Zelig (1983) - Is Obama Zelig? He can change to be whatever your group wants

geocities dot com ^ | 7-14-08

[Impy]

B.H. Obama.

[doug from upland]

In fact, Barack Obama specifically voted four times in the Illinois Legislature to allow criminal charges against a homeowner who used a firearm in self-defense of their person and home — specifically what the Supreme Court says is a constitutional right. Obama may say he supports it, but his record says exactly the opposite.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Good photo of Obama. Did you get it from his official campaign site or from their double-secret campaign site which only the inner-circle know about?

Campaign theme-song: “The man in the Mirror”

[the invisib1e hand]

I am [H]ugh.

[Clemenza]

I am a HUGE fan of this film. Many forget that His Woodness based the story on the sociological concept of the "other directed" individual, popularized by David Riesman in "The Lonely Crowd" which Woody read while in college (before he dropped out).

Basically, Riesman said that in American society in the late 1940s and 1950s, there existed outer-directed people, who strove to assert independence and authority, and "inner-directed" people who chose to acquiesce to the conventions of the day by agreeing with others and not causing waves. In extreme cases, the "other directed person" would take on the characteristics of any group or individual they were with at a given time, for the purpose of gaining "acceptance."

Leonard Zelig and Barry Obama should be characterized as other-directed men in the extreme.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>[Obama] is Leonard Zelig and living the Woody Allen film.

Priceless!

[Holicheese]

Best line in that movie was:
“When young Leanord was bad, his parents would lock him in a closet. When he was really bad, they would get into the closet with him.”

Loved that movie. Its really one of the only Woody Allen movies I like.

[firebrand]

I have always thought other-directed people were making up for a low IQ. Using social grease as their get-ahead medium.

[BallyBill]

Ah, The Chameleon Dance Song from “Zelig” will now be stuck in head for a week.

[J40000]

“Do The Chameleon” should be Obama’s campaign theme song.

[Mark]

When he speaks, he reminds me of I think it was “Chauncey Gardener” in Being There( I think that’s the film).

[weegee]

No. Barack Hussein Obama is not Woody Allen's Zelig, a man who turns up in history at all sorts of places.

There is another more appropriate film analogy:

Chameleon Street (1989):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101561/

"William Douglas Street is bored with his life. Working for his father is getting to him, his wife wants more money, and he's had enough. His solution is to re-invent himself. He becomes a chameleon, taking on whatever role suits the situation. From reporter to doctor to lawyer, he impersonates anyone he sees a need for and he can earn money being. The movie is based on the real people, William Douglas Street, Jr., and Erik Dupin."

[Savage Beast]

Zelig is Woody Allen's best and cleverest movie and one of my favorites.

If memory serves me, Dr. Eudora Fletcher (Mia Farrow--in her best role) was a psychiatrist, not a nurse. Am I correct?

[doug from upland]

HERE IS THE CHAUNCEY GARDENER COMPARISON ON YOUTUBE FROM MARCH 1

[doug from upland]

It’s been so long, I don’t remember. I enjoyed his movies before we discovered he was a lowlife pervert. TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN literally had me falling out of my seat laughing.

[doug from upland]

Here is the song on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L6Iq0HfZ-U

[Savage Beast]

I was falling out of my seat laughing at Broadway Danny Rose. Remember the scene when the mafia hit men are coming after Woody (Danny) in the restaurant and he's haggling with the waitress over the bill, and Mia Farrow says: "Danny, they'll rip the tongue right outta ya head!"

And I've never seen a funnier scene than the one in Husbands and Wives when Judy Davis is on her first date since seperation from her husband! The man wants a romantic evening. He's taking her to Mozart's Don Giovanni. I still laugh out loud just thinking about that scene.

I think The Purple Rose of Cairo is one of Woody's cleverest and best movies, but it's sad, not funny.

And if anybody hasn't seen Woody Allen's Matchpoint--it is extremely good and very clever--but dark--not funny--not a comedy--and one of Woody's best.

[karnage]

Sleeper was incredibly funny - Annie Hall delightful - Hannah and Her Sisters had wonderful moments. Crimes and Misdemeanors, in a darker vein, was also outstanding. A great and original filmmaker.

[AZLiberty]

Don't forget The Curse of the Jade Scorpion, one of my favorites.