The 2024 Presidential Debates in a Nutshell

Just for Fun.

"There they go again." ~ The critics hate Reagan. But they're wrong -- again.

Is anyone surprised that the critics have absolutely savaged the new film, Reagan? 

I'm not. 

As a teenager in the 1980s, I came of age during the era when the likes of Dan Rather, Sam Donaldson, and Connie Chung savaged President Reagan on TV every single night. It was then at the pre-dawn of my political awareness that I started asking myself why such a folksy, likeable, patriotic American president like Ronald Reagan was so hated by seemingly everyone on the nightly news. Why did these talking heads despise him so much, while the actual human beings in my life—my parents and other adults I respected—did not? 

It wasn't until somewhat later that I realized that President Reagan was an anomaly. In an era when everyone was supposedly anti-communist, but most American politicians were just faking it, Ronald Reagan was a true believer. He recognized the threat that militant, expansionist international communism represented. He was keenly aware that this threat possessed the ability to destroy the United States—on the military level with the thousands of Soviet nuclear ICBMs pointed at us; on the political level by infiltrating and subverting our cherished institutions; and on the spiritual level by spreading propaganda to convince Americans that God and religion were useless fictions and that Christianity was particularly pernicious.

Reagan not only recognized this threat, he was fiercely determined to fight it.

This is what made Reagan so different from his flaccid predecessor, Jimmy Carter. This is what set Reagan apart from his insincere globalist successor, George H. W. Bush. Unlike previous Republicans such as Richard Nixon, Reagan was not interested in détente—in lowering tensions through diplomacy. He realized that détente only made the US weaker, while the Soviets and other communist nations grew stronger because they never had any intention of holding up their ends of the bargain. Détente was always a one-way street which led, inevitably, to defeat for America.

And Reagan was interested in victory—in securing peace for America by standing up to thugs and bullies on the world stage. 

All of this comes through very clearly in the newly-released film, Reagan.

I entered the theater to see this film with some trepidation. Films which seek to portray unique historical figures who were alive during the living memory of the viewer can often seem contrived or become parody. But once Dennis Quaid appeared on screen in the primary role, any sense of strangeness wore off within minutes. After that, Quaid became Reagan. Indeed, by the end of the film, he almost became more Reagan than the man himself. Quaid should be congratulated for a truly stellar performance that likely would have earned him an Academy Award in the era before the entertainment industry became captive to the political hard left. 

Biopics about individuals who lived such long and eventful lives can also suffer from trying to do too much in two hours. This defect may be found in Reagan, but the pacing of the film is so good that the viewer is engaged throughout and never gets lost in the weeds.

But where the film really shines is simply conjuring the halcyon days of the 1970s and 1980s. The sets and costuming were beautifully created and highly evocative of the era. Period music such as Land of Confusion by Genesis helped enhance the drama, while a few well-placed if unexpected covers—like Bob Dylan singing Don't Fence Me In over the end credits—provided the proper atmosphere.

The other aspect of Reagan that really appealed to me—and will likely provide no end of irritation to your standard leftist reviewer—is the storytelling. The film is told in retrospect from the point of view of an elderly KGB agent, played effectively by John Voight. The agent has come to terms with the defeat of the USSR and finds himself explaining to a young, up-and-coming Russian politician how it all happened. These scenes will be triggering to our present-day friends on the left. They don't like to be reminded about how much they adored and apologized for the Russians from the 1960s through the 1980s. They also don't like to be reminded of how the Evil Empire came crashing down in the early 1990s, despite their insistence at the time that the Soviets were ascendant. And they get particularly uncomfortable when people start asking why they cozied up to the communist Russians prior to 1990, but utterly despise the post-Soviet Russians of our own time. These inconvenient questions alone suffice to explain the terrible reviews this fine film has garnered from the usual suspects. 

But even absent the political overtones (to which I admittedly have a strong predisposition) this is simply a solid, feel-good film. It's a love story between Ron and Nancy. It's a regular-guy-makes-good story. And, it's a solid history lesson. Throughout the film, I found myself leaning over to my wife, saying: "That actually happened." 

One historical incident portrayed in the film that I had to look up afterwards was the visit of Democrat House Speaker Tip O'Neill to Reagan's hospital room after the president was shot in March of 1981. In this scene, O'Neill is shown with a Rosary in his hand, praying the 23rd Psalm with the wounded Reagan. Did this actually happen? Yes, it did. You see, in those days, there were still a few Democrats who believed in God. Regarding the assassination attempt, there is also a statement from the KGB agent in the film that it wasn't their idea. Then, later in the film, it is hinted that someone in our own government may have played a role. Now that is something I had never heard of or considered, but apparently, the theory is out there. 

The historical aspects of the film were greatly enhanced by the reel at the end showing photos and video clips of the man himself. The footage of his beloved Nancy approaching his coffin may evoke a tear or two.

In sum, if you're a child of the 1980s, go see this film. I guarantee you'll get a kick out of it. If you're the child of parents who grew up in the 1980s, go see this film. It will give you some insight into why your parents behave as they do. 

And for heaven's sake, don't pay any attention to the critics. They hated Reagan in the 70s and 80s. They hate Reagan now for the exact same reasons. 

Reagan hasn't changed. 

And neither have they.