http://www.lisanovalive.com/video/video/show?id=1584798%3AVideo%3A21345
Duration- 3:00
Directed by Lisa Nova
This political short demonstrates the fictitious way that John McCain asked Sarah Palin to be his running mate on the Republican ticket for the presidency. The appearance and tones of each politician is, for lack of a better word, "delectable." Each actor plays off of the pigeon holds that the media has placed on each politician - McCain evokes panic about the campaign and looks to a woman to "sway the political base" while Palin is a polar bear hunting, gun loving, Alaska living, young political baby factory. The relationship between the two also reflects what popular media demonstrates - that while Palin was expected to follow the policies of McCain, she has more of an interest in policy issues than expected.
Now this short truly speaks to the kind of humor that I appreciate. McCain telling Palin off, for example, is especially precious - "You've got about as much experience as my left nut, which by the way I left behind in DeNang." It's brash and to the point. The humor reflects a "What really happened" attitude that I hope really does exist behind the scenes of political decisions. This take on real life decisions and how they came to fruiton makes everything so simple. I would like to live in a world where John McCain would say he is "royally humped."
The short does have a bit of a serious side (but not overly so - just the right amount of serious) when analyzing what role the heartbeat plays. The heartbeat is subtle throughout the beginning, demonstrating McCain's panic, and immediately stops when Palin agrees to be his VP. The stop reflects a relief for McCain, but this relief is short. Within moments he realizes what it means to have Palin as his VP (in this short she is a take charge politician - certainly not the running mate McCain was in search of). The heartbeat flairs up again and continues for the rest of the short. McCain moves in front of a garage with an American flag painted on it.
This final image of a panicked old man in front of an icon of democracy, a symbol of protection, strikes a serious note to the satire. Interpret it how you will, but this political leanings of this short seem fairly obvious.
But with such great material in politics, how could you help but reem them?
11 comments:
I love this film because it is saying what everyone else was already thinking.
Nice observation. I think it was suppose to make gentle fun of the two politicians as human beings, as well as their record on policy.
While this film has blatent agenda pushing, I understand the humor. I would also love to hear McCain say such outlandish things in real life.
I like to watch the shock set in on McCain's face when Palin actually does have an interest in policy.
The background noise does play a prominent role in this short. It sets the tone and expectation of the final shot with McCain standing in front of the flag.
I would agree with Ben - the final shot would have felt random without the heartbeat set up.
I love the exaggerated nature of political satire in shorts. Or in general, I suppose.
"Take this shit home!"
Classic!
Can you picture McCain freaking out in an alley somewhere? Because I can picture McCain freaking out in an alley somewhere.
I think that is the point, Amy. It's not too outlandish!
OK Political shorts ALWAYS get stripped of the humor and returns to the source - being mean and agenda pushing. It might as well be PROPAGANDA!
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