TFC Journal at TheFilmChair.com

By the People: The Election of Barack Obama (2009)–***

By the People: The Election of Barack Obama has the least amount of political analysis of any political documentary that I’ve seen. That’s not to say it’s lacking substance, but in telling the story of Barack Obama’s historic election, you realize that not much reflection on style or cunning is needed. It’s a story so simple that the title sums it up. This election wouldn’t have happened without the dedicated millions who stood up for one man and his vision of America.

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I tweeted about Obama’s press conference potentially going past 9 p.m. and running into what turned out to be one of the best episode of Lost all season. I love you Obama, but don’t screw with my Lost time.

Better Off Ted, however, did get bumped for “el jefe.” But don’t worry Ted Heads. YouTube to the rescue! The vid is just one more reason why ABC needs to renew this show… NOW!

To my Sorkin president,

Happy 100th day in office. Here’s to 2,820 more.

Love,

The Film Chair

Just got back from the Ani DiFranco show at Cleveland’s House of Blues. God, every time I see her it just feels good to be alive. She’s someone who gets it. And to be surrounded by so many other people who get it is exhilarating.  Thank you, Ani, for doing what you do.

The last time I saw Ani in concert was at the height of the 2004 election. For a fleeting moment during that election cycle, mostly because of Ani’s show, I thought that John Kerry was actually going to defeat Boy George. It didn’t happen, but I volunteered harder and more fervently in the weeks ahead of the election because of her show. Ani could mobilize the people who were listening.

Now more than five years later Obama is in the White House and everything just feels different. And Ani’s songs are different, as if she can breathe for the first time in her life. Tonight she performed a song called “November 4, 2008″ celebrating that historic election day. Yes, a little rejoicing is still in order. Obama is president and it feels damn good. Thank you Obama. And thank you Ani for this song.

Top Story: Director McG is looking to bring the Tony winning musical Spring Awakening to the big screen. The Terminator Salvation helmer is developing the project with the original book and lyrics writer Steven Sater under the banner of his Wonderland Sound and Vision. Warner Bros. first look deal puts the studio in line to distribute. (THR)

In Other News: There’s no such thing as too much Obama. HBO has picked up the rights to Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime and will develop a telefilm based on the book, which chronicles the 2008 presidential election campaign. We’ll see if they can one-up Tina Fey when they cast Sarah Palin. (Variety)

Mark Wahlberg and James Franco have signed on to Date Night, a comedy starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey. (Variety)

United Artists has nabbed the writes to Rules to Dating for Teenage Girls, developing the adaptation under the name The Heartbreakers.  If this isn’t a dark comedy, I will be disappointed. (THR)

Ready to pre-order your Star Trek tickets? Well, you may want to check Fandango one more time because it looks like the film will get an early release on May 7 at 7 p.m. instead of May 8.  (Comingsoon.net)

Fin.

Top Story: After Obama’s recent Eurotrip, you get the feeling that the world loves Obama as much as, if not more than the U.S. Sony must agree because it nabbed the international distribution rights to the Edward Norton-produced Obama doc By the People: The Election of Barack Obama. HBO Films  will distribute the film in the States. (Variety)

In Other News: Al Pacino will play Napolean in the upcoming adaptation of Staton Rabin’s children’s book Betsy and the Emperor. John Curran is attached to direct. (THR)

Gore Verbinski has left the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. The director said he will not be back for the fourth film, instead focusing on an adaptation of the video game Bioshock for Universal. (Variety)

Dark Horse Comic fans are already cringing. Universal is set to Umbrella Academy into a feature, the first from its deal with the comic company, with Race to Witch Mountain writer Mark Bomback penning the script. No director has been selected yet, but at least we know Gore Verbinski has a different franchise to clean up and turn into wholesome entertainment. (Variety)

Fin.

“Clearly Brown likes Obama, but what type of relationship will they have? Will they be unlikely partners like Bush and Blair? Inspirational allies like Roosevelt and Churchill? Or will they have more of a cool black guy, white nerd vibe to them? Like Hitch.”
–Jon Stewart analyzing Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s tip to the U.S.

“Apparently, there’s going to be a movie about President Obama. He’s said that he would like Will Smith to play him, but if he’s not available, he’d happily settle for Robert Downey, Jr.”
–Jonathan Ross, Host of the 2009 Orange British Academy Film Awards

Newsweek nailed this. I just hope they don’t get cute and make it into some sort of series. Of course, I can’t sit through The City. Just this spoof’s style was grating on my nerves by minute number two.

There’s an episode of The West Wing where President Bartlet appoints a sitting FEC commissioner to the post of U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria in order to open a seat on the commission. This allows Bartlet to name an anti-soft money candidate to the FEC, giving the campaign finance reformers a majority.

Now, word on the blog is that President Obama is toying with the idea of naming New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg, a Republican,  as his commerce secretary. The move would effectively give the Democrats a 60-seat, filibuster-proof majority (assuming Al Franken will be seated) when the state’s Democratic governor names Gregg’s replacement.

A bold move, but will it stick? And what’s with a Republican getting a major cabinet appointment? Well, as Kos points out via FiveThirtyEight, Gregg has voted with Obama on six of seven important pieces of legislation since Obama took the oath.

If this pan out, Obama really will be a Sorkin president.