Barack Obama: The Movie

Posted by
Leslie C. Halpern
Nov 6, 2008

It’s universally agreed that actor Will Smith (and his ears) should portray Barack Obama whenever the movie version of his historic candidacy and presidency comes to the big screen. However, the director of this film is not a foregone conclusion. Filmmakers probably began fundraising, lobbying, and campaigning for the position of presidential filmmaker before the election results were even official.

Let’s review some of these potential directorial candidates and theorize what their two-minute elevator pitches might sound like:

Oliver Stone
Set against a backdrop of bloated, drunken, incompetent, scheming, and corrupt Republicans, a squeaky clean Democrat rises to save the American people.
Rating: R (for language and disturbing images)

Forest Whitaker
The story of the first African-American family to preside in The White House, with particular focus on the two first daughters.
Rating: PG (for some language)

Rob Minkoff
This animated version of the Barack Obama story concerns a cute black rabbit that magically changes animals, people, and situations just by wiggling his very large ears.
Rating: G

Kevin Smith
A comic reflection on Barack Obama’s early slacker days in high school before he aspired to greatness.
Rating: R (for some drug use)

Spike Lee
From a crowd of angry young African-American men unable to keep their promises emerges promise-keeping Barack Obama, committed to doing the right thing.
Rating: R (for strong graphic sexuality, nudity, language, and violence)

Steven Spielberg
A big-budget, star-studded blockbuster loaded with special effects and gentle humor that captures the excitement of two years on the campaign trail.
Rated PG-13 (for some language and intense scenes)

Nora Ephron
A clever, tear-jerking love story between two young attorneys who endure failures and successes before falling in love and becoming the President and First Lady.
Rated PG-13 (for some sexual references)

Get those elevator pitches ready!