Reagan

As a history movie and biopic nerd, I've been following the development of it for most of the last decade. Given its long development, not to mention some of its supporting cast choices (including politically conservative actors Jon Voight, Robert Davi, and Kevin Sorbo) and the fact it's been sitting on a shelf since it was filmed in 2020-21, I wondered what the final product would be.

I'll be honest: I've got very mixed feelings about the thing I spent two and a bit hours watching.

Quaid was fantastic, as I expected. A little airbrushed/over made-up looking in some of the younger scenes but damn good all the same. His reading of Reagan's 1994 Farewell Letter was remarkable. And, as predicted when the trailer dropped earlier this summer, Quaid didn't share a single scene with any of the aforementioned outspoken actors. A part of me suspects they have been brought in to get a bit more money without causing too much fuss.

And it's a film that clearly needed money if the production values are anything to go by. They're a couple of steps up from a Lifetime or cable tv movie. They tried but the budget wasn't quite there and you can tell it in the production values and the odd CGI shot that looked cheap. One area where the film had value put was in its score which was good, though overbearing in places due to the sound mix, with a highlight being the main title Cold War crash course (though The Man from UNCLE film in 2015 did the concept better).

Then there's the script. It tried to cram his whole life into two hours and it's deeply unfocused as a result. There's some stuff in it that's misrepresentation (such as the 1983 war scare) or just made up (including a sequence that shows the "Tear Down this Wall" speech covered live worldwide, a speech that was boosted to its current status mythic status well after Reagan left office). Like the production values, it's a couple of steps up from Lifetime or a Christian DVD movie (which it becomes in a few places rather jarringly) but it's got its moments. There's almost no nuance or sense of Reagan beyond politics or Nancy (their children barely appear), with AIDS covered in a brief montage and Iran-Contra dealt with in about eight minutes with no real look at what Reagan did or did not do. Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer this was not, with neither screenwriter Howard Klausner or director Sean McNamara capable of doing anything but highlight the positives.

Reagan the movie is a mixed bag, to put it mildly. Worth the wait of a decade? Probably not. Is there still a better film to be made about Reagan?

No doubt.

We saw it last year with Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon': small snippets of his life, like a greatest hits album with 10 vastly different songs and no coherent structure that easily transports us from A to B.

Sadly the same thing is going on here with *Reagan'. Too much need to be told and shown from 1928 when he was a boy to 1989.

'Reagan' does settle down a bit when Gorbachev enters the picture near the end, but then it's too late to save this movie from being somewhat of a disappointment.

'Reagan' could have been a lot better if half of the movie wasn't spent on showing us him growing up as a boy, becoming a B-movie star, becoming a governor, trying to become president etc, and instead just began with him winning the presidency, because all the real drama takes place there, in the 80's, with him and Gorbachev ending the cold war and becoming friends (the movie sadly skipped many historic moments, like Gorbachev's famous visit to Washington DC, the famous signing of the INF treaty in 1987, the ramifications of the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl in '86 etc.)

The point is: when making a biopic about a famous person, it's better to focus on a part of this person's life, rather than just showing us 1-2 minute scenes taken from several decades, if you want people invested in the story. Or make it a series.

"Reagan", this biopic stars Dennis Quaid in the titular role. Penelope Ann Miller co-stars as Nancy Reagan. Dennis Quaid tries hard to be Reagan, but his performance is more mimicry rather than acting. Miller's performance appears much too much nice to be the steely Nancy. The rest of the cast including Jon Voight as a fictional Russian analyst are adequate but not revolutionary. And being a movie biopic, it necessarily gives short shrift to a long and varied life. And you know most of the story (although there are few portions that surprised me, so I won't spoil them here). Weakly recommended for those nostalgic for the Reagan era. 6/10.

For whatever reason, the film is narrated by a Cold War Russian official? He uses a voice over which makes it laughable. Said official apparently scouted and followed Reagan all his life, knowing he would bring the end to Soviet Communism. Okay? The film is portrayed with some very biased Republican sympathy. Hence, many actors in the film are a pro-Republican themselves. Dennis Quaid did a descent job, but his roll kept being overshadowed by inaccuracies and cheezie "rah-rah" film making you see on the Hallmark Channel. I can see why the film was shelved and not more widely released to theaters and bigger audiences.

The film Reagan (2024) offers a largely authentic portrayal of Ronald Reagan's life, despite some minor historical inaccuracies, such as the misrepresentation of Margaret Thatcher's stance on German reunification. In reality, Thatcher was wary of a strong, unified Germany, fearing it could destabilize the European balance of power. This well-documented skepticism is overlooked in the film, which instead presents her as a firm supporter of reunification. However, apart from such inconsistencies, the film does an admirable job of capturing Reagan's character, leadership, and personal struggles.

One of the film's strongest elements is the acting. The lead portrayal of Ronald Reagan is both nuanced and convincing, capturing his charisma, warmth, and unwavering optimism. The actor embodies Reagan's distinct mannerisms and speech patterns without turning them into a mere impersonation. His ability to transition from Reagan's Hollywood days to his time in the White House feels natural and engaging. Likewise, the supporting cast delivers strong performances, particularly in the roles of Nancy Reagan and key political figures of the era. The chemistry between Reagan and his closest advisors is well-executed, highlighting the complexities of his presidency.

The film's atmosphere is another major strength. The cinematography effectively immerses the audience in the different time periods of Reagan's life, from his early Hollywood career to the tense Cold War negotiations. The use of lighting and period-accurate set designs helps create a sense of authenticity, making viewers feel as though they are witnessing history unfold. The political tension of the 1980s is well-captured, with key moments, such as Reagan's negotiations with Mikhail Gorbachev, depicted with gripping intensity. Additionally, the film manages to balance Reagan's political career with his personal life, offering a well-rounded view of the man behind the presidency.

One particularly intriguing aspect of the film is its handling of the intelligence community's role during the Cold War. A mysterious character, who is seen interrogating a retired KGB operative, adds an element of suspense and raises questions about hidden narratives behind Reagan's foreign policy. This subplot, while not fully explored, leaves the audience wondering: Who is this figure conducting the interrogation, and what deeper secrets about Reagan's Cold War strategies remain undisclosed?