You know it's coming. Whatever happens in November, a TV movie and/or feature film about the life of Barack Obama will be made. So who should play Obama? The Daily Show -- in a mock biography of Obama -- suggested one of the actors from the old sitcom What's Happening? Other possibilities: Dule Hill from The West Wing and Psych; Tristan Wilds from 90210 and The Wire; or the great Adrian Lester from Primary Colors. What do you think?
And while you're thinking, check out some politically themed DVDs out the last two weeks. (Hey, I was caught up in the Olympics and the convention, so I've got catching up to do.) American Experience: The Presidents ($129.98; PBS/Paramount), an excellent boxed set pulling together 10 documentaries on 20th century Presidents, from Teddy Roosevelt and FDR to Reagan and Bush Sr. Sober, thoughtful, documentaries, they make absorbing viewing. In contrast, the Biography Channel has put out Biography: John McCain and Biography: Barack Obama ($12.95 each; A&E), both of which are less than an hour, perfunctory and far less insightful. Anyone expecting muckraking from director Oliver Stone's upcoming biopic on Bush Jr. -- W, due out in October -- should check out Nixon, just out in an extended cut with 28 extra minutes ($29.99 and $34.99 on BluRay; Hollywood). Anthony Hopkins was a bold choice and the movie is far more complex and empathetic than you might expect. (I would prefer they include the original cut as well, of course; people shouldn't have to choose.) W will probably be the same. Of course, if you do want muckraking, there's always Robert Greenwald, who makes shoddy, haphazard documentaries like The Real John McCain ($9.95; Disinformation). Whatever your politics, shouldn't his documentaries look more polished than something a high school student might have tossed together and posted on YouTube? It does provide good red meat for the already convinced. If you want to get riled up, try Recount ($19.98; HBO), HBO's comic look at the Florida recount in 2000 with an all-star cast having a hoot, led by Kevin Spacey, Laura Dern and Tom Wilkinson. Morgan Spurlock has had success with Super Size Me and his clever TV show, but flounders a bit when trying to step into the shoes of Michael Moore on Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden? ($24.95; Genius), a comic journey around the world with Spurlock asking anyone and everyone if they know where Bin Laden is hiding? (Spoiler: the mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan is an awfully popular choice.) Spurlock's wife deserves a medal for letting him galivant around the world while she's pregnant and he does try to stretch himself, but it basically makes you appreciate how good Moore is at what he does. Linda Lovelace was good at what she does, too, but she wasn't very happy about it. Nonetheless, one of the artifacts of her fame is Linda Lovelace For President ($14.98; Dark Sky), a 1975 B-movie about Lovelace hoping to "go down" (their words) as the first female President. It drags in everyone from Scatman Crothers to Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees to little purpose. For politics of the past, Chicago 10 ($29.98; Paramount) is a genre-bending animated movie about the trial surrounding the '68 Chicago Convention that went a lot less smoothly than Obama's in Denver. Finally, House Season Four ($59.98; Universal) woke up a show slipping into formula with an election of its own as House put a passel of candidates through their paces while he decided on a new team.
Other DVDs now out:
Action/Adventure Flicks: In Street Kings ($29.99; Fox), Keanue Reeves delivers his patented, stolid performance as a detective who finds himself betrayed and facing violence on all sides. It'll play better on DVD than in theaters -- and like more and more titles, this one comes with a free digital copy you can download to watch on your computer or iPod. Starship Troopers 3: Marauder ($27.96; Sony) is another direct to DVD sequel to the underappreciated Verhoeven sci-fi satire, with Casper Van Dien back as Johnny Rico and a lot of bugs, it's for hardcore fans only and also comes with a free digital copy to download. Brotherhood of the Wolf Director's Cut ($19.98; Universal), an overheated French costume action flick that proved they could make boneheaded goofy action flicks just like the US (and of course, it's longer and padded with hours of extras). If you're looking forward to the new Nicolas Cage action movie, check out the lovably over-the-top Pang Brothers original it's based on: Bangkok Dangerous ($9.98; First Look). More direct to DVD action arrives with The Scorpion King 2: Rise Of A Warrior ($29.98; Universal) in which Randy Couture plays the young warrior who will one day morph into Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and how sad to see it's directed by the talented Russell Mulcahy. Steve McQueen knows action and cool and proved it on the way to becoming a star in Never Love A Stranger ($14.98; Republic) one of those standard tales of two boyhood pals where one becomes a cop and the other a criminal. And Tony Jaa of Ong-Bak is the hero of these B-movie action flicks about a bodyguard and called, reasonably enough, The Bodyguard and The Bodyguard 2 (both movies on one DVD ($26.98; Magnet) and no Whitney Houston does not sing the theme song.
Family Movies: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Collector's Edition ($32.99; Disney) looks better with each passing year -- and in this case it's because they've sharpened the striking look of the film to match Burton's original vision closer than ever and you also get a digital copy for your computer and iPod and loads of extras. It's a genuine classic. Stephen Chow is an enjoyably wacky director but his cuddly alien movie CJ7 ($28.96; Columbia) is a little too sentimental and family-ish. He made better family entertainment when he wasn't trying, as with Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle. Chevy Chase certainly didn't intend to make family films but I think his goofy Fletch movies as collected in The Fletch Collection ($19.98; Universal) are perfect for older kids and parents to watch together -- kids love disguises they can see through and Fletch has a million of 'em. Transformers Animated: Season One ($26.98; Paramount) contains MOST of the episodes from Season One (you need to buy another DVD to get the other three) and it's ONLY in cropped, full frame when the show is also available in widescreen -- why not make both versions available in one set and make it complete? Bakugan Battle Brawlers Vol. 1 ($14.98; Warner Bros.) contains five episodes from a new animated series I haven't caught up with yet. Much gentler -- and clearly for younger kids -- are three other releases: Where The Wild Things Are ($14.95; New Video) contains six Maurice Sendak tales read by Peter Schickele and others; Bob The Builder On Site: Houses & Playgrounds ($19.98; Lionsgate) mixes animation with real-life construction sites because kids LOVE giant dump trucks; and Curious George Sails With The Pirates ($16.98; Universal) contains eight episodes from the PBS series with George all over the place but mostly -- I like to think -- trying to get away from the Man in the Yellow Hat, who is always giving George up to other people. And kids can rock out to Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert and Camp Rock ($34.99 each on Blu-Ray or $29.99 on regular DVD; Disney), both of which -- OMG -- feature the Jonas Brothers and with the Hannah Montana movie even includes four sets of glasses so you can watch it in 3-D.
Boneheaded Moves: Son of Rambow ($19.99; Paramount) is an oddball family film that got overlooked when it was released in theaters. The story of a kid who befriends a bully by shooting a home movie inspired by Rambo: First Blood Part 2 was never gonna be a blockbuster. But it got some friendly reviews and might have found an audience on DVD. But you can only buy it at Best Buy (although you can rent it everywhere). I really hate these exclusive deals; they're not good for the movies and they're certainly not good for fans. Even people who like the movie probably won't realize it's been released on DVD.
Light Entertainment: Is Ashton Kutcher a star? He keeps piling up the anonymous hits, like What Happens In Vegas with Cameron Diaz ($29.98; Fox) and eventually he'll start getting credit for them. (This is ANOTHER movie that provides a free digital copy you can watch on your computer and iPod and so on; hopefully soon this will become so standard it won't be worth mentioning. Is Ed Burns a bankable director? He keeps making commercial flops like Purple Violets ($19.98; Weinstein) that costars Debra Messing, Selma Blair and Patrick Wilson that come and go in the blink of an eye. Are The Three Stooges funny? Check out The Three Stooges Collection Volume Three ($24.96; Sony) and if you like slapstick these shorts will make you say yes. (And if you want to know if someone is gay, ask them if they like The Three Stooges or show them one of these shorts -- gay people just don't get 'em.) Is Mischa Barton naked? The Three Musketeers-style costumer romp Virgin Territory ($26.97; Anchor Bay) stars Hayden Christensen and Mischa Barton and has a sticker on it with silhouetted strippers that says it's part of the Anchor Bay "Unzipped" collection. That'll get some people renting it and skipping through the flick to find the naughty bits. And when will someone make a new feature film out of The Lone Ranger? The 1981 flop The Legend of the Lone Ranger ($14.98; Lionsgate) was stillborn, but boy did they find an unknown with a classic 50s movie star name: Klinton Spilsbury. It won't be long before someone remakes it again.
Serious Entertainment: Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis ($29.95; Art House Films) is an acclaimed documentary about the New York photographer and performance artist who inspired Warhol; Twenty-Four Eyes ($29.95; Criterion) is a beloved Japanese film about a schoolteacher, sort of their Goodbye Mr. Chips; Vera Farmiga continues to impress in Quid Pro Quo ($26.98; Magnolia), an indie flick co-starring the equally impressive Nick Stahl in this disturbing look at a subculture of people turned on by missing limbs -- a natural double bill with Cronenberg's Crash; but it's still not as disturbing as Pier Paolo Pasolini's Salo, or 120 Days of Sodom ($39.95; Criterion), which revels in the torture and degradation of Fascist Italy and I've never been abe to get through it, which is probably a recommendation to some; Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day ($29.98; Universal) doesn't quite capture the screwball charm of the comic novel but it's an enjoyable bit of fluff about a dour woman caught up in high society and Frances McDormand and Amy Adams clearly have a ball; the Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film, The Countefeiters ($28.96; Sony Pictures Classics) tells the fascinating true story of a con man who finds himself helping the Nazis produce fake money to fund the war just so he can avoid being killed; the marvelous black comedy Delicatessen ($19.98; Lionsgate) in a new special edition of the story of a deli that can rival the one in Sweeney Todd for delicious meats; Karim Ainouz proves he's a director to watch by following the vibrant Madame Sata with Love For Sale ($27.97; Strand), another compelling drama about people on the boundaries of society; AKA Tommy Chong ($24.98; Infinity) is a documentary that deftly exposes the absurdity of prosecuting someone like Chong in the war on drugs; David Mamet explores the fight world in Redbelt ($27.96; Sony Pictures Classics) with Chiwetel Ejiofor typically imposing as a martial arts expert forced to step into the ring and fight for the first time; The Life Before Her Eyes ($26.98; Magnolia) was a blink and you missed it followup to the Oscar-nominated House of Sand and Fog, but star Evan Rachel Wood is clearly an astonishing young actress; and there's a mini Michael Powell festival thanks to the release of Classic British Thrillers ($24.98; MPI), which has three fine movies on one disc, including two early ventures by the great Powell and then The Small Back Room ($39.95; Criterion), a lesser known Powell-Pressburger drama presented with the usual care of Criterion.
TV On DVD: It never ends, the wave of TV product coming to DVD. Gossip Girl First Season ($59.98; Warner Bros.) is a guilty pleasure of a soap and if the show were half as clever as the ad campaign promoting its second season it would rank as one of the best shows on TV instead of just one of the most-discussed. (Bonus points for including an audiobook reading of the novel performed by Christina Ricci.) Alfresco ($39.99; Acorn) was a UK sketch show with a brilliant cast that could give early SNL a run for its money -- getting their big breaks were Emma Thompson, Hugh Laurie, Robbie Coltrane, Stephen Fry and Ben Elton. Heroes Season 2 ($39.98; Universal) was fun though they admit it took too long to get going. Me, I think the biggest problem is on-going storylines -- each season should have a clear villain with all the heroes coming together to defeat the baddie for good at the finale. An American Crime ($24.98; First Look) is the harrowing, Emmy nominated TV movie about a woman (Catherine Keener) who imprisons and tortures a teenage girl (Ellen Page of Juno), which sounds unbearable but is given a compeling humanity by two terrific actresses. The Duchess of Duke Street Complete Collection ($99.99; Acorn) contains all 31 episodes of the beloved UK series about a scullery maid who becomes the best chef in London. Entourage Fourth Season ($39.98; HBO) may revel in Hollywood and Cannes but the show works not because of its satire but because of the genuine friendships at its core. Everybody Hates Chris Third Season ($39.98; Paramount) is running out of steam, but what a great cast, from Tichina Arnold and Terry Crews (both of whom long ago deserved Emmy nominations) to the assured Tyler James Williams as Chris Rock. One Tree Hill Fifth Season ($59.98; Warner Bros.) was the year the show took a bold leap and jumped nearly five years into the future; even better so does this set by providing digital copies of every episode so you can watch them on your laptop or iPod -- certainly one of if not the first TV set to do so. Dexter Second Season ($39.98; Paramount) has to be one of the unlikeliest TV shows ever (a series about a serial killer?) and a genuine triumph for Michael C. Hall. Get ready for the seventh and final season of The Shield by diving into Season 6 ($59.95; Sony), which is a little pricey for a 10 episode show but gripping nonetheless. John Oliver's Terrifying Times ($19.99; Paramount) is a TV special that further proves he is the next Daily Show star destined to have his own show while Dana Carvey's Squatting Monkeys Tell No Lies ($19.98; HBO) makes you wonder how he became famous in the first place. Crime doesn't pay when The Untouchables Season 2 Volume 2 ($39.98; Paramount) are there to bust you and Perry Mason Season 3 Volume 1 ($39.98; Paramount) is there to put you behind bars. And The Color Honeymooners Collection 4 ($39.98; MPI) is the final batch of Honeymooner sketches from the Jackie Gleason variety show that came at the tail end of his career.
Etc. Wimbledon: The 2008 Men's Final ($24.99; SRO) contains the entire five hour battle between Federer and Nadal that is easily one of the greatest tennis matches of all time. Country fans can revel in the rarities on Legendary Performances Tammy Wynette and Legendary Performances Marty Robbins ($14.98 each; Shout) that pull together rare TV footage to showcase 15 songs each, as well as short interviews and their Hall of Fame introductions; fans should snap them up. The Great American Bash 2008 ($24.95; WWE) features all star wrestlers in all sorts of matchups -- my favorite is John Cena and JBL in a "NYC Parking Lot Brawl." Finally, I'm too much of a wimp to watch horror movies, so you'll have to tell me how Brittany Snow is in the remake of Prom Night ($28.96; Sony), whether terror runs deep as they claim for Skinned Alive ($26.98; Lionsgate) and if 6 Films To Keep You Awake ($27.98; Lionsgate) really does cause sleepless nights with flicks like Spectre and A Christmas Tale.
So, any thoughts? Who should play Barack Obama in the inevitable miniseries/feature film? You can always go with Daniel Day Lewis -- he can play anyone.