It seems like every year there is another film that will anger or annoy a group of people.-á
In 2004, both "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "The Passion of the Christ" were that film.-á Earlier this year it was "United 93."-á
Now "Death of a President" is the most talked about film in the world.
While the previous films mentioned were either politically, religiously or graphically controversial, "Death of a President" mixes all three into one massive ball of controversy headed on a collision course with red-state America.
In case you do not know, the film is a fictional account of President George W. Bush's assassination in October 2007.-á
While several films have dealt with the murder of a sitting president, they have been fictional presidents.-áIn this case, Bush is the president being assassinated.
Due to the subject matter, it was assumed that this film would never make it to America, however, that is all about to change.
Newmarket Films, the distributor of "The Passion of the Christ," has bought the film and plans on marketing it in the United States. This means protests unlike any we have ever seen.-áThe protests seen during "Fahrenheit 9/11" will pale in comparison to what will be seen when middle America hears about this film.
While I disagree with nearly every notion of President Bush's politics, I would have a hard time watching a film about a fictional murder of the sitting president.-áIt is not because it is about assassination or murder but because it is immoral to wish harm upon a president no matter what his political ideology entails.
Yet, this film will most likely be coming to a theater near you. Along with it will be controversy, no matter if you are in blue state, red state or purple state America.-áYet American cinema has continuously embraced controversy since even the early days of the movies.
However, every time a new controversial, on-the-edge film comes along, social and ethical pundits raise their voices and scream about the evils of the coming attraction.-áIt was seen in every film listed above.-áYet, I still do not believe that any of those films, or "The Last Temptation of Christ," or "Natural Born Killers," or "I Am Curious (Yellow)," have made our society any more hedonistic, violent, or unethical.
How many people denounced their faith after viewing "The Last Temptation of Christ?"
How many people started murdering people left and right after seeing "Natural Born Killers?"
How many people became cannibals after seeing "Cannibal Holocaust?"
Which leads me to the question: how many people will attempt to assassinate political leaders after seeing "Death of a President?"
The answer will be: not many.
People on both sides of the political, moral, social, economical, and religious aisles will debate and argue over the effects of such films on adults, teenagers, and children.-á
Pundits will take to the 24 hours news programs talking about the evils of the British filmmakers of "Death of a President."-áThey will mention the fact that some impressionable child will view the film and grow up to follow in the footsteps of John Wilkes Booth, Charles J. Guiteau, Leon Czolgosz, Lee Harvey Oswald, or John Hinckley, Jr.
There were political assassinations before and after the creation of the motion picture. There will continue to be more even after the release of this film.
However, it is of a person's own free will to conduct those actions, just as it is of a person's own free will to see this movie.
Just remember, by next year, everyone will have a different movie and a different controversy to talk and complain about.
Matthew Stephenson is a senior history major and writes 'The Left Side of the Couch' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Matthew at mlstephenson@bsu.edu.
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