The Reagans

It's easy to accuse anyone who dislikes Robert Allan Ackerman's 'Looney Tune' production of "The Reagans" as a conservative biased in favor of the near-legendary President, but in all honesty, a hatchet job is a hatchet job, no matter what your political persuasion, and this film is nothing less, wrapped up in gauzy nostalgic ribbons.

From the opening scenes in late-forties Hollywood, as an already brain-dead Ronald (caricatured by a too-old-for-this-sequence James Brolin) is manipulated by a glowering, 'agenda'-driven Nancy Davis (Judy Davis, rechanneling her shrewish performance from ABSOLUTE POWER) into a date, the pair are not presented as balanced human beings, but cartooned clichés of the worst qualities their critics would accuse them of, years later (He is incapable of an original thought, she is hardly better, solely basing her opinions on 'fan' magazines, and, later, astrologers).

As the aged conservative power brokers (all pictured as rich, chain-smoking, self-serving vultures) twist the gullible half-wit Ronald into becoming their puppet, Nancy does a MOMMY DEAREST routine, callously using both their children and Ronald's by Jane Wyman to further her own ambitions (lest you feel any sympathy for the siblings, THEY are cartooned, too).

Long before the nearly nightmarish vision of Reagan's Presidential years, you are thoroughly convinced that a) Ronald and Nancy needed psychiatric help more than the Oval Office; b) the Reagan kids needed a shrink even WORSE; and c) all Republicans are either young and cynical or old and corrupt.

And how are the Democrats represented? Ah, they never appear! In a 'balanced' production, shouldn't both sides be represented? Otherwise, Reagan's personal attitudes and political beliefs cannot be rationalized...and this is just one reason why the film is really nothing more than a hatchet job.

When Reagan does something 'laudable' (like ending the 'Cold War'), it is merely a lucky accident, stumbled upon in the midst of bad decisions, between infamous 'naps', while Nancy lashes out at everyone.

I won't go on...this film is a disservice to the memories of people who, while not perfect, were certainly not idiots!

Whoever wrote THE REAGANS clearly doesn't buy into the Reagan "mystique" that so seems to send conservatives into a paroxysm of admiration for Ronnie, his wife and their politics. That aside, this is a not a great movie. The story is well known to all (everyone from Patty Davis to Donald Regan wrote about it), the dialogue is so-so and the low-budget limitations show throughout.

But it is simply amazing to watch Judy Davis and James Brolin as the famous couple. The resemblance to the originals is so astounding sometimes you forget you're watching a drama. What's more, both actors take a thoroughly human approach to their characters, never falling into farse or exaggerations. Both deserve at least acting nominations for these roles.

This was not a great movie, but it was absorbing and kept my attention. It bordered on campy at times. It actually could have used four episodes to tell the entire story of the Reagans, and should have covered his after White House life. His diagnosis of Alzheimers and his dramatic admission would have made for further good viewing. The story may have had a "leftward" slant at times, but overall I thought the portrait of the Reagans was sympathetic. Reagan could be cold to his children, but warmhearted toward others. He didn't like conflict and both he and Nancy were socially tolerant, having cut their teeth in show business. Reagan did have a great sense of humor which comes through and lightens the tone. Looking back, it now seems quaint that this movie was so controversial at the time.

The Republicans REALLY overreacted to this. And CBS should be ashamed of itself for cancelling it. Three cheers for Showtime for showing it multiple times (albeit an edited version).

This almost 3 hour mini starts with Ronald Reagan's (James Brolin) first meeting with Nancy Davis (Judy Davis). It follows them all the way up to 1988 when Reagan left office. Most people were afraid this would be a hatchet job--it really isn't. Reagan comes off as a nice, friendly guy who never really wanted to be President. Nancy does come off as loud, abrasive and controlling...but the movie makes it clear she's acting that way because she loves her husband so much. Also chalk it up to Brolins' and Davis' excellent performances for driving that across.

It doesn't sidestep some of Reagan's mistakes--his "trees cause pollution" remark is there as is the horrendous Iran-Contra disaster. However his abortion policies aren't even brought up and the AIDS sequence was edited down--Nancy was all for AIDS treatment, Reagan said "They live in sin so let them die in sin"--it's now cut from the film. Also the treatment of their children is interesting--the kids from his first wife are barely in there--Ron Reagan Jr. is made into a saint (he wasn't) and Patti Davis comes across as a loud, shreiking monster (she wasn't). Also Nancy is shown as an uncaring mother.

All in all, this seems like a pretty accurate portryal. It is too long but it's saved by great performances from the entire supporting actors--especially the actress who plays Patti Davis and Zeljko Ivanek as Mike Deaver.

Next time the Republicians might want to VIEW something before attacking it.

Let me get right to the point: The problem with this movie is its utter lack of dramatic content. The story of Ronald and Nancy Reagan is so well known that this movie cannot offer any surprises. Further, the movie mocks Ronald and Nancy Reagan for being who they were - an actor and his devoted wife, and offers a simplistic portrayal of Mr. Reagan as being part Jed Clampett and part Gomer Pyle. What the movie glosses over is Ronald Reagan's career - college graduate, a Captain in the U. S. Army, the president of one of the most influential labor organizations in the entertainment industry, Governor of California and President of the United States. Pretty good resume for a small-town guy.