Bismarck

In the third film in which Michael Sheen plays Tony Blair (the others being The Queen and The Deal), Bill Clinton says to Blair that only four nations can actually claim to have a 'special relationship' with the US, they are: China, Israel, Ireland (Eire) and Saudi Arabia.

The film also suggests that Tony Blair's single-minded pursuit of Slobodan Milosovic in the Bosnian conflict, where he declared it was the duty of the international community to fight despotic dictators, may have left him rather hog-tied when it came time to confront Saddam Hussein. 'Hoist by his own petard' as the saying goes. After the pressure Blair put on Clinton over the Bosnian conflict, he couldn't very well turn around and say the same argument does not apply to Iraq. His own rhetoric of the late nineties meant that he was bound to assist America in its fight to topple Saddam Hussein.

I thought these were a couple of very interesting points raised by the movie. What do people think?

tjadams

Haven't heard of any of these movies, but I always wonder what agenda the director/writer had while planting the seeds of false information mixed in with seeds of truth. That's why I avoid political movies.

Bismarck

You have to ask yourself, teej, what is to stop Bill Clinton from suing the movie makers for spreading faslehoods? After all, if he didn't say those things then he would have the law on his side and the movie producers could be sued for millions. Whether or not Clinton does sue, why would the movie makers take such a risk?

And the answer is; the best defence in a libel or slander suit is the truth. The producers have lawyers to vet the script beforehand, and they make sure that everything said in the movie is on public record or can be verified by an independent source.

tjadams

I see your points. But unless there is a hard copy of proof certain words were said and when said, then its all made up two hour long dialog. Perhaps the movie will put a small, itty-bitty disclaimer somewhere in the movie that no one pays attention to? If not,the audience will come out thinking just as the director/writer told them to think.
I don't know about movies like these, its all either slanted against or for the main person.
I'll stick to the "Forrest Gump" type historical movies.

Bismarck

'Forrest Gump' an historical movie? That's a good one. Haha.

I love political/historical movies or dramas, good and bad. I'll watch 'em all, if I can. I'm am amazed you haven't at least heard of 'The Queen', which has Helen Mirram playing Queen Elizabeth II after Lady Diana was killed, and it follows the political fallout in Britain from that?

tjadams

Nope, I don't watch much British TV or movies etc., nothing against them, just too much "My Lord" and "Your Grace". I did watch Henry VIII and WOW, greatness!
Right now my wife is watching, and I admit, I'm peeking in at times, the Brit show "Downton Abbey". It's pretty good so far.

Eumenes

I understand Israel, China, and Saudi Arabia, but Ireland?

PraiseGod_Barebones

Yer, because of the number of O'Reilly's and Caffertys who because their great great great great grandpa was from Kilkee they think they are Oirsh. Also because in the 90's many American citizens with this lineage still sent money to the IRA.

Spartacuss

And of course every March 17th all Americans are Irish.

Linschoten

Great icon, Sparatcuss!