Last night, I watched Wag the Dog. Technically, it was flawed. But the 1997 film raises issues that need be raised, issues which are uncannily important in 2004. The film was released approximately one month before the Clinton sex scandal, and involves an American president using the media to invent a war in order to cover it up his indiscretion. Because of its (un)timeliness, many view it as an anti-Clinton film. But it's not about Clinton, really. The film's strategy is to reveal the love-hate relationship between politicians and the corporate media, a relationship that has destroyed American democracy.
In the extra material on the DVD version, there is an interview with Dan Rather, who describes the changing news environment. I find it ironic that he discusses the lowering of standards to please a public that is less and less trained to desire the charismatic or intellectual news anchor. These people create and maintain the system that ruins them. (My thoughts on neoconservative values and the notion of the "pyrrhic victory" will be coming soon.)
As someone who dabbled in journalism, I feel it is time to see Network again. If you want to feel the uncanny, put it on your short-list.
Actually, I think it was Tom Brokaw in the film. I get those two confused.
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