See Arnold Run

Last night i actually sat down and watched See Arnold Run. Surprisingly i actually did enjoy the movie. I've always been an Arnold fan ever since i first saw Terminator but never really knew much about him until this movie. Being from Canada, i was vaguely aware that he was running for Governor of California but did not follow the race never believing that they would elect an actor to represent them. Imagine my shock when he won, but watching this movie i learned that politics has always been a big part of his life. I thought this movie was an interesting look at all the work that goes into being Governor. The actor who plays him, Jürgen Prochnow was not bad. I don't think he looked much like him, but then again it's tough to find a man Arnold's age who looks as fantastic as he does! The actor who played him as a bodybuilder, Roland Kickinger bore a striking resemblance to Arnold, both in body and voice. I was actually half convinced at some points that it was him or a family member of his even though i knew it wasn't. Quite honestly i thought that this movie was interesting and a good watch for anyone who is interested in Arnold or in politics. I plan to follow his tenure as Governor to see if he is more then just an actor. Maybe someday they will change the law that states that you have to be born in America to be President and Arnold will run for President. That would make an interesting movie none the less, just hopefully they hold on the stupid one liners this time around!

This is a case where the direction is fantastic (ie: imagery, symbolism, pacing, blocking, getting as much as you can out of terrible actors), but the written story is horrendous. They left out the fact that Arnold was wildly successful in not only body building, but real estate and the restaurant business. They also made him appear to be clueless and out of touch with not only his political advisers but the world and the media. Arnold is a shrewd businessman that is completely aware of his surroundings.

Again I must say I was impressed with James Rogers' direction. He did a lot with a poor script, bad actors and minimal funding.

The younger Arnold had an authentic accent and came close to the Arnold the body builder. The actor playing the older Arnold is a Clown doing a terrible impression of Arnold to the point of ridicule. He may be a good actor but he is cleary misfit here.Looks like the movie was put together in a hurry. Mariel Hemingway was probably the best of the lot as Maria Shriver with an uncanny resemblance to Maria Shriver. In real life Maria Shriver may have coached Arnold for interview's but I don't think she was that active or dominating behind the scenes as it made to appear in the movie. The Strategy sessions are well done with some juicy dialog but when it was joined by Arnold it turned into a stand up comedy. The constant interposition of the younger Arnold was just annoying and intrusive with no depth to the story. Arnold was made to look like a buffoon with series of One liners fit for a monologue than a consummate Politician with a sense of humor. The direction is immature with more of piecing of clips than an artistic endeavor. A mediocre presentation of a Teflon Actor albeit with biceps and determination like steel. The caliber of Production is more fit for E&O (Errors&Omissions)channel than A&E.

The Universe found a way to combine my love of trashy celebrity biographies with trashy political exposé and media studies. I sincerely enjoyed the way this story was told, Cody Brink as young Arnold was excellent, as was Mariel Hemingway as Arianna Huffington. William Bradley, unfortunately, was a terrible idea, I mean the man no harm but whom ever decided that gubernatorial candidate Schwarzenegger was an appropriate part for him was very, very wrong. I do not feel the film was especially mean or friendly to the Governor; it was a fine piece of light hearted entertainment about a heavy, ridiculous moment in our political and social history.

I started watching this a little ways in and the whole thing is just ridiculous. Granted, the whole story of Arnold Schwarzenegger is ridiculous, albeit I'm a fan of his, the movie is just silly. Early on we get a chance to see "Gary Coleman" who is clearly a normal sized man sitting on his knees to make him look like the same size as Gary. Things like this go to show how stupid this thing really is.

The one plus side is Roland Kickinger who finally gets a serious role. He was pretty funny in Son of the Beach, which is also ridiculous, but I was hoping to get a chance to see him again in something. He's not a horrible actor but he's not incredible either which makes him perfect to play Arnold.