Educational Media Reviews Online

The unadorned title of this film quickly brings the audience to an adoration of the early life of Ronald Reagan. Made shortly after his death, this work begins with emotional eulogies from Reagan’s contemporaries, such as Margaret Thatcher. The film spends a great deal of time examining Reagan’s acting career, and his service as president of Screen Actors Guild, beginning in 1947. This film does an excellent job probing Reagan’s motivations, as his acting career and union role affect his political posture. His charisma and patriotism even began to bleed into his minor roles and commercials.

The film takes a conspicuous turn in tone, as it shifts from a celebration of Reagan to an intense scrutiny of his political career. In 1964, “The Speech” as it came to be known, in support of Barry Goldwater, established his place in the Republican Party, and even spawned murmurs of a Presidential run for Reagan. This work gives credit to Reagan for his infectious patriotism, political victories, and economic recovery plan, but also supplies unrelenting scrutiny of Reagan’s economic policies, increase of the military budget and subsequent increase in the national deficit, and the Iran-Contra scandal. The film looks into Reagan’s character and belief system, referring to the Iran Contra scandal, as the “biggest window into the way [Reagan] actually thought.” The film approaches conclusion with a brief narrative demonstrating his failing health and death; and comes full circle by closing with the eulogy given by his son.

This film is replete with interviews with key figures in Reagan’s personal and professional life, such as former Chief of Staff Jim Baker, former news anchor Dan Rather, Reagan’s official biographer, Patrick Buchanan, and Reagan’s son. This film is brilliantly edited, with an abundance of rare film clips, revealing excerpts from White House meetings, and other informative sources. Without exaggeration, this film gives the audience the full breadth of Reagan’s accomplishments, characters, and suspect actions.