"Transformers": A Swipe at Obama?
Updated
Variety's David Cohen saw the latest "Transformers" movie --- "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" --- and filed this report on its reference to President Obama, but not, at least in his eyes, in a good way.
Cohen writes, "So as usual in these movies, the federal bureaucrats are portrayed as annoying if not villainous. The President's man, "Galloway," is a bespectacled blowhard who becomes an obstacle to our brave fighting men and their alliance with the noble Autobots. Operating specifically under presidential authority, he makes all kinds of mischief. He says the President wants to try "diplomacy" against the evil Decepticons and hints the President would consider handing over Shia LaBouf's character to be killed by them. He eventually is ditched by the fighting men (tricked into parachuting out the back of a transport). All this is par for the course in this kind of movie. In the first, there was a Rumsfeldian secretary of defense (played by Jon Voight) and a bit of dialogue from "the President" clearly meant to be Bush, with an obvious Bush impression on the dialogue.
"However, if memory serves, no real politicians were named in the first movie. The SecDef isn't Rumsfeld. The president is not called by name.
"In this movie, exactly one real-life politician is named: "President Obama." They went out of their way to make sure they named the craven, obstructionist president as Obama."
So what gives? I haven't seen the movie, so I am relying on David's take. But it strikes me as a bit unusual given the popularity of the president and the fact that so many people involved in the pic contributed to his campaign.
Director Michael Bay shows no financial record of having supported any candidate in last year's election. Writer Roberto Orci contributed to Hillary Clinton in the primary and Obama in the general, and his writing partner Ehren Kruger donated to Clinton. Along with Paramount, DreamWorks is the studio behind "Transformers," and Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider not only contributed to Obama's campaign, but donated to his inaugural committee. Paramount chairman Brad Grey contributed to Obama in August, 2008.
A Paramount spokeswoman was a bit surprised when I ran this by her, and suggested that not everyone is going to come away with the same interpretation. Update: She also said that the filmmakers' reason for naming Obama was in "keeping the film as current as possible," noting that the movie also makes reference to the swine flu.
Bay was asked about the reference at a recent press junket, and he recounted meeting Obama at an airport early in the campaign and telling him he "liked what he had to say." Asked about the depiction of the president with a dim-witted, "kind of stupid" national security adviser, Bay said, "Remember, it is summer fun, by the way." (video from L.A. Times below).
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Fascinating. Perhaps they could have left out the name of the president altogether. I'm surprised they weren't more concerned with preserving a timeless feel to the film and therefore making it's shelf life longer. Always hard with films that reference political figures.
Posted by: David P. Kronmiller | June 23, 2009 at 07:41 PM
I find it very authentic that the movie President Obama would choose to attempt diplomacy first with the bad guys. Sounds pretty true to form to me but I know Obama supporters won't be happy about it.
Posted by: Kate | June 24, 2009 at 01:31 AM
HORRORS!!! A film takes a thinly veiled swipe at Obama and Cohen is in a snit. Let's see, by my count: Movies with Negative Images of the President: Bush 2,215 vs. Obama 1. Call me when the game starts to even up, ok?
Posted by: stop2think | June 24, 2009 at 04:28 AM
Awwww did obambi get a swipe at..Poor widdle child I hope he don't get his fewings hurt.
Posted by: trainwreck | June 24, 2009 at 05:56 AM
It's just a movie!!!
Right, L-tards? LOL
Posted by: David123 | June 24, 2009 at 06:00 AM
I guess Hollywood is REQUIRED to make movies that always praise Obama.
Posted by: Bobbo | June 24, 2009 at 06:50 AM
No, no, no.... your line is to say: Obama wants to give up Sam? BRILLIANT!! He'll save the Earth!! You know, how you already twist all of his decisions, no matter how hare-brained, into brilliance? How you're all flip-flopping like fish on a skillet to match Obama's flip-flops on Iran? It's a thing of beauty, and more is to come.
On another note, after 8 years of silly Bush caricatures, you might want to get used to this happening once in a while.
Posted by: Admiral | June 24, 2009 at 07:04 AM
What a bunch of BS. You guys are ok with a Bush references but not Obama? With the events in Iran this movie rings true. Why don't you write about what a genius Bay is.
Posted by: robtron | June 24, 2009 at 07:22 AM
Poor little Davey Cohen. Someone shows the current President's management characteristics in the form of a parody, just like it was done in the previous movie on the previous President, and he has a conniption fit.
Davey forgets that this is HOLLYWOOD. It's always entertainment driven, it's never agenda driven, there's never a narrative. Pictures reflect mainstream values. You need to lighten up, you're such a prude.
At least that what all my liberal friends say to me about you guys.
Here's the kicker:
"But it strikes me as a bit unusual given the popularity of the president and the fact that so many people involved in the pic contributed to his campaign."
Get that? According to Davey, Hollywood's not suppose to parody those people they like, that they politically supported. I'll even take a sideswipe at the quote: when making reference to the President you capitalize the word (just like I did).
Hey Davey! It's called SHOW BUSINESS for a reason. Michael Bay, Roberto Orci, Ehren Kruger, Steven Spielberg, Stacey Snider, Brad Grey, Paramount and DreamWorks (My apologizes if I left you out of the credits or put you in the wrong order; y'all are touchy that way) are all trying to make one thing: Money, aka profit aka ROI.
Maybe Davey should go to work for Disney/ABC. I here they're doing an hour long primetime love fest, er reporting on the President's health care plan, bringing only supporters and critics selected by Disney/ABC and even denying commercial time to opposing viewpoints. No craven obstruction there, yes siree.
Posted by: David in San Diego | June 24, 2009 at 07:29 AM
This sounds like Obama to me. Liberals never like the truth being told about them. Of course the messiah is above criticism in the government run media. Just like Argentia!
Posted by: Bob A | June 24, 2009 at 07:51 AM
Well if "THAT" name is mentioned and it has that bimbo dark headed girl in it We will not spend one cent to see it. What a waste of time.
Posted by: Andrea | June 24, 2009 at 08:11 AM
This not a movie for young children with its constant references to sex acts, this not a movie for young children.
Posted by: Jim | June 24, 2009 at 08:11 AM
So, the transformers prez is negotiating with the bad guys, thinking about handing over one of ours for some gains?
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ODFkYTU2MjBmMTE5MDUzZTEzZWMyMTE5ZWZjNWI4Mjg=&w=MA==
Posted by: hurf durf | June 24, 2009 at 08:14 AM
Well, President Obama's popularity is dropping since the Iran uprising so I guess the swipe is no surprise.
In related news, the cartoon jokesters JibJab parody the President's superhero rep among the Far Left:
http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=363753
Posted by: Fred2 | June 24, 2009 at 09:01 AM
Not sure what all the fuss is about.
Once your president's cap & trade, health care and foreign relations policies bare their poison fruit, this movie will seen as prescient.
Posted by: John Reid | June 24, 2009 at 09:15 AM
I had planned to skip Transformers 2 but this negative reference to loathsome Obama will be a boo and hiss moment I can't miss.
Posted by: ArGee | June 24, 2009 at 10:20 AM
If this is the thing that finally convinces Hollywood to reject Michael Bay, so be it.
Posted by: Jim Treacher | June 24, 2009 at 10:44 AM
I think someone insulted Cohen's boyfriend.
Posted by: slk | June 24, 2009 at 11:09 AM
D'aww. Someone took a (deserved) swipe at Obama and you got your panties in a snit. How cute.
Here's a suggestion for ya:
Remove your lips from the Prez's ass. Then perhaps you can learn to be more "tolerant"--as you all love to say--of opposing viewpoints.
Posted by: Kelly | June 24, 2009 at 12:18 PM
What's the big deal? Someone linked the NRO article above. It is not only Obama's policy, but it is what he campaigned on... depending on the audience.
Posted by: PossumDearie | June 24, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Stupid brown-nosing asshole wouldn't care if it portrayed the last President as a retard.
Posted by: Ryan | June 24, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Has Garofalo sobered up yet today so she can cry "racism" over this?
Posted by: Crusty | June 24, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Amazing how when the left takes swipes at the right in movies, stars get up at awards shows and pat themselves on the back for being courageous(never mind the fact that being liberal in Hollywood is about as courageous as condemning the Nazis at a meeting of the B'nai Brith).
But when a movie comes out taking a swipe at a Democrat, watch out. Given the "president"'s inaction regarding the N. Koreans and his absolutely disgraceful handling of the situation in Iran, calling him a craven coward is a perfect example of the makers of this film merely calling it as they see it.
Posted by: Mark | June 24, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Wow, the tables are turned, Instead of GW, Obama is going to
get bashed by a movie. And the Libs are shocked..! What goes
around, comes around.....oh well..
Posted by: easy | June 24, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Your President is dangerous, corrupt, and weak. That fact that he is portrayed that way requires no acting skill at all. You wanted hope and change, now ENJOY it!
Posted by: John | June 24, 2009 at 12:38 PM