There’s only one place more entertaining than Hollywood–that’s Washington D.C., which is why political leader biopics can be so entertaining. Before we get into the superb storytelling and filmmaking from years past, the two cities are about to converge again with an aimless film about former U.S. Representative George Santos (R-NY).
In case you missed it, a historic vote on Capitol Hill expelled the Congressional prevaricator 311 for, 114 against). Why? Well, besides the fact he is overly layered (a jacket, shirt, t-shirt, tie, and that sweater), the guy is full of more crap than a Christmas turkey.
His Congressional career lasted less than a year. The ouster was for criminal corruption charges and accusations of misspending campaign money. He also lied about most of his resume, like he was a Jewish volleyball star at Baruch College, was worth $10M, and used to work for Goldman Sachs. Nice guy.
And now, he’s getting a movie. Saying it will be among “political leader biopics” is a stretch, but he’ll get to buy more sweaters. Let’s talk about real films that usurp the essence of global political leaders. These biopics have been award-winning and have caused people to marvel at the lives these mythical figures led.
These are the Top 10 political leader biopics ever made.
P.S. This is a list of political leader biopics, not sociopolitical leaders. Who took office and led a country? Who championed the cause of his or her people was leading them with the country’s confidence. So, if you don’t see Malcolm X, Gandhi, Selma, or Braveheart below, that will be why. On with the show…
10. JFK (1991)
Three hours of conspiracy intertwined with a vantage point from the man who took President John F. Kennedy’s assassination to court. As Jim Garrison, Kevin Costner was compelling as the vantage point from which we saw Lee Harvey Oswald’s (Gary Oldman) treachery unfold.
The movie was stellar and the cast was remarkably assembled — Costner, Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones, Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Joe Pesci, Kevin Bacon, and Sissy Spacek. Regardless of what side of the conspiracy fence you stand, this was a fascinating story about one of the most mythical presidents this nation has ever had.
9. Elizabeth (1998)
The marvelous Cate Blanchett portrays the life of the polarizing Queen Elizabeth I in marvelous fashion. She’s a teenager when her half-sister dies during the United Kingdom’s economic tumult and under the threat of a foreign invasion. Instead of getting married and settling into her terrifying new role as Monarch, she carelessly has an affair with her Master of the Horse and Privy Councillor, Sir Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes).
Then, reality sets in and it is time to save the throne. She pushes away Dudley and declares herself “The Virgin Queen” — dedicated to never marrying a foreign prince and claiming a union with her country alone. Man, she was mesmerizing in this film.
8. Frost/Nixon (2008)
This is not the first time or the favorite time Hollywood has placed Richard Nixon’s life on screen and under a microscope, but it’s certainly one of the best political leader biopics made because of its forum. British TV news legend David Frost (Michael Sheen) persuades disgraced president Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) to clear his name. Of course, Frost was angling this to build his career. The movie perfectly balances both stories as each lead brings the audience on a journey of optics and ethics in journalism and government.
7. The King’s Speech (2010)
Considered by many to be an “artful film,” which is code for “boring” among casual cinephiles, this was the movie that made Colin Firth’s career. His approach to King George VI’s journey of overcoming a crippling stutter to his speech was monumentally inspirational. There’s no action, no conquest, no bombastic storyline. That should prove how moving this story is — one man who can’t speak publicly and who is also King of England. He can’t lead his people or earn their respect, or so he thought. A wonderful film.
6. Vice (2018)
Christian Bale played former “Dubya” Bush Vice President Dick Cheney, only a few people believed it was him underneath the makeup and prosthetics because it was so convincing. Democrat and Republican, Cheney was loved and hated by them all. Yet, it never prevented him from doing the job he believed he was called to perform. We see that passion and privilege through Adam McKay’s script, but this film was all Bale. And it’s hypnotizing to watch. Funny to fear, drama to dunderheaded moments–this is one of the political leader biopics that has it all.
5. Lincoln (2012)
If you have never been a student of Daniel Day-Lewis, start here. Steven Spielberg directed him as the nation’s 16th President in Lincoln’s first days of his second term. The Civil War was raging, but not as loud as the Republic was about the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery. The turmoil Lincoln experienced was palpable through the screen. And for his transformation into becoming Lincoln, Day-Lewis won his record-setting third Oscar for Best Actor (following 1990’s My Left Foot and 2008’s There Will Be Blood).
4. Darkest Hour (2017)
Commissioner Gordon to Count Dracula, Lee Harvey Oswald to Sir Winston Churchill, there is nothing Gary Oldman can’t accomplish. As someone who adores movies, it’s impossible not to comprehend how this frumpy and stubborn old man had an entire country in the palm of hand as his fist helped punch Adolf Hitler directly in the mouth.
Can you imagine telling the King of England that afternoon meetings are out of the question because it conflict with your nap? Those little nuances Oldman portrays with force illustrate how this film is one of the best political leader biopics ever made.
3. Milk (1992)
Five words are all this inspirational tale needs to underscore its impact on the screen — Sean Penn and Gus Van Sant. That actor and director combination was magical as Penn became Harvey Milk, the slain San Francisco councilman (called “supervisor”), and America’s first openly gay politician at any level.
Milk moved from New York to San Francisco to follow a dream — serve his community and sustain his identity. Triumphantly elected in January 1978, Milk only held his office for 10 months before he was gunned down by fellow city supervisor Dan White (Josh Brolin), but his life mattered and Penn’s portrayal was given Best Actor.
2. The Last King of Scotland (2006)
Forest Whitaker destroyed his competition at the 2007 Academy Awards for his brilliant and riveting performance as Ugandan military leader and President Idi Amin. Although real-life events involving Amin inspired parts of this story, the movie is largely fictional for this penultimate among the best political leader biopics.
The relationship between Amin and his former missionary to Uganda and royal personal physician, Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) is a roller coaster of emotion. Honor becomes a curse. Pleasure becomes a pain. And prestige becomes a blood-soaked stain over an entire country.
1. All the President’s Men (1976)
The Watergate Scandal rocked this nation to its core. How could a president become so diabolical to use his office for personal gain and deceive the American people? This was the life of President Richard Nixon. (Wait. Who did you think we meant?)
Anywho, Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford were captivating as The Washington Post sleuth watchdog reporters, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodard, respectively. There are better biopics–see numbers two and three on this list alone. However, if you need one of the political leader biopics out there to wash down Election Day 2024, this historical ethics lesson on the need for truth is supreme.
Since he saw ‘Dune’ in the $1 movie theater as a kid, this guy has been a lover of geek culture. It wasn’t until he became a professional copywriter, ghostwriter, and speechwriter that he began to write about it (a lot).
From the gravitas of the Sith, the genius of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, or the gluttony of today’s comic fan, SPW digs intelligent debate about entertainment. He’s also addicted to listicles, storytelling, useless trivia, and the Oxford comma. And, he prefers his puns intended.
