Sarah Palin: a Bad Disney Movie Waiting to Happen?
Filed under: Fandom, Newsstand, Politics
When Sarah Palin was announced as John McCain's running mate, people were quick to name the lookalikes who could play her in a movie. But it took Matt Damon to tell us what kind of movie it would actually be. Fearfully predicting that McCain will die in office, the actor says Palin's advancement to the presidency would be like the plot of a bad Disney movie. He even imagines a scene from the movie involving Palin's showdown against Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin "using the folksy stuff she learned at the hockey rink." Basically he's described something along the lines of King Ralph, only with a hockey mom president instead of an American slob turned British monarch.Of course, Damon's snide comments are probably meant to be a joke, even if he looks 100% serious while saying it. But the thing he fails to realize is that America loves these kinds of "bad" Disney movies involving fish out of water stories and simple folk characters who rise to the top. "The Hockey Mom" would certainly be a bigger hit than Damon's non Ocean's and Bourne movies. So, his attempt to humorously describe a bad scenario may in fact be welcomed as a heartwarming and crowd-pleasing possible future. Either way, his intended criticism of Palin is just the latest in useless political commentary from celebrities, something we can't get away from listening to, whether because of the media's attention to it or due to our own obsessions with what's on movie stars' minds.
To hear the rest, check out the clip after the jump. And to see Gina Gershon portray Palin in new Funny or Die spoof, click here.
[via The Superficial]
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Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. I wouldn't say I inherently have a problem with celebrities talking politics.
What I do have a problem with, celebrity or not, is the fact that when it comes to politics in this country people always see everything as clear black and white (and no, that's not a racial pun). If it's not my candidate, that person is completely unqualified and/or a moron who, if elected, will run the country into the ground.
How is it that with everything else there are always gray areas, but with politics one side is completely right while the other is completely wrong?
I like Matt Damon, and I even think he's a pretty smart fella, but talking politics can make anyone look like an ass.
Posted at 6:01PM on Sep 11th 2008 by Mike
3. I don't think this is useless at all. This is one of the smartest critical evaluations of the skills of Mrs. Palin that has been presented. I think Damon (and a lot of other Americans) are scared at the prospect of seeing Palin as President. Matt Damon's commentary is no less or more important than that of the chatterboxes on talk radio or any of the news stations. Everyone is allowed an opinion and most of those shared about politics are no more right or wrong than the next.
Posted at 6:03PM on Sep 11th 2008 by Alex
4. So what about Obama being a community leader, what experience is that? Why is he getting a pass when he stinks just as bad? His story is a comedy when compared to Palin.
Posted at 6:09PM on Sep 11th 2008 by TheRedMonkey
5. You might think of him as a community leader, but then again he has held a national level office. Why do you even refer to him as a "community leader"? The man is a Senator, same a Mr. McCain. As least give him the respect he deserves for that.
Posted at 6:45PM on Sep 11th 2008 by Los
6. Obama gets a "pass" for being a community organizer because that's just ONE of the jobs he's had. He's been the editor of the Harvard Law Review (one of the most prestigious jobs in all of academia), he was a civil rights attorney, he taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago, and has been a member of both the Illinois State and the US Senate. Obama doesn't have to prove how smart he is. The man's an expert on law, the constitution, economics, and foreign policy.
Palin went to 5 colleges before getting a single bachelors. Then she was the mayor of a tiny own in Alaska and has been the governor in Alaska for 1.5 years. THAT'S why she doesn't get a "pass" - how the hell is anyone to know if she's smart and qualified or not?
Matt Damon is totally right. It's a scary thought that a person we know absolutely nothing about (and had never heard of 2 weeks ago) could run the country.
Posted at 7:35PM on Sep 11th 2008 by uforeader
7. Maaaat Daaaamon!!
Posted at 9:06PM on Sep 11th 2008 by Cincinnati Mike
8. What you don't hear is what Matt Damon knows about Joe Biden and whether or not he believes you should only pick Vice Presidents from larger, (perhaps) more populous states as I think it is implicit in what he is saying. Biden was just chosen for Vice President, but Mr. Damon doesn't tell you if he feels more comfortable with Biden; and more important why he does if he does.
So, I pose the question to you (fellow readers). Would you vote for a President or Vice President if they were a governor from Maine? Wyoming? Nebraska? Hawaii? Rhode Island?
Posted at 6:30PM on Sep 11th 2008 by Anthony
9. Huh? I live in Delaware. Joe isn't a Senator representing our state. He acts as more of a diplomat representing America to the world.
Posted at 8:33PM on Sep 11th 2008 by Alex
10. @Alex...
Did I miss the little "wink-wink" emoticon on your Ambassador to the World comment? Because it almost sounded like you were serious.
Posted at 9:35PM on Sep 11th 2008 by Cincinnati Mike
11. Sure, if they had been doing it for a reasonable length of time. 1.5 years and mayor of a small town? No f-ing way.
Community organizer, Harvard grad, law professor, state legislator, US senator? Maybe.
FWIW, I voted for McCain in 2004 and leaned that direction before the Palin pick. Now I'll reluctantly vote Obama or just stay home. We've had too many faith-based policies for 4 more years of it.
Posted at 10:05PM on Sep 11th 2008 by jwest
12. Face it, Matt Damon knows what's best for you and if you don't like it then you must be redneck white trash.
Posted at 7:05PM on Sep 11th 2008 by Paul
13. I don't get the aversion to celebrities who speak out about politics. What happened to free speech? They are in a unique position to trumpet their thoughts and positions to the world - that the world eats it up isn't their fault.
I suspect most of the protestations come from Republicans, who seethe that Hollywood is a liberal town.
Posted at 7:11PM on Sep 11th 2008 by Jon
14. I'd say the ones who are seething are the liberals who can't believe that this redneck small-town mayor has completely knocked The One on his ass.
Oh, and MAaaaatt DAaaaamonnnn!
Posted at 9:42PM on Sep 11th 2008 by Cincinnati Mike
15. You think the Presidential Hockey Mom movie would be a bigger hit than the Oceans or Bourne movies? Have you ever heard of IMDB.com? I'd go there and compare the ratings and box office stats for the last straight-to-video Disney movies that have come out.
Posted at 8:14PM on Sep 11th 2008 by Colbtronic
16. No, I said it'd be bigger than his non Ocean's and Bourne movies.
Posted at 8:59PM on Sep 11th 2008 by Christopher Campbell
17. ~Warning!! Long comment~
On actors giving their political views to the public:
While I believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and free speech is essential to all, I also think that actors/actresses need to be quiet about their political views. The reason isn't about silencing critics. It's not about free speech. This is about influence.
Actors/Actresses are for the most part known to be of a liberal bent. It's only natural, really, based on the type of person needed to do what they do. But, Hollywood isn't a 50/50 kind of place. You don't have just as many conservative actors spouting off as you do liberal actors. If that were the case, all things would be equal and I wouldn't have an issue with it. But, actors have tremendous influence to their fans. If the majority of the actors are supporting a certain idea, many of their fans will pick up on that idea as their own, without critical thinking. Their respect and adoration for their favorite actors will influence their decisions. If the majority point of view is from one side of an issue and the person speaking has tremendous reach and influence, how is that fair to the other side of the issue?
On the Election:
When it comes right down to it, both campaigns are deliberately trying to make the other seem less experienced.
The Sen. Obama camp keeps calling Gov. Palin a "small town mayor".
The Sen. McCain camp keeps calling Sen. Obama a "community organizer".
While both of these statements were true at one time, they are past experience, good or bad.
Obama is a sitting US Senator. Palin is a sitting US Governor.
In point of fact, actual time in office is very similar between Sen. Obama and Gov. Palin.
Sen. Obama votes on a few big issues a year.
Gov. Palin is an executive running her whole state. Think "mini US".
You can't judge by the size of the states because Sen. Biden is from Delaware. Gov. Palin is from Alaska. Sen. Obama is from Illinois, and Sen. McCain is from Arizona.
So, to me, the choice is clear. I would rather have a less experienced person as VP than I would as President. Gov. Palin can learn things from John McCain and his administration while being VP, expanding on her executive experience. Sen. Obama would have to start out of the gate without a lot of experience and have to fall back on that of Sen. Biden.
Everyones vote matters. Vote for who you would like. But, if all you look at is your own parties rhetoric, you aren't making a clear and informed decision... you are a lemming. Republican or Democrat. Conservative or Liberal.
Cinematical. In the future, can we avoid discussing politics and focus instead on the world of "Cinema"? Lets stick to our shared interest and discuss movies.
Posted at 8:31PM on Sep 11th 2008 by Cannen
18. As Cincinnati Mike is slow on the uptake for this one...
...Maaaatt Daaaamon?
Posted at 10:41PM on Sep 11th 2008 by Rufus
19. Thanks Rufus! I owe you one.
Posted at 7:52AM on Sep 12th 2008 by Cincinnati Mike
20. America...can't you tell a Vegas act when you see one? More power to women and everything, but she is simply being used for the cameras to get OLD McCain into office.
McCain = Bush = 4 more years of Suck.....Period.
Posted at 1:07AM on Sep 12th 2008 by A woman
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1. Doesn't reporting on the fact that it's trash sorta empower is all the more?
Posted at 5:54PM on Sep 11th 2008 by Matthew