"There they go again." ~ The critics hate Reagan. But they're wrong -- again.

Gloria Romanorum ^ | September 9, 2024 | Florentius

[Antoninus]

Do yourself a favor and go see the Reagan movie if you haven't already. Probably the best film of the year.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Well, I didn’t like the movie very much.

Love Reagan though!

[CondoleezzaProtege]

To be clear, from a purely filmmaking and artistic standpoint, I didn’t like the movie.

[ClearCase_guy]

Very good movie. Saw it last weekend.

[Steely Tom]

I still remember the smirking mug of that ah Sam Donaldson.

I don’t think his TV career lasted very long after the end of the Reagan administration.

Maybe he retired to tend to his mohair operation.

[Patriot777]

I’ll have to wait until I can stream it at home. Costs waaayyy too much to go to a theatre to see it and there’s only one in my town and it’s trashed out.

And my vehicle would be trashed out when I came out of the theatre, as well.

[Notasoccermom]

I loved the movie… laughed and wept !

[stanne]

You know it’s going to be linear and cheeeezy. From that point of view it was nice.

[Carry_Okie]

My thoughts on the movie:

1. I didn't get a sense of reality on how Russian agents had followed him from his youth. Did that really happen or was it a device?
2. They vaporized his children completely.
3. They spent too much time with the horse (and a Western saddle?)
4. They didn't show him personally answering letters from the people.
5. They blew off the criticality and extent of what he learned working with GE.
6. Deregulating oil as a way to defund the Russians wasn't clear
7. They didn't mention his deeper reads, such as Montesquieu
8. We didn't need the speech writer.
9. They didn't show how he beat RINO George Christopher and STILL kept the CA-GOP together.

On the plus side,

1. How close he came to beating Ford and how hard he took it hadn't occurred to me.
2. The relationship with Gorbachev was beautifully developed
3. The PATCO strike was portrayed in proper global context
4. Leaving the table in Iceland was excellent
5. Nancy was totally believable and her support was outstandingly portrayed.
6. I didn't know George Schultz nearly blew it.

It was a good movie, but it could have been a lot better.

[Persevero]

They hated Reagan and W like they hate Trump. Also Palin and Dan Quayle.

HW didn’t seem to attract the same level of vitriol nor did Romney or McCain although they were all disparaged and maligned.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Really want to see this. Even if just to give it ratings.

Husband and I are Children of the ‘80s. Our son is a teen now. He’s the son of ‘80s Kids. I guess we all have to see it.

[Fuzz]

Five of the eight people mentioned in your post are disparaged here quite regularly, except Quayle who is rarely mentioned.

[Nervous Tick]

>> To be clear, from a purely filmmaking and artistic standpoint, I didn’t like the movie.

Seriously? It’s among the best movies I have seen my whole life — both the content AND the filmmaking. Then again, I don’t watch a whole lot of movies. Most of them are crap. The “coming attractions” trailers in our showing of Reagan were for Beetlejuice and Transformers, and those just about made me puke with the open transhumanism on display.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Did [the KGB psychologist studying Reagan] really happen or was it a device?

I have exactly the same question. For now I’m going with “device”.

[FlipWilson]

All this criticism and hatred of a movie about Reagan is illuminating.

Forever we are being told by the RINOs and by the Left that ‘Reagan wouldn’t recognize this party.” or “I am a Reagan Republican.” or “Reagan’s legacy is tarnished by Trump.” or or or.

BUT!!!! When push comes to shove and Reagan appears on the scene again, as a movie, those who claim his mantle and who decry the tarnishing of his legacy end up HATING him with a PASSION all over again. They show their true colors and are triggered anew.

Never forget, they hated Reagan then as much as they hate Trump now. The vitriol and venom they spew at Trump is not new. It was not brought on by Trump. It has ALWAYS been there. The same old RINOs hated him and sabotaged him then, and have still would now. They have passed on that trait to the new RINOs who hate Trump in the same manner.

And the Left, anytime they invoke Reagan it is a joke.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Yes the cinematic output these days leaves much to be desired. This is true.

“Reagan” was typical of a classic propaganda piece, but geared for people like me who already agree with the political premise?

I felt treated like a sheep who is unable to handle the thought of their shepherd being anything less than Christlike. As though I wouldn’t be able to reconcile Reagan’s greatness with any of this flaws. Or Reagan’s faith, with any of his deviations.

I would have much preferred a narrative about a heroic yet complicated man.

The portrayal of women was particularly “cringe” including of Prime Minister Thatcher, the Iron Lady herself...there was a voter who answered the door that was a very “dumb blonde” type caricature, Nancy was WAY too one-dimensional, of course the Reagan children got barely any airtime as they were famously estranged from their parents on and off in real life. (Too much dirty laundry to air there?)

Didn’t like the portrayal of Russians/Soviet. Also too simplistic.

I especially didn’t appreciate the portrayal of Reagan’s first wife, Jane. She was presented as superficial and unsympathetic — in an effort to avoid the idea that Ronald himself had any role in the breakdown of his marriage?

And finally, I am wearied out by Evangelical-leaning moviemaking in general...The presentation of faith is too formulaic for my liking.

[Sam Clements]

It was like an old fashion Hollywood movie from the 1940’s. America was better then and so were the movies. The style of the movie is perfect for a 1940’s movie star. I loved the movie just like I loved Ronald Reagan.

[SomeCallMeTim]

Thanks for the great review. I’ve been wanting to see it. The past 10 days have been crazy busy, for a retired guy. I will probably go on Wednesday.

I’ve been a bit hesitant, because.. RR was a such a hero to me. He was my first vote for a President, and I STILL have not come close to being as proud of a presidential vote as I was for that one. Reagan is one of my very few “heroes”... him, and Rush.

Reagan completely changed my view of government. I was so cynical, I thought it was ALWAYS bad. He taught me, that it mattered who we elected. Good people can do good things... like, indexing tax rates to inflation. Every American who pays income tax, STILL gets a tax cut every year because of this.

I briefly dated a girl in college whose father was a full Colonel in the Air Force. They’d lived in California for several years while Reagan was Governor. When I met them, he was in Austin. They HATED Reagan. I just couldn’t understand it. Eventually, this ended our relationship.

Ronald Reagan has been the greatest President of my lifetime, and no one else is even close. I miss him, dearly.

[Luke21]

What a wonderful, wonderful piece of writing.

[mfish13]

Best President in my lifetime. Well, I was alive with Ike but do not remember him. I remember from JFK on. Made me feel good as the movie was about that period in which we defeated the USSR without firing a shot. Now Putin is trying to bring the USSR back by force. Obama and Biden/Harris wanted this. Why, I do not know.