Newsgroups: bit.listserv.cinema-l
Date:         Mon, 12 Oct 1992 10:59:55 CST
From:         "Dick Clawson, S.J." <CLAWSON@LOYNOVM.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: All the Presidential Men
              12 Oct 1992 13:57:09 BST from <eeijsh@EEIUC.ERICSSON.SE>

I'll try to make my response somewhat like a film commentary to keep this
in the spirit of Cinema-l...

The costumes were tasteful, and well chosen.  These are the clothes we
would want our president to wear.  Perot was a little different with his
lighter suit (but then again it is Perot, and guarentee it aint off-the-rack)
but the requisite red power ties were in full force.  I was relieved to see
that no one made the Reagan/Brown Suit gaffe.

Makeup and special effects...   Good hair day for Clinton, considering he still
looked as though he had stuck his tongue in a light-socket.  Very convincing
how they made Bush look like every charicature in the newspaper. Perot had the
best ears since Spock (how many hours did it take them to put those on?)

Script... Perot got the best lines, like Sir John in ARTHUR.  The writers
were able to have fun with his character since he has nothing to lose.
I think that they may have gotten the writers for STRAIGHT TALK to do Ross's
dialogue,  it was right along the lines of  "Hon, you either gotta tinkle or
get off the pot!"  (thank you Dolly)  Clinton delivered his lines very well,
and they were good lines, but Mr. Clinton ran the gamut of emotions from A...
to B.  Where was his southern preacher style?  I know, he has allergies, but
I wanted some of that podium pounding that he gives down south...Or is he so
versatile that he can become whatever type of person he thinks the audience
wants?  Hmm...I don't know, we've already had one actor in the Oval Office
and you saw where that got us... Bush seemed to have lost several pages of
his script, or accidentally xeroxed double copies of some.  His was a rather
repetitive listing of do's & don'ts  (DO elect me, DON't tax & spend.)
The two most delightful non-Perot lines came from Bush.  First when he praised
Colin Powell and Dick Secretary, Dick Cheney.  Hmm...Dick secretary eh?  What
does he do?  Taake it out to be cleaned every Saturday?  The other gaffe was
when he discussed the drug situation and he said "...Cocaine use..." as he
brushed his nose....Hmmm....

Camera work... The Camera was kindest to Gov. Clinton, dramatically inching
closer to him as he got deeper and deeper into his responses.  Perot was
kept at a respectful distance, perhaps to accomidate the ears.  Pres. Bush
got the short end of the stick, because the camera often made jumpy full
side to front jumps.  Mainly, it would seem to capture the reaction of Gov.
Clinton.

Who gets the coveted award for their performance?  For remaining cool while
knowing that many people who would like to vote Dem. don't like him....
Gov. Bill Clinton.  For actually making sense on occasion and making a very
impressive summation of what his administration has done for the AIDS crisis
...Pres. George Bush.   For being the least politicianesque and remaining
unscathed by the other two..H.Ross Perot, Billionaire.

I would hand the Best picture award to Perot because his was that rare
combination of entertaining while not being given away by the previews.

Sander Vanocur gets a special nod for straightforwardness.

RDC,SJ
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