Bob Robertsby Tim Robbins (1992)
In the aftermath of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, actor and director Tim Robbins criticized conspiracy theorists on the X network for drawing parallels between the event and his first feature film, Bob Robertsa mockumentary about a reactionary, millionaire folk singer running for the U.S. Senate. Roberts’ campaign takes off when he escapes an assassination attempt, which many suspect was a frame-up. He narrowly wins the election. “Bob Roberts has become real,” Tim Robbins said when Donald Trump was elected president of the United States in 2018.
Marc Cassivi, The Press
Available on YouTube
Civil Warby Alex Garland (2024)
Insurgents from 19 secessionist states storm the White House. The President of the United States, an authoritarian populist, has decided to remain in office in defiance of the Constitution, despite the end of his second four-year term. He has ordered airstrikes against American citizens. A new civil war tears the United States apart in this film by Alex Garland, which inevitably recalls the insurrection of January 6, 2021 and Donald Trump’s refusal (to this day) to admit his electoral defeat. The end of Civil War is convoluted, but the film is chilling.
Marc Cassivi, The Press
Available on YouTube, Prime Video, Apple TV
Idiocracyby Mike Judge (2006)
The epitome of the average American, Joe Bauers (Luke Wilson) is chosen by the Pentagon to participate in a top-secret hibernation program. When he awakens 500 years later, Joe discovers that humanity has regressed so much that he is now, by far, the most brilliant man in the world. In 2014, the Urban Dictionary described this dystopian science fiction comedy by Mike Judge (Beavis and Butthead, King of the Hill) released in 2006: “a film that was originally a comedy, but which became a documentary”.
Manon Dumais, The Press
Available on Apple TV, Disney+, Google Play and YouTube
Man of the Yearby Barry Levinson (2006)
In this comedy by Barry Levinson (Wag the Dog) released in 2006, Robin Williams plays a famous satirical talk show host who, after launching himself, as a joke, into the race for the presidency of the United States, wins his election. Not without having mocked excessively his Democratic and Republican opponents. Ten years after this bittersweet reflection on politics as spectacle, a businessman and former host of a popular reality TV show is elected 45e President of the United States. If trends continue, he could very well occupy the Oval Office for a second time.
Manon Dumais, The Press
Available on Crave and Apple TV
The Regime (2024)
The action of the Diet is not set in the United States; it revolves around the dictator of an authoritarian regime somewhere in Central Europe. But when you consider the unabashed nationalism advocated by Elena Vernham, Kate Winslet’s narcissistic and power-hungry chancellor, the parallels with Donald Trump are inevitable. At the Republican National Convention last week, several supporters held up signs calling for the mass expulsion of migrants (“Mass Deportation Now!”). This message obviously evokes Trump’s plan to fight what he calls an “invasion,” a concept that feeds into the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory promoted by JD Vance, his new running mate.
Marc-Andre Lemieux, The Press
Offered on Crave
Veep4e season (2015)
Having won best actress at the Emmys in September 2016, two months before Donald Trump’s election, Julia Louis-Dreyfus declared during her acceptance speech that due to the political climate in the United States, Veep suddenly had the appearance of a “documentary”, and no longer of a satirical comedy, as was the initial objective. The speech had provoked bursts of laughter from the audience. But eight years later, Louis-Dreyfus’ words still resonate since in the excellent fourth season of Veepher vice-presidential character becomes (you guessed it) president when her predecessor decides to step down. All that’s left to do is hope that Kamala (Harris) is better than Selina (Meyer).
Marc-Andre Lemieux, The Press
Offered on Crave