So the debates happened the other night and I immediately tuned out to the platitude debate that would ensue. So I turned on Independence Day so I can revel and yearn for the day when President Bill Pullman takes that stand and inspires us to beat those aliens and their fancy shields. This led me to make up a list of my top ten favorite movie presidents because I feel they are way better candidates at this point. So here you go folks, the most kick ass Presidents from movies.
1. Harrison Ford – President James Marshall – Air Force One
It would have been better if he had said, “No ticket.” I mean wouldn’t have that been fucking awesome? Anyways, Harrison Ford goes all executive decision on a group of radical, militant terrorists as he takes back control of Air Force One and stops a jailed military leader from going free. I would personally petition to have that man be President for life.
2. Morgan Freeman – President Tom Beck – Deep Impact
Morgan Freeman could tell me that I have several types of cancer with only a few hours to live. He could read the US tax code for 15 hours and I wouldn’t mind. If there was ever a President that had to break the news to the world that we are on the course for extinction, I would want President Tom Beck to be that man. It’s like listening to someone read you a bed time story, only that story has a horrific ending, but oh well, at least Morgan Freeman is talking.
3. Kevin Kline – President William Harrison Mitchell – Dave
The employment speech is an immediate favorite for me in this movie. It’s brief, but eloquent and come on, it’s a bold statement for a President to make. Kevin Kline is wonderful, lighthearted and fun to watch as the stand-in President in this movie.
4. Tom Lister, Jr. – President Lindberg – The Fifth Element
I love when a President, when faced with an unknown entity of alien origin, decides to just open fire on the thing, not knowing what the fuck it is. I can appreciate a take action president that doesn’t pussy foot around letting a few missiles fly for the sake of humanities safety. That is the sort of president that you should vote for.
5. Bill Pullman – President Thomas J. Whitmore – Independence Day
I believe that speech says it all.
6. Lloyd Bridges – President Thomas “Tug” Benson – Hot Shots! Part Deux
I can’t believe there isn’t a clip of him fighting Saddam Hussein from the second movie. Oh well, as you can tell in this clip from Hot Shots! he is just an Admiral, but he is the sort of man who can lead a nation, thus seeing him become president in the second film.
7. Jack Nicholson – President James Dale – Mars Attacks!
A completely underrated movie about an alien invasion on a global scale. But the true hero is Jack Nicholson giving such a moving speech to the aliens in order to foster peace between the two species. It’s sad that they just want to kill and don’t give a damn about his speech. I would have given peace a chance, but he did the best he could.
8. Terry Crews – President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho – Idiocracy
That’s how you control congress. Idiocracy gave a clear glimpse as to what our future is going to be if we don’t get shit together, but then again I kind of like the idea of Terry Crews being our president. President Camacho just happens to be a porn super star and a five time ultimate smackdown champion, that is way better credentials than any other person in congress and government.
9. Peter Sellers – President Merkin Muffley – Dr. Stangelove
That President has an eloquent way with breaking the news about an impending nuclear attack on our foreign enemy. Peter Sellers is just stellar, an impeccable actor with a perfect delivery in this scene where he talks with the USSR President. Dr. Strangelove is a fantastic movie, hands down, and Sellers plays President Muffley with a deadpan comedic timing during a tense standoff of nuclear war. I think the pubic wig named president managed to convey the right tone when talking to the USSR President about a bomb coming his way.
10. Leslie Nielsen – President Harris – Scary Movie 3
It’s Leslie Nielsen guys, if he ran in real life, I would surely vote for him.