serious look at the history of Presidential elections and Electoral College.”

Michael Moore’s Slacker Uprising takes us back to the election of 2004.

Run Granny Run chronicles a 94-year-old’s run for U.S. senate.