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The American President [DVD] [1995]

4.8 out of 5 stars 115 customer reviews

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Product details

  • Actors: Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, Anna Deavere Smith
  • Directors: Rob Reiner
  • Writers: Aaron Sorkin
  • Producers: Rob Reiner, Barbara Maltby, Charles Newirth, Jeffrey Stott
  • Format: PAL
  • Language: English, French, German
  • Subtitles: English, German, French, Portuguese, Swedish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Japanese
  • Dubbed: Czech, Italian, Polish, Spanish
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Universal Pictures UK
  • DVD Release Date: 1 Mar. 2010
  • Run Time: 109 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (115 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00004CZN5
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 517 in DVD & Blu-ray (See Top 100 in DVD & Blu-ray)

Product Description

Product Description

Widowed US President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) is unwilling to jeopardise his high standing in the opinion polls by taking political risks. However, when he begins dating environmental lobbyist Sydney Wade (Annette Bening), his opponents use his personal life as a point of attack. Can the relationship survive, or will political expediency prevail? Rob Reiner ('When Harry Met Sally') directs this White House-set romantic comedy.

From Amazon.co.uk

What sounds like a high-concept romantic comedy pitch from hell--widower president falls for smart lobbyist while the world watches--is actually intelligent, charming, touching and quite funny. Granted, it's wish fulfilment all the way (when was the last time you saw a president who was truly presidential?) but in the capable hands of writer Aaron Sorkin (TV's Sports Night) and director Rob Reiner, TheAmerican President is incredibly enjoyable entertainment with quite a few ideas about both romance and the government. Michael Douglas stars as the president, who after three years in office starts thinking about the possibility of dating. When he auspiciously encounters cutthroat environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), sparks begin to crackle and the two begin a tentative but heartfelt romance. Of course, his job gets in the way--their first kiss is interrupted by a Libyan bombing--but darn it if these two kids aren't going to try and make it work! However, they hadn't counted on the president's Republican antagonist (Richard Dreyfuss), who starts carping about family values. The predictable plot--Douglas finally goes to bat for his lady and his country--is leavened by Sorkin's wonderful, snappy dialogue and a light touch from the usually subtle-as-a-sledgehammer Reiner. Both manage to create a believable White House-office atmosphere (with a crack staff including Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, Anna Deavere Smith and Samantha Mathis) as well as a plausible and funny dating scenario. The true success of the movie, though, rides squarely on Douglas and Bening; this is unequivocally Douglas's best comedic performance (ergo his best performance, period) and Bening, usually such a good bad girl, takes a standard career-woman role and fleshes it out magnificently. You can see in an instant why Douglas would fall for her. One of the best unsung romantic comedies of the 90s. --Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
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Top Customer Reviews

Format: DVD Verified Purchase
Annette Benning is lovely; she exudes obvious sharp wit and political astuteness in this role but it's perfectly balanced by her senior prom-girl delight and endearing naivety at the enormity of the context of the relationship being proposed to her.

Aaron Sorkin's screenplay shows all the rapid fire acuity and understanding of complex political argot as would be so fabulously demonstrated later in The West Wing and it's nice to see some of the actors/characters (minor and major) who would also appear in that series.

Yes, the politics are clearly biased towards liberal idealism (the press room speech is excellent and reminds me of something similar in The Contender) but who wants to watch a depiction of a right wing administration? The real thing's too horrible to experience although I'm sure it would make interesting viewing.

Benning and Douglas are well cast in terms of their realistic and believable respective ages and the potential for what would have to be a truly romantic (and ultimately sexual) chemistry.

Douglas delivers a very effective and engagingly appealing imperiousness which works well.

Fox is great as a younger man with such a high responsibility.

I had to keep pinching myself that Sheen's not Bartlett! First time I watched the film he just looked wrong but I got used to it.

Easily takes repeat viewing to fully appreciate the large number of little gems Sorkin's worked into the dialogue.

Super film
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By A Customer on 21 Jan. 2006
Format: VHS Tape
This is one of the best feelgood movies ever. As well as the romance between the President and the lobbyist (and Michael Douglas is more presidential than any US President ever!), it is just so FUNNY! The throwaway lines sometimes need a second or third viewing to catch all of them, especially those from Douglas as President Andrew Shepherd, Michael J Fox as Lewis Rothschild and David Paymer as Leon Kodak. And if you want an inspirational speech from a US President, listen to Andrew Shepherd's Press Conference near the end of the film. This just has to be Michael Douglas' best performance ever, the expressions on his face at time are priceless. (And Martin Sheen was brilliant too!)
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Format: DVD
OK maybe I'm a bit of an old romantic - but this is still a good film. For 90 minutes odd one could nearly believe that people in politics can once in a while get a backbone, and actually give a damn about we the people. Though the reality of keeping their jobs does crop its head up once in a while.
I enjoyed this because the political dialogue was at least plausible; the dialogue witty and Douglas played the part of the wooing single bloke to perfection. Bening can do no wrong in my book so I'll say nothing here period.
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Format: DVD
From the start you can see the story line coming a mile off but then cant you in any rom-com yet The American President manages to exceed all expectatations and still have you routing for the two to get it together, the pair have a real chemistry on screen, its deffinately douglas' finest ramantic comedy to date. You cant help but want to watch ot over and over again we all need a good old fashioned sweep you off your feet romantic ending once in a while
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Format: DVD Verified Purchase
This is such an enjoyable film and I would agree with others who think that this is probably Michael Douglas's best film. Annette Bening is also excellent, as usual. The 2 leads perfectly compliment each other to such an extent that we can almost believe that this situation could occur in real life. Well - perhaps not! However, we want to believe in this film and the clever, snappy script, good characterisation and excellent acting all combine to allow us to suspend our disbelief and just sit back and be entertained. There are some lovely emotional scenes to enjoy. Just abandon cynisism and take the film for what it is - rare, enjoyable, good-hearted entertainment.
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Format: DVD
This film is a true classic. Aaron Sorkin's script is made by some great acting from Douglas and Benning. The supporting cast of Michael J Fox, Martin Sheen et al. enjoy some snappy one-liners that keep the film moving along nicely.
If you are in need of some inspiration and like a sprinkling of love & laughter then this is the film for you.
An interesting surprise is that originally Sheen was lined up to play the President but swapped with Douglas at the last minute. I think this was a good choice as Sheen in West Wing is superb but I don't think he would have hit the spot on the romantic side that makes this film.
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Format: VHS Tape
This film makes a serious effort to tackle a serious subject. How far may the electorate intrude on a public figure's private life? Michael Douglas' role of Andrew Sheppard is a modern reflection of Woodrow Wilson's nearly state-secret marriage in the latter days of his presidency. Douglas' portrayal reflects an equivalent political scene, as well. Wilson struggled with the biggest issue of his day, the League of Nations. Sheppard is seeking passage of environmental legislation. Both, confronted with the need to compromise, are in vulnerable positions. As so often with American politics, the public are led by unscrupulous politicians to overlook serious issues and target incumbents with tainted personal considerations. Wilson scandalized America with his marriage. Even later historians credited Mrs Wilson with forcing policies she favoured through an ill, weakened president.
Douglas carries his role quite suitably. He's a far cry from the austere Wilson, portraying Sheppard with a Kennedyesque panache. He amply demonstrates what a president must endure in having vital legislation adopted. The "Crime Bill" episode is reminiscent of the Kennedy brothers' efforts to curb Mafia power in the 1960s.
There is just enough of the daughter's presence to keep that issue before us, but the apparent limited age distance between her and Bening makes one wonder what this would to after the Banns are published. Douglas' initial efforts to court Bening superbly demonstrate the constraints the world's most powerful figure operates in, the florist call being one of the finer sequences. Reiner is able to balance the personal with the political.
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