Cast your vote for one of these films

No matter party or position, Hollywood has a movie for you

Special to the Journal Sentinel

“This is not a Seth Rogen movie,” warned a cautionary essay about the presidential campaign of Donald Trump in the New Yorker last month. “This is real as mud.”

And yet many treated the campaign like a comedy early on, and few would have been surprised had it been revealed as one. Surely, this cycle has enough story lines for more than a few movies.

Today, stagecraft and style have become as critical as substance.

Policy wonks are as likely to have IMDB credits as position papers. And movie stars trot out their thoughtful and idealistic sides by making issue-oriented films that audiences by and large avoid.

Entertainment and politics are as American as mudslinging, and constantly intersect.

Ronald Reagan was an actor, George Clooney will host a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton in April and a love story about Barack and Michelle Obama’s courtship showed at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

HBO’s “Veep” and Netflix’s “House of Cards” are set in the White House itself. And political cable news programming is so pervasive it gives free media a bad name. No surprise a Showtime political series is called “The Circus.”

And since it’s in town for another few days, let’s consider a list of political films that is less comprehensive than representative — like our system of government.

Here’s what to watch if you . . .

. . . Are a history buff

“Primary” (1960) Documentary about Wisconsin’s 1960 Democratic presidential primary race between John Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey. Pioneering cinema verite, or fly-on-the-wall, film directed by Robert Drew is regarded as one of the most influential in the medium. Launched careers of Albert Maysles and D.A. Pennebaker, whose use of then-new portable film and sound equipment allowed them to be unobtrusive.

Quote: “I’m Hubert Humphrey. Just stopping by to say hello. You betcha.”

Available: Out of print. Buy used on Amazon and eBay; rent from Netflix.

. . . Are a Republican partisan

“Journeys With George” (2002) Intimate documentary humanizes a garrulous, glad-handing George W. Bush as he campaigns for president in 2000. Director Alexandra Pelosi, daughter of Democratic former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, traveled with press corps during the campaign and developed a rapport with the candidate.

Quote: “I think he’s a bad speaker. But he’s truly great at shaking hands.”

Available: Clips on YouTube. Buy or rent on Amazon, eBay, Netflix.

. . . Are a Hillary Clinton supporter

“The Contender” (2000) A sex scandal threatens the appointment, by president Jeff Bridges, of Joan Allen as the first female vice president. Political thriller with feminist theme written and directed by Rod Lurie.

Quote: “We’re both sticking to our guns. The difference is mine are loaded.”

Available: Buy from Amazon; rent on Netflix; stream on iTunes.

. . . Support the stop Donald Trump movement

“Mitt” (2014) Filmmaker Greg Whiteley had inner-circle access to Mitt Romney’s quests for the presidency in 2008 and 2012. The result is an intimate chronicle of public and personal triumphs and disappointments in the candidate’s family life and ultimately failed campaigns.

Quote: “The country may think of you as a laughingstock, (but) we’ll know the truth.”

Available: Netflix.

. . . Prefer a dark horse candidate