And Washington's Oscars Go To...
Oscar season is here, and everyone's playing Academy voter. What with all of the political drama in this year's Best Picture crop—and, you know, Michelle Obama hosting the kid from Beasts of the Southern Wild at the White House today—we couldn't help but wonder which films our top politicians would like to see win. Based on their Hollywood-infused activities of late, here's which way we think the Obamas, the Bidens, and more might be leaning. Just don't ask John McCain.
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Michelle Obama
Movie: Beasts of the Southern Wild Evidence: The First Lady hosted members of the cast and crew at a Black History Month workshop for middle and high school students from D.C. and New Orleans. During the event she said, according to the Associated Press: "It's rare these days to find a movie that can so completely and utterly captivate such a broad audience and that was one of the things that struck me about this movie." She added: "It managed to be beautiful, joyful and devastatingly honest." If that's not an endorsement, well, we don't know what is.
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Photo via Associated Press
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Barack Obama
Movie: Lincoln Evidence: Though he also liked Beasts of the Southern Wild, we think President Obama might be a little more political in his choice. He also has supported Lincoln this season, a film whose director supported him during the campaign. Obama was said to have been "incredibly moved" when he watched the film during a private White House screening. After the screening, the President then invited Daniel Day-Lewis to see the Lincoln bedroom.
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White House/Flickr
Harry Reid
Movie: Lincoln Evidence: He organized a screening for the Senate.
Kevin McCarthy
Movie: Lincoln Evidence: He hosted a screening for the House. This movie has bipartisan support in both chambers.
Bill Clinton
Movie: Do we even have to say? Evidence: Um, the Golden Globes.
Joe Biden
Movie: Silver Linings Playbook Evidence: Joe Biden met last week with director David O. Russell and star Bradley Cooper to talk about mental health access, a subject central to Silver Linings. Obviously, the movie—which at its heart is still a romantic comedy about Philadelphia Eagles fans—must have appealed to Biden. Though Biden was once booed at an Eagles game (the movie features a tailgate outside of one), he has said his wife Jill is a huge supporter of the team.
Newt Gingrich
Movie: Les Misérables Evidence: Oh, he heard the people sing and he loved it. Not only did Gingrich use the musical as a reference in one of his newsletters...
Newt Gingrich sent out an email to his list about how Les Miz showed what happens when govt has too much power [19yrs for stealing bread]
— Elle Reeve (@elspethrb) January 4, 2013
This is funny bc Gingrich called for massive new prisons and long prison terms to be advertised on 'rap radio' in the 90s
— Elle Reeve (@elspethrb) January 4, 2013
...he also professed his love for the film on his Twitter account.
Just saw les miserables! @callygingrich and i really loved it! Very emotional film with some great performances
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) December 29, 2012
Gingrich has some Republican company — Cindy McCain loved it, too. (So maybe it gets a vote from John, as well?)
Ok I completely agree. Les Miserables could be the best film I've ever seen!
— Cindy McCain (@CindyhM1) December 27, 2012
Leon Panetta
Movie: Zero Dark Thirty Evidence: In the storm of criticism over the film, Panetta told the AFP that it was "a good movie." That's a vote of confidence, right? Panetta even has a counterpart in the film: James Gandolfini.
Dianne Feinstein, John McCain, and Carl Levin
Movie: Not Zero Dark Thirty. Evidence: They're just really not fans.
