LONG SHOT
US, 2019, 125 minutes, Colour.
Charlize Theron, Seth Rogen, O' Shea Jackson Jr, June Diane Raphael, Ravi Patel, Bob Odenkirk, Andy Serkis, Alexander Skarsgaard.
Directed by Jonathan Levine.
The screenplay and humour in Long Shot look and sound as if they had been written by Seth Rogen. In fact, they weren’t – though, obviously his character and dialogue are obviously shaped by his on-screen personality. If you enjoy his films, you will definitely enjoy him in this.
In some ways he is much the same, genial, incongruous clothes and hat, fuzzy face and hair, the cuddly style! And, surprisingly, he is well matched in terms of companionship, sparring, falling in love, with Charlize Theron in her glamorous and stately style. She plays the comedy well.
This is American politics in the Trump era, with memories of George W.Bush and his floundering, the contrast with Barack Obama, and measuring what goes on here with the behaviour of Donald Trump, his campaign, his years of presidency.
Seth Rogen plays Fred Flasky, a successful writer, but wanting to be independent and rather uncompromising his views – first seen at a white supremacy meeting, full blast in his support, having a swastika is tattooed on his arm, then exposed and his leaping from a window to escape the supremacists. Then going to his boss, finding that a millionaire is taking over the newspaper and, to avoid being sacked, he resigns!
He has a good friend, Lance, played by O’ Shea Jackson Jr (reminding audiences always of his resemblance to his father, Ice Cube). Lance takes the gloomy Fred who a reception where a popular group is playing and Fred sees his babysitter from the past, Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron) who is now Secretary of State. They meet, reminisce, Fred clashing with the takeover tycoon, Parker Wembley (Andy Serkis almost unrecognisable). In the interchange, he falls headfirst down the stairs, and its all being videoed.
However, Charlotte remembers Fred well, offers him a job as her speechwriter. He writes in jokes, incorporates personal memories, her speeches are a success, especially as this she is pursuing an international agreement on the environment – which will help her in her campaign to become president, the present incumbent (Bob Odenkirk in a rather Bush-like spoof, also with an eye on Donald Trump on television) leaving the White House but eager to support her in her nomination.
There is a lot of international travel, speeches to be written, royalty and dignitaries to be met. Fred is the frequent recipient of the hostility and demands of Charlotte’s assistant, Maggie (June Diane Raphael). The film then becomes a romantic comedy, the couple falling in love, in dangers, protected by the Secret Service.
The climax, especially on Fred’s part, involves blackmail, exposing him (literally) to thwart Charlotte’s bid for the White House. So, moral dilemma, his integrity and love, her political ambitions.
Whether it happens in real life and actual politics, the film is on the side of authenticity and truth.
So, while there is moralising, there is a variation on romantic comedy, and quite a number of laughs along the way.
1. The blend of romantic comedy with politics?
2. American politics, the 2010s, the American presidency in the 21st century, Bush, Obama, Trump?
3. The American settings, international locations? Washington DC, offices, the White House? Diplomatic receptions? The streets of Washington, nightclubs? The musical score?
4. The credibility of the scenario, the comic and satirical writing? The role of women in politics, Secretaries of State, the history of Madeline Albright, Hillary Clinton? Ambitions, campaigns, attacks?
5. Seth Rogan and his comic style as Fred? His appearance, clothes, hat, earnest? His comic style and writing, drugs, language? The opening, his speech to the white supremacists, the tattoo of the swastika, unfinished? His being exposed, confrontation, leap? Going to his boss, news of the takeover, his disapproving, his being sacked?
6. Lance, his good friend, relying on him, discussions, the possibilities for a career? Going to the concert, socialising, a glimpse of the past, Charlotte Field in memories? Her calling him over? The confrontation with the takeover boss, his head long fall and its being filmed? Replayed?
7. Charlotte, her role, Secretary of State, the visit to the president, his TV rehearsals, his ambitions beyond the White House? His speech, offering to support Charlotte? Her assistance, Maggie and Tom, their control? The effect of seeing Fred again, remembering her role as babysitter?
8. The flashbacks, Charlotte in the kitchen, Fred and his adoration, his sexual embarrassment?
9. Charlotte summoning Fred, the proposal to work on speech-writing, her expectations, his hesitation, the pressure, his acceptance?
10. His role in writing, testing out the jokes, making her speeches personal? Maggie, her strong character, opposition to Fred? Tom’s part of the entourage? Fred’s appearance, clothes and hat, incongruous?
11. The range of travel, going to the special events, writing Charlotte speeches, her presentation? Her international hopes, the environment? Political contacts, socials and meetings, promises and pledges? 100 countries? Having to compromise to get the support? Parker Wembley and his wanting to talk to her, her putting him off?
12. Fred in love with Charlotte, always? Their sharing, being together, the role of the Secret Service? In Manila, the dangers? Becoming lovers? Maggie and her suspicions, Fred confirming them?
13. The plan, Charlotte and her achievement, the media response?
14. Going out in Washington, experimenting with the drugs, the dancing? The emergency, her condition, going to the office, the phone call, the diplomacy, solving the problems?
15. The effect of their relationship on each of them? Fred and his disappointment in Charlotte being compromising? Her ambitions?
16. The president, Parker Wembley and the video, influence on the president, the compromising tape, explicit, the threats?
17. The dilemma for each of them, the compromise, Fred and his discussions with Lance? The phone call, Fred is conceding? Charlotte and the nomination, the press conference,
her admission of the truth, the risk, public response?
18. The transition to the election, Fred becoming the First Mister? The popular couple, their policies? The amount of support? The scenes in the White House?
19. The moral of the story of being real, honest, some integrity? And the comparison with ethos in the Trump era?
