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02/02/10 - 03/02/10
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A film classic ripe for a Washington-style update? By Deborah Zabarenko (Front Row Washington)
from a mythical “John Doe” who says he’s going to leap off the city hall roof on Christmas Eve Submitted at 2/2/2010 9:19:29 AM to protest widespread corruption It’s Oscar nomination day, and the state of the world in which means some in snow- general. covered Washington DC — But that’s all background. What Hollywood for ugly people, if makes it made-to-order for a you believe the old saying — are 2010 remake is what happens daydreaming about what it when Gary Cooper a.k.a. “John w o u l d b e l i k e t o m a k e a Doe” speaks to a big gathering, blockbuster film. “Avatar” seems reading remarks written by the to have the inside track in this columnist, who’s now in cahoots year’s Academy Award race, but with the oil magnate: the crowd isn’t there an old classic movie loves him so much they go out ripe for a Washington-style and form grassroots John Doe remake? Clubs, just to be neighborly. No How about“Meet John Doe”? politicians allowed. They’re not It’s a Frank Capra morality piece partisan, they just want to make made in 1941, where a soda jerk things a little better. can speak basic truth and a rail- The oil magnate has another riding hobo is played by Gary idea, to use the John Doe Clubs Cooper, the George Clooney of as a platform for his political his day. Everybody’s scrounging a m b i t i o n s . M e a n t i m e t h e for a job and a buck, they’re columnist and the hobo fall in laying off the old pros at the love, and decide they really are local newspaper and a cigar- altruistic and want “the people” chomping oil magnate wants to to succeed. It all winds up on the g e t i n t o p o l i t i c s . B a r b a r a city hall roof in the snow on Stanwyck plays a hard-driving Christmas Eve, with (really) the columnist who fakes a letter “Ode to Joy” playing in the
maverick message competing with entrenched Washington interests. Nobody goes up to the city hall roof, but the two newcomers emerge from the fray older and wiser and open their own PR shop. Now the fun part — casting! Clooney would be perfect in the Scott Brown/John Doe role. Sandra Bullock would be ideal as the media star but why not get an acting amateur with real background. OK, here’s the 2010 version: potential: Sarah Palin. For the picture Scott Brown, the new person embodying the power Massachusetts senator, as this elite, maybe Jack Nicholson. century’s John Doe, arriving in Again, there’s a non-actor who Washington to find a Senate tied could fill the bill — Rush up in knots, a House in disarray Limbaugh. He bears an uncanny and a White House mired in debt resemblance to Edward Arnold, and war. He’s buoyed by support who plays the part in the from the John Doe Clubs of the original. And Limbaugh already 21st century, the Tea Party has the cigars! This is a screenplay that movement. Another Washington outsider, a telegenic former practically writes itself — so hit governor with ambitions of her those keys! own, is drawn to the nouveau For more Reuters political news, John Doe and to the Tea Partiers. click here. They go to the Tea Party Photo credits: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson convention but find their (Actor George Clooney at
National Board of Review Award ceremony in New York, January 12, 2010) REUTERS/Larry Downing (Republican Senator-elect Scott Brown, Capitol Hill in Washington January 21, 2010) REUTERS/Mike Theiler (Former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, Fairfax, Virginia, December 5, 2009) REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (Sandra Bullock at the 67th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, January 17, 2010) REUTERS/Steve Marcus (Jack Nicholson at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 2, 2009) REUTERS/Micah Walter (Radio show host Rush Limbaugh speaks at the Heritage Foundation, Washington June 23, 2006)