Shadows on the Wall

Reagan

dir Sean McNamara
scr Howard A Klausner
prd Mark Joseph
with Dennis Quaid, Penelope Ann Miller, Mena Suvari, Jon Voight, Kevin Dillon, Olek Krupa, David Henrie, Mark Moses, C Thomas Howell, Lesley-Anne Down, Dan Lauria, Kevin Sorbo
release US 30.Aug.24
24/US 2h21

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It wasn't enough to tell the story of Ronald Reagan; these filmmakers relentlessly over-egg it with hammy acting, an intrusively swelling score and a pushy faith-based approach that paints him as man who singlehandedly saved the world from the evils of Soviet Communism. Yet despite a simplistic script that misreads uncomfortable truths, director Sean McNamara keeps the imagery slick and the pace brisk, and the actors make things interesting.

In 1940s Hollywood, B-movie star Ronald (Quaid) and his wife Jane Wyman (Suvari) avoid the swirling issues of the day. But his increasing political involvement and personal tragedy scupper his marriage. Romance with Nancy (Miller) follows, as does leadership in the Screen Actors Guild, even as his acting career fades. He becomes California's governor from 1967 to 1975, then wins the US presidency in 1980 and goes on to reignite the Cold War as a battle of wits, creating a military escalation that nearly triggers WWIII. But new leader Gorbachev (Krupa) takes a new tack.

All of this is recounted through the words of Viktor (Voight), the KGB spy assigned to watch Reagan. Viktor admires Reagan's intelligence, wit and compassion, and respects how he fended off Soviet attempts to take over both Hollywood and the whole United States. Reagan's attempted assassination in 1981 opens the film, and creates a dramatic interlude between the political discussions and "tear down this wall" heroics. But the lack of complexity in the characters leaves the story feeling empty.

The sharply slanted filmmaking eliminates nuance or ambiguity, so it helps that the cast is packed out with fine performers who are able to add some texture. Quaid adeptly captures Reagan's hugely likeable public persona and charismatic gift for speaking, but is never allowed to display an imperfection. And the people around him are even less shaded, so their performances feel rather thin. Still, it's fun spotting well-known actors having some fun playing memorable figures.

The controversies that surrounded Reagan are brushed quickly aside to instead focus on his tax cuts, union busting and peace-through-strength philosophy, with no mention of the consequences. Criticism is limited to a montage of real footage from protests and popular culture, painting any dissent as villainous. And later, the Iran-Contra scandal is minimised as a distraction from his mission. The truth is that Reagan was a complex man, a compelling leader with flaws that were all too apparent. But not to his loyal followers or these filmmakers.

themes, language, violence 24.Aug.24

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