Best film/TV US President?

[Sheilbh]

Isn't Oldman always playing the villain even when he isnt? 

Except in the Batman films.

And, I suppose, Tinker, Tailor.

My rule is if Gary Oldman is good and muted = goodie; if Gary Oldman is good and, shall we say, not muted = baddie.

[The Larch]

Isn't Oldman always playing the villain even when he isnt? 

Except in the Batman films.

And, I suppose, Tinker, Tailor.

My rule is if Gary Oldman is good and muted = goodie; if Gary Oldman is good and, shall we say, not muted = baddie.

Yeah, the louder he is, the likelier it is that he's a villain. 

[Malthus]

Isn't Oldman always playing the villain even when he isnt? 

The Contender was in my shortlist, but I wanted to keep it at 10 and as you say Bridges' character doesn't really feel too momentous.

In a way that's Oldman's take too. He thought he was playing the hero

He was definitely the hero in Leon: The Professional.

A cop who loves music must be heroic ... 😉

[Sheilbh]

[Tonitrus]

President Whitmore

I am sympathetic to his apparent character, and how he handles a crisis...but there is no insight into his domestic agenda, other than taking the decision to nuke Houston.

[Eddie Teach]

Yeah, how are we supposed to rate fictional Presidents without knowing their stance on marginal tax rates? 

[celedhring]

Whitmore is a wartime president, domestic policy definitely takes a back seat when evaluating him.

[Eddie Teach]

Did he really do anything besides give a hokey speech?

[Barrister]

Did he really do anything besides give a hokey speech?

He flew a F/A-18 into battle - probably the first President to personally lead troops in battle since Washington.

[Tonitrus]

I am a bit sad to find the SNL bit from back in the day with Pullman/Whitmore debating Bob Dole/(I think it was Norm Macdonald) is not on the internets. 

[celedhring]

Funnily, the Independence Day wiki actually has a bit about his domestic policy (taken from the film's novelization). It looks like he was rather ineffectual despite having an ambitious agenda.

Presidency
During his first years in office, he had introduced major legislative initiatives to reform everything from the legal system to health care to the environment. However, these programs had been stalled by committees and lawmakers. Against the advice of his advisers, Whitmore spent most of his time and energy shepherding his bills through the process, allowing himself to be bogged down by first-term representatives, which he was often forced to make favors with policymakers to achieve his policies.[2] As a result, public opinion openly attacked him for his meek outlook and inexperience in politics, and his prestige and popularity plummeted.

I'll also add that giving pompous speeches is one of the main attributes of the office in Hollywood presidents, and he friggin' delivered.

[Barrister]

I'll also add that giving pompous speeches is one of the main attributes of the office in Hollywood presidents, and he friggin' delivered.

But he didn't punctuate his speech with blasts from automatic rifles! #PresidentCamacho4evah!

[Caliga]

Yeah, I have to agree with Camacho.  As others pointed out he actually listened and deferred to experts, and also I would love it if Biden began a speech with "Shit!  I know shit's bad right now..."

[Barrister]

Yeah, I have to agree with Camacho.  As others pointed out he actually listened and deferred to experts, and also I would love it if Biden began a speech with "Shit!  I know shit's bad right now..."

Plus Terry Crews > Bill Pullman

[Caliga]

I like Bill Pullman.  He was really good in Serpent and the Rainbow and Spaceballs.