At the Movies: Your informant's name is what?

Friday's installment of my favorite patriotic movies is one about whistleblowing-speaking the truth to power. I had two for this theme I really liked.

One was Silkwood. I think it captures the fear of the average person who takes a stand really well. Set in Oklahoma in the mid 70s, it follows a women who works for a company making plutonium rods. Karen Silkwood charges the company with unsafe working conditions and mismanagement of nuclear materials. When people talk about Meryl Streep as the actress of her generation, this movie is one of those cited as why. She and Cher are excellent and there are scenes in this movie which feel terrifyingly real. The real Silkwood died on her way to meet a reporter. Her activism and the investigation of her claims after her death resulted in changes in how nuclear materials were handled and transported.

I think, however, that the best movie about speaking truth to power is All The President's Men (1976)

Watergate started as a break-in at the DC offices of the Democratic National Committee and ended up forcing President Richard Nixon to resign in disgrace. The movie chronicles how the break-in started an investigation by two reporters for the Washington Post which lead to uncovering corruption at the highest levels of the Republican Party. Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bertnstein (Dustin Hoffman) play the reporters who break the case. Its different from Silkwood in that it isn't about an individual but an institution holding power accountable. I think I really like this movie, in part, because of my background in journalism and one of my childhood memories is being confused watching President Nixon get on a helicopter and leave the White House. All The President's Men helped explain why everything was so turbulent as I got older. Part of being a patriot is having the courage to say no when the easier answer is yes. Convictions matter.

Up next: My next clue is my first post...

At the Movies: "That's the fact, Jack"

If you didn't like the musical theater post, you will hate hate hate this one, but I have my reasons and will explain.

Stripes (1981)

Rallying the troops as only Pvt. John Winger can pull off.

I know I'm losing credibility with ya'll on this one (do I have any left?), but hear me out. On its surface, Stripes is the anti-patriotic movie. It mocks almost all that is patriotic. You might argue its satire: Murray and company are shining a light on the shadow side of nationalism. Maybe, but that's not why its here.

It is here because of a 30 year old memory.. I graduated high school in 1982 and decided to join the military. I left for basic training in late June and so my first Fourth of July away from home was at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. After a couple weeks of shaved head, screaming seargents and SC sand everywhere imaginable, I was homesick, tired and wondering what fool thing I had done.  On July 4th, we were marched to a large building and listened to Vice President George Bush (Ok, my memory puts the VP there, but I'm worried my recollection is wrong. In my mind, I may have promoted the Second Undersecretary in charge of paper clips to second in command of the US government.)  thank us for our service. We were then served fried chicken and ice cream and taken to see ... Stripes! The movie has fused with that moment and my desire to serve. Public service (acting in the public's good) is central to the patriotic act and that memory is why Stripes is on the list.

Up next: When the plumber goes rogue...

Getting water from the tap ...

I wanted to interupt the movie countdown for a challenge. Kim, a James Madison Fellow and teacher from Ohio challenged her friends on Facebook to read the Supreme Court opinion before making statements. Not the pundits or experts or talking head (those are all the same thing but you know I like the whole triptic thing). The actual opinion. So, here it is. So far I am about a third of the way through. Thanks, Kim.

Supreme Court Opinion on 'Affordable Care Act'

At the Movies: Another suggestion from a different front

Todd M. suggested Enemy at the Gates and I wanted to submit it for your consideration. I will be honest, I've not seen it but Todd offer some ideas on how to use it in the classroom in an earlier post.

Enemy at the Gates (2001)

At the Movies: Ben Franklin -- Song and Dance Man

There was some back and forth on yesterday's selection and I appreciated the challenge to rethink The Longest Day. I'm pretty sure today's selection will garner unison boos but I love this movie. There, I said it--I heart this movie!

1776 (1972)

The clip I wanted was from the Ford's Theater production this year but...

Full disclosure: I love musicals. It was part of how I paid for college and I still perform every now and then. One of my proudest accomplishments is having been able to sing comic opera at Monticello and Ashlawn (Jefferson's and Monroe's homes, respectively) while stationed in Virginia. 1776 is one of the musicals I would try to arrange my schedule to be in if it were mounted around here. So, don't be a hater, hater.

As a movie musical it is quite solid. Most of the original Broadway principles reprise their roles and reprise them well. Williams Daniels and Howard DiSilva as Adams and Franklin are pitch perfect. Ken Howard as TJ is quite good. None of these men are exceptional singers but, like Paula Abdul, you forgive them a little pitchiness here and there. The musical heavy lifting is done by Blythe Danner, Virginia Vestoff, Ron Holgate and John Cullum. The four's moment in center light are among the best of the movie. Cullum's Molasses to Rum is, I believe, a perfect moment on film. He would star a few years later as a Virginia father torn by allegiance in the Civil War in the musical Shenandoah and shine there as well.

1776 as a patriotic movie ... Its patriotic because it shows the messiness of convictions and change. Is it historically accutate? Not on alot of levels but since its not a documentary ... A musical has certain size and cost constraints so characters get merged together and events speculated, even created from scratch. But the conflict, the backstories, the hourglass ticking as the British aim their fleet at New York Harbor--it works.

In addition to the messiness of birthing a nation, I would offer the character of John Dickinson (played brilliantly by Paul Hecht) as an example of patriotism. He is Adam's foil in the movie; not ready to split from Mother England. However, Dickinson is a great example of opposition honing the argument and galvanizing the decision. Leaders aren't supposed to be lemmings and 1776 shows that.

Up Next: "Blowed Up, Sir!"

Mary Todd Lincoln: Ninja!

Just came back from seeing Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. I walked out of the theater thinking I needed to remember to send back my Sherlock DVD to Netflix. I had pretty much forgotten the movie by the time we hit the lobby.

I really liked the book. It was fun and didn't do a bad job with the history. It didn't seem to take itself too seriously. It is one of the few books I've imediately re-read.

I liked the movie Lincoln. I liked the movie Mary Todd Lincoln even though she had a Laura Linney as Abigail Adams vibe. The movie is both visually stunning and ham handed with the history and the storytelling

Oh well,  I guess it doesn't make the list this week.

At the movies: Another D-Day entry ...

Since my post this morning, a fellow teacher has suggested another D-Day movie and I want to put it out there on the 'interweb'.

The Longest Day (1962)

The original trailer of the movie

Mike B. suggests that The Longest Day might be a better suggestion. It looks at the invasion from the American, British, French and German perspectives, among others. It is certainly more global in its scope than Saving Private Ryan or even Band of Brothers. One of my criteria for picking these movies was that they looked at patriotism as something more than just xenophobia wrapped in flags and bunting. The Longest Day certainly meets my standards on that criteria.

One comment by another teacher is that Saving Private Ryan is a more 'user-friendly' piece to historically analzye with his students. Its story is personal and not as epic as The Longest Day. This is an interesting discussion to me-what works best for our charges. Keep it up the discussion and I will post.

I will be honest that it has been quite a while since I've watched The Longest Day so I wanted to be fair to it. I will watch it in the next couple days and weigh in.

Netflix link to The Longest Day