‘The American President’: A Political Drama Roger Ebert Adored Is Streaming on Netflix

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Michael Douglas enjoyed incredible success in the 1980s and 90s, starring in blockbuster films like Wall Street and Basic Instinct. He also shared the screen with many of Hollywood’s leading ladies, including Sharon Stone and Annette Bening. However, one film from that period often gets forgotten, despite being one of his best-reviewed movies – it has a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes! The American President, directed by Rob Reiner, was highly praised not only by audiences but also by the respected film critic Roger Ebert, in both his written reviews for the Chicago Sun-Times and on his television program, At the Movies.

Critics and audiences alike loved The American President, which earned $108 million worldwide – a huge success for a romantic comedy with political themes. The film received several Golden Globe nominations, including for Best Director, Best Picture (Musical or Comedy), both leading actors, and Best Screenplay. It also received an Oscar nomination for its original musical score. In 2002, the American Film Institute even named it one of the greatest love stories in American cinema, ranking it at #75.

POTUS Finds Love in a Hopeful Place in ‘The American President’

Traditionally, every President has had a First Lady, but a few, unfortunately, experienced widowhood during their time in office. Presidents like Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, and Woodrow Wilson all lost their wives. The film The American President explores a playful ‘what if’ scenario – what if one of these widowed presidents found love again in an unexpected way?

Michael Douglas plays Andrew Shepherd, a charismatic and dedicated widowed President of the United States, in this film. As he heads into an election year, Shepherd is completely focused on his work and passing important legislation—until he encounters Sydney Ellen Wade, an ambitious environmental activist.

President Shepherd becomes passionately involved with someone, and they can’t seem to stay away from each other. The relationship is reminiscent of Olivia Pope and President Grant, but with a bit more restraint. However, Shepherd’s political opponent, Senator Bob Rumson, begins to undermine him, much like the villain Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello, by exploiting the President’s personal life. Once Rumson starts attacking, all bets are off.

It’s surprising to learn that Michael Douglas wasn’t the original choice for the role of President Shepherd. The idea for the film actually started with Robert Redford, who pitched the simple concept – “The president elopes” – to various studios, intending to play the president himself. However, after Columbia Pictures bought the project and Rob Reiner was chosen as director, Redford decided to leave because he disagreed with Reiner’s approach. This ultimately led to Michael Douglas being cast in the role.

Roger Ebert Awarded ‘The American President’ Four Stars Out of Four


Universal Pictures

In the 1990s, a positive review from film critic Roger Ebert could make or break a movie. He particularly enjoyed The American President, noting how difficult it is to successfully combine political drama, comedy, and romance – but director Rob Reiner, along with Michael Douglas and Aaron Sorkin, pulled it off. Sorkin, who later became well-known for The West Wing, wrote the screenplay, which explains the film’s strong storytelling and political savvy – he’s always been a master of the genre.

In his review, Ebert praised The American President for its realistic portrayal of important issues like gun control and the environment. The film avoids excessive drama and instead addresses serious topics that remain relevant today. It seamlessly shifts from lighthearted moments – like Shepherd’s awkward attempt to get Sydney’s number – to thoughtful speeches about America’s future and the importance of strong values.

Ebert also praised Douglas for showing more range than he did in his other love-themed movies.

Lately, Douglas has been playing characters with stronger sexual themes, like in the movie Disclosure, where he appeared as a pawn in the story. But in this new role, he’s much more complex, showing vulnerability, intelligence, and a genuinely appealing personality.

I totally agree! Michael Douglas is fantastic in movies like Basic Instinct, Disclosure, and Fatal Attraction, but it’s true his characters sometimes feel a little… passive. They just get swept away by their feelings without much thought. What I really love about The American President though, is that his character, President Shepherd, really gets that you need to balance your heart and your head – he’s not just led by emotion.

I really appreciated the skill and care that went into making The American President. The movie perfectly captured what it’s like inside the White House, featured intelligent and realistic conversations, and skillfully used the romance to create an emotional connection with the audience.

That captures the essence of Roger Ebert’s cinematic world. He and Gene Siskel both loved The American President – they gave it two thumbs up on their show, At the Movies, and you likely will too. It’s a fantastic film, currently available on Netflix in the US, but it won’t stay there indefinitely, so be sure to watch it soon!




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2026-03-13 21:40