FlipSide: The final match

So which is the best government-themed movie? We began this competition two months ago. Now, after weeding through the selections pair by pair, we have two finalists: the venerable “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (1939) and thriller “The Hunt for Red October” (1990).

It’s tempting to view this final bracket as a match between a classic flick and a modern one. But you could argue that “The Hunt for Red October,” with its Cold War backdrop and 18-year technology gap, has a nostalgic feel of its own.

The other two movies in the final four, though both older than “The Hunt for Red October,” might resonate more with contemporary audiences.

“War Games” (1983), which “Mr. Smith” beat soundly, looks less like science fiction these days, despite its dated technology. And the political scandal of “All the President’s Men” (1976) has a timeless quality, despite its dated feel and sense of fashion.

One final historical perspective: “Black Hawk Down” (2001) made the best showing of movies released since 2000, losing to “All the President’s Men” in the quarterfinals.
Indulge your nostalgia by casting your vote at www.fcw.com/polls.

Click here to enlarge brackets (.pdf).