1. WILSON (star)(star)(star)
(Henry King, 1944)
Woodrow Wilson remarried while in office, after the death of his first wife, Ellen (this sentence as published has been corrected in this text). In this classy biopic, the ailing Ellen tells her daughters their father will need a new wife. That woman (Edith Bolling Wilson) apparently ran the country on Woodrow’s behalf after he suffered a stroke.
2. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT (star)(star)(star)
(Rob Reiner, 1995)
Aaron Sorkin (creator of “The West Wing”) scripted this Cinderella story, inspired by Wilson’s second marriage, about a widower president’s (Michael Douglas) romance with a lobbyist (Annette Bening). Media frenzy creates concern about the president’s professionalism and family values.
3. AIR FORCE ONE (star)(star)(star)
(Wolfgang Petersen, 1997)
Harrison Ford’s presidential portrayal is pure Hollywood, but it’s a guilty good time watching Ford’s President Mitchell save his family from terrorists. “Air Force One” unabashedly dictates that political talks are no match for a commander-in-chief armed with an AK-47.
4. TRUMAN (star)(star)(star) 1/2
(Frank Pierson, 1995)
“Truman” stirringly shows Harry’s devotion to his family, from gentle to raging. Evidence of the latter occurs when Harry (Gary Sinise) writes a Washington Post critic who gives his soprano daughter Margaret a bad review.
5. THE FINAL DAYS (star)(star)(star)
More Top Picks Pallets Soil
(Philip Rosenthal, 2000)
The real Bill Clinton stars as himself in this hilariously deadpan short about the tedious last days of his presidential term; Bill rides a bike through the White House, watches “101 Dalmatians” with his dog Buster and chases after Hillary’s limo with her forgotten sack lunch. The film can be downloaded at pocketmovies.net.