Growing up in a family of Soviet immigrants instills a disdain for communism from a young age. Looking back, it was no surprise that former President Ronald Reagan became an early influence, a gateway into both politics and conservatism.
It wasn’t long before I had memorized most of his 1964 speech for then-Sen. Barry Goldwater’s campaign, “A Time for Choosing.” Reagan combined former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s moral clarity with the charm of a Hollywood actor while channeling his ardor for America. It’s easy to see why Jon Voight, playing a retired KGB officer in Sean McNamara’s Reagan, reverently refers to the late president as “The Crusader.”
The film unfolds like a dossier, narrated by the post-Soviet Russian who laments the fall of his communist empire under Reagan’s leadership. Much like Amadeus (1984), in which Mozart’s life is told through the eyes of his rival, Antonio Salieri, Reagan takes this reflective approach. But while such introspection feels fitting for composers and artists, it’s harder to imagine it from Soviet chauvinists.
We start with Reagan’s childhood, where he first discovers his gift for public speaking by reciting poetry in churches. The film plays out like a Wikipedia entry at times, but through the narrator’s begrudging perspective, every seemingly trivial moment is linked to the film’s central message: the inevitable downfall of the USSR.
The narrative quickens as Reagan’s Hollywood career takes center stage. He’s portrayed as a charismatic star with the talent and presence to be a Humphrey Bogart or a Cary Grant but lacking the drive to pursue fame without distraction. “Is there anything worse than an actor with a cause?” his first wife quips in an early scene.
As Soviet spies and their lackeys infiltrate American labor unions, particularly in Hollywood, Reagan finds a higher calling: defending the American principles he holds dear. McNamara emphasizes this turning point, marking the start of Reagan’s political ascent, albeit at the cost of his acting prospects.
One standout scene occurs mid-film, with Reagan, now governor of California, facing pressure from leftist agitators holed up on the University of California, Berkeley campus. Many, as the screenplay stresses, are paid protesters, not students. Reagan addresses the professors, accusing them of coddling their students and fueling their misguided sense of self-importance under the guise of “social progress.” Considering how today’s campuses have become breeding grounds for communist sympathizers, the scene leaves one wondering: Where is such a leader now?
Dennis Quaid fully inhabits his character, no small feat when portraying such a consequential figure. He captures Reagan’s disarming charm and wit, down to the impeccable wardrobe: finely tailored suits, dimpled ties, Wrangler Western shirts, and shearling jackets. Though Reagan left Hollywood for politics, the film reminds us he was always a country man at heart. “The outdoors and riding horses,” he says in his folksy drawl when asked by Nancy Davis, his future second wife, about his passions.
Like all mythologizing biopics, Reagan glosses over its subject’s scandals. The Iran-Contra affair, for instance, is handled with Reagan apologetically addressing the nation, taking full responsibility for the oversight while affirming the noble intentions of freeing American hostages and battling communist insurgencies — both justifiable goals.
In one earlier scene, Reagan is asked by strategists what he believes the biggest issue of the election is. Without hesitation, he replies, “The Cold War against the Soviet Union.” He questions how domestic issues could take precedence when the spread of communism beyond the Iron Curtain threatens freedoms at home.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
If Adam McKay’s 2018 biopic Vice was made for those who despise its political subject, then Reagan was clearly made for those who revere its hero. The debate over Reagan’s policies and legacy will endure, but what Reagan succeeds in showcasing is his decisive role on the world stage. This is McNamara’s most effective message throughout the film’s run time.
Ultimately, how one feels about Reagan will depend on one’s opinion of the man himself, rather than the film’s portrayal, which Quaid and McNamara manage convincingly. But if Voight’s retired KGB officer can find something to respect in Reagan, maybe even his detractors can too.
Harry Khachatrian (@Harry1T6) is a film critic for the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a computer engineer in Toronto pursuing his MBA.