Posted on 01/15/2009 6:53:12 PM PST by SeekAndFind
John J. Miller at The Corner asks the question:
What are the best conservative movies of the last 25 years? This cinema epoch begins roughly with the release of Red Dawn in 1984.
I might be happy if I could find 25 bona-fide conservative movies at all in the past 25 years. I’m afraid that most of what Miller will get in response will be of the Red Dawn variety, since the only place safe for conservative themes in Hollywood has been action films. Red Dawn itself had that in spades, but it was also a rather dreadful movie with more scenery-chewing than one might imagine without William Shatner. I watched it again recently and found it rather embarrassing, except for the brief appearance by Powers Booth. “AVENGE MEEEEEEEE!”
There have to be better examples of conservative movies that we can suggest to Miller. I have a few, and will add those suggested in the comments in updates, or at least the ones that make some sense. Here are my starters:
* The Great Raid (2005) - Based on a true story and managed to mostly stick to it, this film also committed the apparently unpardonable sin of telling the truth about the brutal Japanese occupation of the Philippines and their treatment of POWs. It exemplifies honor, courage, resistance to evil, and risking lives to save others.
* Saving Private Ryan (1998) - For many of the same reasons as The Great Raid, made even more clear by the highly realistic battle scenes, which make clear the sacrifice asked and made.
* Requiem for a Dream (2000) - Harrowing depiction of the destruction of lives from drug addiction, even from prescription drugs. Definitely not for everyone, but brilliant in every aspect of production. In the end, the main characters lose their souls, their freedom, and their minds. Perhaps Ellen Burstyn’s best performance.
* United 93 (2006) - Harrowing and heartrending depiction of the 9/11 flight that didn’t hit its intended target, thanks to the heroism of the passengers on the flight. Facing certain death, they fought back against the Islamist terrorists, becoming the first Americans to do so on that awful day.
* Glory (1989) - The true story of the Massachusetts 54th in the Civil War, which led an ill-starred assault on a fortified position for the Union and suffered massive casualties. The all-black regiment fought for freedom, dignity, and honor, and gave their lives gladly for those causes. Great performances by Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman make this highly compelling.
* Shattered Glass (2003) - The story of the first round of fabrication at The New Republic, with an unexpectedly excellent performance from Hayden Christenson as Stephen Glass, the serial fabulist who succeeded by telling lies about the right people — conservatives. The film does a good job of pointing that fact out.
* Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) - The trilogy should occupy one spot, but it’s an important one. In the fantasy realm, it speaks to true evil and the need to fight it, even to the death. The final battle, in which Aragorn attempts to sacrifice his entire army so that Frodo can complete the quest, has one of the most stirring battle speeches in film history. No one in this film argues for moral equivalency or the idea that Sauron might just be misunderstood.
I know I’m missing a few, so let’s hear from Hot Air readers. Be sure to explain your suggestions in the comments.
Update: The best film you never saw: The Stoning of Soraya M (2008). Read my review here. Unfortunately, it’s never made it into wide release, but it should be required viewing for those interested in human freedom. Made even better by the surprisingly subtle performances of the entire cast.
Update II: The comments section has some great suggestions. Let me add a few that deserve mention:
* The Incredibles (2004) - Can’t believe I missed this one. It focuses on the strength of a family that works together as well as rips the notion that talented people somehow pose a threat to everyone else. And it’s also flat-out fun for all ages.
* Gettysburg (1993) - Excellent, fact-based depiction of the bravery and courage on both sides of this battle.
* 300 (2006) - I’m not normally a big fan of the graphic-novel approach to storytelling, but it works in the story of the Greeks at Thermopylae. Self-sacrifice for a greater good gets a boost from highly stylized filmmaking. Not for all tastes, but for its genre, excellent.
* Braveheart (1995) - Worthy, I think, for its emphasis on resistance to tyranny and defense of homeland against foreign rule. Historical inaccuracies mar this somewhat, especially the disappearance of the bridge from the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Still excellent, though, but The Patriot is hobbled badly by its anti-British smears.
* Juno (2007) - Interesting view of teen pregnancy and the choice to give birth rather than abort. Not really ideological, but it has much more authenticity than most teen dramedies, and really a beautiful little movie.
* Team America: World Police (2004) - A twisted satire of conservative values on defense that winds up being itself a defense of conservative values. Profane as it possibly can get and with one really disturbing scene that got it an NC-17 rating until it was cut, Team America winds up providing one of the best explanations of why we need people willing to fight terrorists and tyrants … which I can’t quote here.
* The Chronicles of Narnia (2005) - I’ve only seen the first movie, which made C. S. Lewis’ allegory on Christianity rather explicit. Good movie.
* Rudy (1993) - Hard work, not feeling sorry for yourself, faith, and love all make for one of the best movies ever — and another one I can’t believe I didn’t recall in the initial post.
* Cinderella Man (2005) - Definitely a worthy entry. James J. Braddock goes back to boxing to rescue his family from poverty, and winds up winning the championship.
* An American Carol (2008) - I thought it was OK, but many others in the comments think it was better.
I’ll keep checking back, but remember that we’re looking at 1984 forward. We’re getting some excellent suggestions for earlier movies, but we want to focus on this particular time period.
Update III: Definitely on the list: Serenity (2005), which attacks Utopianism as the excuse for totalitarianism that it is. Shockingly good sci-fi movie on its own, perhaps the best in the last 25 years, it’s even better as the follow-up to the doomed Firefly television series.
Update IV: I can see that I’ll not get much other work done today. Two more worthy of consideration, both true stories:
* Amistad (1997) - Recounts the true story of how John Quincy Adams defended captured Africans for their rebellion on board a slave ship, and how he won their freedom.
* Amazing Grace (2006) - A biography of William Wilberforce, who led the fight in Great Britain to end the slave trade.
Charles Morse: Never feel sorry for a man who owns a plane.
Charles Morse: What one man can do, another can do.
Reporter #1: Mr. Morse, what happened to your friends?
Reporter #2: How did they die?
Charles Morse: They died... saving my life.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119051/quotes
Heartbreak Ridge.
Last of the Mohicans...
“Terrific soundtrack too...”
Yes...I especially like the track that is titled,I believe, “The Gael”. It will get your blood moving!
I’ve heard of Goodbye, Lenin but haven’t had a chance to view it yet. I may put it in my Netflix queue as it looks good.
Two movies which come to mind (they are both older than 25 years ago) are “12 Angry Men” (1957) with Henry Fonda and “Angels with Dirty Faces” (1938), starring James Cagney and Pat O’Brien.
England at better times. Cycled up in the 1940's and then died the 1970's
We Were Soldiers
Black Hawk Down
The Incredibles
The Passion of the Christ
The conservative message in Forrest Gump was when he was in Viet Nam. His platoon gets wiped out and his first instinct is to run away. But then he realizes his buddies need him. He runs back and gets Lt. Dan and the others. Unfortunately he brings back Bubba too late. Also, there are - I think - two times in the movie when he sees Jenny being abused and without thinking about it, he starts wailling on the abuser. Those are conservative, Christian values. To help and protect the weak and sick.
I am forever guilty of reading what I want to into movies but I thought that Eyes Wide Shut, which I thought was one of Kubrick’s best, had a conservative message.
“After a one-two punch from Mystic River and Million Dollar Baby I have entirely given up”
Me too. I looked up a detailed review of Gran Torino and it looks like another exploration of his theme of suicide for the greater good.
A story about a man, a capitalist no less, who defies the government and opposes the massive overwhelming tyrannical authority of a murderous totalitarian socialist state to stand up for the freedom and liberties of a small group of decent but powerless individuals, who supports their freedom to worship their religion and by using the bureaucracy of the state apparatus against itself, and by standing up to their dictatorial powers, helps them to maintain their dignity and family life against the all powerful government and by his courageous actions allows thousands of them to make a new life in a new land called Israel.
Hmmmm, if that ain’t a conservative message I’m not sure what your definition of conservatism is.
I haven’t seen Tsotsi but I would wholeheartedly agree with Hotel Rwanda, a magnificent movie.
OK - Thanks. I don’t remember much about the movie. I saw it many years ago and it just made me uncomfortable - I think because it made Forest a hero because he wasn’t a thinker. What you said makes sense.
Tsotsi is definitely for adults or very mature teens as the language and some of the violence is rough.
But the message of a changed heart is uplifting.
There have been many interesting choices here. Some chosen I didn’t think were conservative at all but conservatism is in the eye of the beholder.
I’ll add-
“I Am David” - about a kid who escapes from a communist prison.
“Frequency”- murder mystery/sci-fi take on the importance of fathers.
“Incredibles”, “Toy Story” 1&2, ‘Muppet Christmas Carol’
“Lord of the Rings” - which would have been more conservative if they made Frodo the hero of the book.
“Serenity”, “I Am Legend”, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”, “We Are Marshall”
YES!
One of my all time favorites.
Netflix reference bump! ;-)
Portrayal of the future? Did you know "iFart" was the top selling application on iPhone last week?
If you like Apolllo 13 as a choice, check out The Right Stuff, which I believe was about the Mercury program. After watching that flick, you’ll want to fly the biggest American flag you can get your hands on. I’ve never felt so proud to be an American from watching any other film. It’s long, around 3 hours l, but well worth it.
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