Do you fight the fights you can win or do you fight the fights worth fighting? In honour of our American friends who are heading to the polls on Nov 3rd, we review the Aaron Sorkin test run for The West Wing in The American President. Join your favourite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian, Liam, Ellie, & Georgia – and our very special guest (and Sorkin expert) Debbie - as we watch a political romance that Liam had very little interest in going into the episode. We also chat nostalgically about the Scottish force of nature that was Sean Connery by listing our favourite non-Bond roles. We're taking our approval rating for a spin in our 37th episode as we discuss:
- The original idea for this film and how very different the casting could have gone
- Which Hollywood icon gave up on the title role due to reported personality conflicts with director Rob Reiner.
- We discuss which of the 3 F-Bombs in this film were most impactful, and how come the film avoided an R rating after the 2nd one.
- Is Andrew Shepherd an appeaser? Is he a bad boyfriend?
- Should we challenge Sydney more about her conflict of interest
- We see how Martin Sheen argues both sides of a proportional response
- We wish there was a mash-up of Sydney Ellen Wade speaking to Ghostface from Scream
- Some of us get distracted by some lousy 90s blue screen
- Ian might just have to eat his words after the age game
- How Annette Benning is presented as professional and stunning without ever being objectified
- We debate whether the script is wooden or if it's genius
- Whether or not The American President is the Best Film Ever.
