Opinion The new Reagan movie has an anti-MAGA message - Tumulty WaPo
It says something about the state of popular culture that even buying a movie ticket has become a political signifier. The latest case in point is the new Ronald Reagan biopic. Critics have trashed it. The Daily Beast has declared Reagan, starring Dennis Quaid, the worst movie of the year. Writing for The Post, reviewer Ty Burr called it hagiography as rosy and shallow as anything in a Kremlin May Day parade.
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Reagan is also running surprisingly strong at the box office, having grossed close to $20 million. Since it came out Aug. 30, it has ranked among the top five movies out there, which include Deadpool & Wolverine, the latest in the Marvel superhero franchise. No doubt part of its success stems from the fact that Reagan is being championed on the right. Megyn Kelly told her 3.1 million followers on X: Once again, the left-wing critics try to kill a film and the American people dont listen. Reagan shines!!
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Although this may be getting missed by its conservative fans, the film and its message are a thorough repudiation of Donald Trump and his MAGA movement. That starts with its central narrative, which is about Reagans determination to bring about the collapse of the Soviet Union. As Reagan put it both on film and in real life, he believed the only acceptable outcome to the Cold War was we win and they lose.
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But no one can doubt how Reagan today might regard Vladimir Putin, whose central ambition is to re-create the Russian empire. He would see Putins unprovoked invasion of Ukraine as a clear step toward doing so. Or what Reagan would think of Trumps admiration of the Russian president and the fact that during last weeks presidential debate, a Republican former president refused to even say which side he hopes will win in Ukraine. I think its in the U.S.s best interest to get this war finished and just get it done. Negotiate a deal, Trump said.
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Reagan called the North Atlantic alliance the core of Americas foreign policy and of Americas own security. ... We Americans will do our part in keeping the alliance strong. Our troops will stay in Europe, a guarantee that our destiny is coupled with yours. Could there be any greater contrast with Trump, who earlier this year claimed to have been asked by an unnamed head of state how the United States would respond if a NATO member that had not spent the organizations stipulated quota of 2 percent of its gross domestic product on its own defense were attacked by Russia?
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