Open Sources Guelph - December 27, 2018

If it's Christmas week on Open Sources Guelph, then you know what that means: it's time for the annual political movies show! We've got quite the quartet this year if you're looking for something to binge this break. From a surprisingly prescient 80s thriller to a modern sci-fi flick with a social conscience, and from an action hit set in the U.S. Capital to a hit piece by one of America's most well-known provocateurs, it's time for your favourite episode of the year!

This Thursday, December 27 at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:

Adam's First Political Movie Pick: They Live (1988). "A homeless drifter discovers a reason for the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor: a conspiracy by non-human aliens who have infiltrated American society in the guise of wealthy yuppies. With the help of special sunglasses that reveal the aliens' true faces and their subliminal messages ("marry and reproduce," "submit to authority"), our hero tries to stop the invasion. This satire of Reaganomics and the "greed is good" era also has one of the funniest (and longest) fight scenes in American cinema."

Scotty's First Political Movie Pick: Sorry to Bother You (2018). "In an alternate present-day version of Oakland, Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield) is struggling to make a living. He gets a job as a telemarketer, but it's not until a fellow black employee (Danny Glover) advises him to use his "white" voice, that Cassius becomes successful. He gets promoted to being a "power caller," which puts him on the upper floor, where he's provided all kinds of perks. However, he soon discovers that what he is being asked to do is morally wrong. His girlfriend Detroit (Tessa Thompson) objects, even when CEO Steve Lift (Armie Hammer) offers him $100,000,000."

Adam's Second Political Movie Pick: White House Down (2013). "Capitol Policeman John Cale (Channing Tatum) has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation’s government falling into chaos and time running out, it's up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country."

Scotty's Second Political Movie Pick: Fahrenheit 11/9 (2018). "Director Michael Moore predicted in July 2016 that Donald Trump would win the Presidency of the United States. That doesn't mean that having Trump as the President was the outcome he'd hoped for. In fact, it was very much the opposite. Deeply dismayed, Moore questions what lies ahead for the country. He talks to a variety of Americans about Trump and the seemingly hopeless state of affairs. He is told that if Trump were to be impeached, Trump's supporters would cause riots and violence around the country. It seems that's true, as Moore digs deeper into how and why Trump, a master distractor with his incendiary tweets, staff firings, and outright lies, still remains a hit with some Americans, while at the same time an embarrassment and liability for many."

Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 6 pm on Thursday.