Hollywood Movies Have Always Been About America. On the 250th July 4, Are They Still?

By Owen Gleiberman

Owen Gleiberman

Chief Film Critic

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A few days ago, the New York Times ran a provocative listicle entitled “What Is the Definitive Movie About America?” Their writers came up with a couple of inspired choices, like “Dazed and Confused,” along with a handful of head-scratchers (“Disclosure Day”? “The Florida Project”?). Since no one asked, I thought I would offer five candidates of my own. They are:

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). James Stewart, the quintessential American actor, plays a newly appointed senator who shows up in Washington, D.C., overflowing with schoolboy romanticism, only to learn that the place is a rigged game of corruption. In other words, things haven’t changed much. It’s shocking to see how cynically wised-up a Frank Capra movie could be — but, of course, the film is all about how Stewart’s fallen idealist goes to the mat and just about kills himself to save the system. The message: Sustaining the greatness of America is always a war.

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