‘Tis the season to re-watch ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’
Bob Cesca makes an interesting observation:
“Like Oliver, I watched [It's A Wonderful Life] for the gazillionth time last night and I don’t mind saying that it never, ever sucks. But this year, considering the events of the last two months, it was remarkably poignant.
The run on the bank and the financial crisis, obviously. But also something new I never really caught before: George Bailey is a sort of community organizer, giving up wealth and prestige in order to make a difference in the lives of the poor, ethnic population there (Potter, ever the racist conservative, calls them “garlic eaters”). And in return, the people make George “the richest man in town.” Sounds a little Obama-ish, no? And for some reason, I couldn’t help but to think of Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani at the Republican convention mocking community organizing. Very Mr. Potter of them.
Of course there’s so much more to be taken away from the film, but this new Obama observation sort of jumped out last night.
It’s A Wonderful Life is ultimately a very liberal FDR-inspired movie about We the People having a stronger stake in the nation’s wealth and building a democratic society from the bottom up, rather than top down via large corporate wealth and greed.
(By the way, in 1947 the FBI thought the movie was communist propaganda because it “deliberately maligned the upper class” (wealthy free-market conservatives). Seriously.)”
Sounds like it’s time to watch it again… Although I’d better steel myself, as I’ve never gone along with the conventional wisdom about IAWL. I don’t deny that It’s A Wonderful Movie, of course – but it’s also always described as “heartwarming” and “uplifting”. So imagine my surprise the first time I watched it (as a teenager, I think), only to find out that while the ending may indeed be “heartwarming” and “uplifting”, it’s preceded by two hours of pretty much unremitting misery and depression, including job losses, corruption, death and thoughts of suicide. If you want “heartwarming” and “uplifting” this festive season, I highly recommend Madagascar 2. S’funny, too.
*Update* OK, so I’m re-watching it right now, and it’s not unremittingly bleak. And the scene where Mary and George are listening in on the phone call is romantic cinema gold 
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Tags: barack obama, bob cesca, it's a wonderful life, madagascar 2, madagascar movie, Obama