The National Review has asked readers to vote for the top 25 conservative movies over the last 25 years. Here is the list, with explanatory links:
1. The Lives of Others (2007) Never seen or heard of it – strange choice.
2. The Incredibles(2004) Good family fun, but not a number 2 choice and I fail to see how it is a uniquely conservative movie.
3. Metropolitan (1990) Never seen it – not a number 3.
4. Forrest Gump (1994) Not a number 4 – should not even be on the list, Oprah likes it!
5. 300 (2007) Don’t take kindly to horror – I walked out on it. It’s not a conservative movie.
6. Groundhog Day (1993) Funny – not sure if it is exclusively conservative.
7. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) Never seen it.
8. Juno (2007) Never seen it – pro life movie.
9. Blast from the Past (1999) Never seen it.
10. Ghostbusters(1984) Big gov’t enviro wackos try to shut down a private business – deserves a place
11. Lord of the Rings (2001, 2002, 2003) Unwillingness to compromise in the face of aggressive evil.
12. The Dark Knight (2008) Did not like it – script did not make sense – metaphor for George W Bush.
13. Braveheart (1995) Freedom!!! I am not a huge fan, but it should be in list.
14. A Simple Plan (1998) Never seen it.
15. Red Dawn (1984) Should be number 2 on the list.
16. Master and Commander (2003) Should be number 1 on the list.
17. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (2005) yep.
18. The Edge (1997) Never heard of it.
19. We Were Soldiers (2002) Accurate depiction of the Vietnam War – makes my list.
20. Gattaca(1997) Depiction of gov’t control over human reproduction services coming undone.
21. Heartbreak Ridge (1986) Yep, number 4 on my list!
22. Brazil (1985) ?
23. United 93 (2006) Number 3 on my list – most awesome documentary I’ve seen.
24. Team American: World Police (2004) Not for the kiddies.
25.Gran Torino (2008) Waiting to see it.
No Gladiator? Of the movies I have actually seen, my picks as being seriously conservative while being classic movies at the same time would be Master and Commander and Lord of the Rings. The top five choices on the National Review list are just wrong. Either I have never heard of them or they just don’t fit. What type of conservative would pick Forrest Gump over Master and Commander? A moderate limp wristed one. As the National Review pointed out:
…A. O. Scott of the New York Times said in his review: “The Napoleonic wars that followed the French Revolution gave birth, among other things, to British conservatism, and Master and Commander, making no concessions to modern, egalitarian sensibilities, is among the most thoroughly and proudly conservative movies ever made. It imagines the [H.M.S.] Surprise as a coherent society in which stability is underwritten by custom and every man knows his duty and his place. I would not have been surprised to see Edmund Burke’s name in the credits.”
The fact that it stars, is written, directed (Peter Weir) and shot by Australians is besides the point. Its treatment of Christianity is also tasteful and respectful. A list of other movies that almost made the list includes:
Air Force One (put me to sleep), Amazing Grace (great, book better), An American Carol (moments of humour – only), Barcelona, Bella, Cinderella Man (Russell Crowe, again), The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Hamburger Hill (yep), The Hanoi Hilton (yep), The Hunt for Red October (a big yep), The Island, Knocked Up, The Last Days of Disco, The Lost City, Miracle, The Patriot (no! a complete misrepresentation of history), Rocky Balboa, Serenity (mmm…), Stand and Deliver, Tears of the Sun, Thank You for Smoking, Three Kings, Tin Men, The Truman Show (Peter Weir, again), Witness (Peter Weir, again).
I’m not sure of Peter Weir’s politics, but three conservative movies maybe a sign. I know some critics claim that one of Weir’s early work, Picnic at Hanging Rock, has hidden lesbian overtones. Weir has argued strongly that this is not the case. Weir is also responsible for Gallipoli starring Mel Gibson, which provides a strong representation of the sacrifices of war without making the typical war over-tones to the left.
And Russell Crowe! Last I heard he was a big Rudd fan. Maybe he was fooled into thinking Rudd was a conservative during the last election.