My Partisan Summer at the Movies - Page 4

In the end, the Predator dies saving Lex and the Predator mother ship comes down and all the Predators gather ‘round and one of them gives Lex a spear in a gesture that basically says, “Lady, you’re all right!” Unfortunately, in the real world, when you team up with killers, they usually just kill you.

The Terminal: Undecided

Although Spielberg produced Kerry’s convention biopic, The Terminal remains the only truly bi-partisan film of the summer. And that’s because it’s set at an airport. It can’t afford to pick sides. Which is sort of the point. If there’s one thing Americans are justifiably touchy about post-9/11, it’s airports.

So we have the overly strict head of security who cracks down on a Russian immigrant, then gets a patriotic bitch slap from his superiors about how that’s not the American way. This satisfies the Kerry contingent by harshing on a Cheney clone (seriously, Stanley Tucci looks like his younger brother in this one) but it puts a good face on Homeland Security, founded by the W.

We also have the xenophobic fantasy that the immigrants we see, by and large, remain in the airport, and even when they do get out, quickly go back home and don’t bother us anymore. They love America, but somehow never burden it in any way. This satisfies isolationists on both sides of the aisle.

So, there you have it. The movies want us to pick sides. But I say, don’t get drawn into that. Do your own thinking. Then follow your conscience. Then rent The Candidate and regret your decision.

Article Author: David Dylan Thomas

David Dylan Thomas is a Philly-based writer/filmmaker/digital strategist who rambles about movies, technology, and culture at DavidDylanThomas.com.

Visit David Dylan Thomas's author page — David Dylan Thomas's Blog