dgranger's profile

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Sunday, August 11th, 2019 7:58 AM

Live Poll: Best Political Thriller With a Coup

The list page: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls090023046/
Poll page: https://www.imdb.com/poll/rXTVjBHie6M/?mode=desktop&ref_=m_ft_dsk

With all the political intrigue, antics, and legally questionable activity going on in Washington D.C., what political thriller film or television series, with a coup or coup d’etat in it, is the best?
Debate the merits of your nomination on the floor of this film board meeting place here.

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5 years ago

I had just thought of adding “The Lion King, The Adventures Of Robin Hood” and “Ivanhoe”. After all, despite all them being aimed towards kids or family fare, what do think Prince John and Scar were doing in trying remove their brothers from their thrones and place themselves on it. That is a coup.
But there has been so many films made about Robin Hood and Ivanhoe that includes prince John, the question is which ones are the best to pick?
And of course there are shows about Mary Queen of Scots real life too. But which to pick?

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It feels a little strange to compare the serious stuff of politics to 'The Lion King' or 'Robin Hood'. But on the other hand the animated animal movie is just an allegory to human behavior. So why not? What about 'Hamlet' from Kenneth Brannagh?  'Titus' with Anthony Hopkins? Shakespeare is one of the most intriguing author of good political thrillers. 'Macbeth' with Michael Fassbender?

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5 years ago

dgranger,

Please consider simplifying the title of your list from:
Which Political Thriller With a Coup, is The Best?

To:
Political Thrillers With a Coup?

- - -

Notes:
1. IMDb staff prefer shorter titles.
2. You already ask the question after your short introduction.

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Done but I had to keep “Which” in order to keep it in a question form..
any good suggestion to make because I don’t really want to end this with family fare; even though, technically, what I described in those films is definitely a coup.

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dgranger,

The current title looks a bit weird. I suggest:

Best Political Thriller With a Coup?

or 

Political Thrillers With a Coup

And by the way, Stephen doesn't spell his name with a v. 

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Changes done.

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You’re welcome.

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5 years ago

My choise Valkyrie
FYC
Missing (1982)
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0084335/?r...

No Escape (2015)
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1781922/?r...

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Added. Thanks. I forgot about “No Escape”.

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5 years ago


Please include the return link (to this discussion thread) to the text of the list. You have the appropriate text BUT not the actual link.

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Thanks. I usually do that right away. But this time I forgot.

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5 years ago


FYC:
The Death of Stalin (2017): This one may or may not qualify but the movie did touch upon a possible assassination of the titular Stalin (as the actual cause of his death) AKA a coup.
My Father and Son (2005)
Missing (1982)
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) has the overthrow of the NYC city government.
Beynelmilel (2006)

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The Death of Stalin also includes a borderline case of coup against Beria, although he never was a de-facto leader/general secretary/whatever. 

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All are added. Btw. I was a political science major in college. Besides studying the constitution, history, the different types of government, political philosophy, and law,-we had to take one course studying the political history of another country. Guess which one I took! Hint, it had a very thick textbook on Josef Stalin.

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5 years ago

What is your favorite adaptation of Macbeth?
:P

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Good pick. I forgot about that Shakespeare play. I even studied it in high school.

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5 years ago

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Added.

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The movie surprised me. It's a very suspense movie which is still actuall.
I gave it a ten, because I was tied to the screen from beginn to the end.

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Just for fun:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1645170/
'The Dictator' with Sacha Baron Cohen. ;D Not really seriously ment.

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More serious:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1270262/
'The Devil's Double' with Dominic Cooper.
Great charade.

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5 years ago

How about Shakespeare’s “Julius Ceasar”?

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Invariably...

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5 years ago

OMG, I must be an idiot. Doesn’t the three films of the Star Wars prequel contain a coup since Palpatine uses his position to overthrow the Republic and start the Empire?

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dgranger, they do! 

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FYI, some these movies, like Seven Days in May (1964), had failed efforts to overthrow the government. Wouldn't using  the phrase" a coup or an attempted coup" over "a coup or coup d’etat" be more accurate and cover the answer pool better?

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5 years ago

I have added the newly released “Angel Has Fallen”. Talk about accidental appropriate timing!

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5 years ago

I would suggest that you edit your intro as the reference to a coup against Trump may appear partisan.

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Because I truly do believe one was attempted and it was done along the lines of political manipulation and lies.
Look, i’ll Remove the reference to President Trump and a coup against him. But don’t expect me to rephrase it in such a way as to allow ether side off the hook because there was too much legally questionable activity to simply dismiss it as “Partisan politics”.

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The claim would have credibility if specific individuals or organizations were expeditiously identified, accused and taken to court for behaviors consistent with an unlawful coup, otherwise it just looks like the President of the United States is either not telling the truth (blowing smoke up somebody's behind for demagoguery's sake) or intending to turn a blind eye to treason. He cannot have it both ways. The same goes for the opposite side. When the House of Representatives of the United States desires to impeach a civil officer of the United States, it had better be for treason, felony or misdemeanor, lest the Senate of the United States dismiss the charges. The situation at hand, given the way it plays out in the media, kind of makes it seem like a whole lot of elected officials on both sides have way too much to hide from the public. Does that make them all guilty? I wish I knew. Sadly, simply expressing ourselves via the ballot every two years may not be enough. Maybe it is time for a constitutional convention. Of the several States, some have already applied.

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Jeorj Euler, let me start off by saying that I do have a copy of the Mueller Report and know what is in it. When the government publishes a report, they have it printed up in book form and it is available at your local bookstore or library. My copy includes mueller’s Special counsel orders and the laws governing a special counsel prosecutorial investigation to which Mueller’s investigation was. His just was to investigate for a PROSECUTOR to see if there was sufficient grounds to prosecute a person in an open court of law and it was the prosecutor who decides if there is grounds to proceed to court, not the special counsel. When Mueller passed a judgement in his report, he broke the law. But that is what the Democrats wanted Mueller to do, act as judge and jury without taking this to an open court of law where Trump could answer the charges. Look, I could go on and on about this but I can say that there is sufficient evidence out there that Trump wasn’t “blowing smoke up somebody’s behind”. A long list of names is forming.

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We will see.

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5 years ago

A coup d'état means the overthrow of an existing government; typically, this refers to an illegal, unconstitutional seizure of power by a dictator, the military, or a political faction.

The broad definition got me wondering whether Moon Over Parador (1988), Dave (1993) or Man of the Year (2006) would qualify.

FYC
The Enemy Within (TV Movie 1994)
The Office In the episode, "The Coup"
Stargate Atlantis In the episode, "Coup D'etat"
List of fictional revolutions and coups

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“ The Enemy Within” is added. I am still looking at the other two.

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The other two are added

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5 years ago

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All are added.

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4 years ago

My vote: Seven Days in May (1964)

2nd choice: The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

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4 years ago

Good poll! : ) The original 'Manchurian Candidate' is great but I think I like 'Missing' even more so that will get my vote. 

i'd suggest taking "from both of the major political parties" out because I'm not sure there's evidence of both sides and, since it's not necessary, it's probably safer to just leave it as vague as possible. 

May I also suggest one small edit? (in bold below) ('Good intro, too, btw.)

With all the political intrigue, antics, and legally questionable activity going on in Washington D.C., what political thriller film or television series, with a coup or coup d’etat in it, is the best?

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Done.