Death of a President, the fictional documentary that pretends Prezzie Bush was assasinated, took home an award a couple weekends ago at the Toronto International Film Festival, and actually picked up a serious distribution deal.
I always roll my eyes when artists decide to take a stab at changing the world with candor and controversy, even if I vote the same way they do. Subtlety really goes a long way, I swear.
The movie could be great, but we need to look only to indie rock to see how overt politicizing can make artists look like fools.
Take Bright Eyes, with a lead singer who shoots straight from the hip. This works most of the time for Conor Oberst, because he's got the hooks, voice and hipster hair to pull it off. But he really went for it with his anti-Bush song, "When the President Talks to God," and blew it big time.
Not only are the lyrics bitter and pathetic, but the song itself is so bad that Jay Leno doesn't even seem to like it.
But maybe Death of a President will have more in common with Okkervil River's new track, "The President's Dead" - which you can get over at YANP.
I'm sure these guys are liberal, but Will Sheff and co. actually give some thought to the situation (and the songwriting) and don't straight up give in to Bush-bashing - which is about as fresh as Sufjan Stevens-praising at this point.
The soundtrack for this movie sure could be interesting. Maybe it will all be NOFX. I'm hoping that Pink will make an appearance.
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