Movies About Government

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn
Rated PG

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is a 1964 film directed by Stanley Kubrick. The film follows the accidental launch of a nuclear attack against the Soviet Union by the United States and the efforts of the President of the United States and his advisers to prevent a nuclear holocaust. The story is told in a darkly satirical manner and features a large ensemble cast. At the same time, the film examines the insanity of nuclear warfare. The film is widely considered one of the greatest comedies ever made and has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

From Stanley Kramer, starring Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Marlene Dietrich
Rated Approved

Judgment at Nuremberg is a 1961 American courtroom drama film directed by Stanley Kramer, written by Abby Mann, and starring Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Maximilian Schell, Judy Garland, and Marlene Dietrich. Set in 1948, the film portrays a fictionalized version of the subsequent war crimes trials at Nuremberg, Germany. The story centers around an American judge assigned to the court and his struggle to reconcile his sense of justice with the circumstances of the case. The film examines the issues of guilt, innocence, responsibility, and post-war Germany's attempt to come to terms with its Nazi past. The film was acclaimed at the time of its release, and is now considered one of the greatest films of all time.

From Mike Newell, starring Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby
Rated R

Donnie Brasco is a 1997 crime drama directed by Mike Newell and starring Johnny Depp and Al Pacino. The film is based on the true story of FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone, who went undercover as “Donnie Brasco” to infiltrate the mafia in the late 70s. Donnie befriends Lefty Ruggiero (Pacino), a low-level mobster, and is soon accepted into the mob. As Donnie goes deeper undercover, his relationships with Lefty and his new “family” become more complicated and he finds himself in a moral dilemma. He must decide if he should stay undercover and risk destroying Lefty’s life or risk blowing his cover to help him.

From George Clooney, starring David Strathairn, George Clooney, Patricia Clarkson, Jeff Daniels
Rated PG

From Roger Donaldson, starring Kevin Costner, Bruce Greenwood, Shawn Driscoll, Drake Cook
Rated PG-13

From Uli Edel, starring Martina Gedeck, Moritz Bleibtreu, Johanna Wokalek, Bruno Ganz
Rated R

From Michael Ritchie, starring Robert Redford, Peter Boyle, Melvyn Douglas, Don Porter
Rated PG