For those who have read my columns over the last few years, you may know that I am both a movie buff and a student of New Jersey politics. New Jersey politics have always been a theatre—of drama, intrigue, deception, love, hate, and betrayal. Unlike Broadway, the political theatre does not occur on a well-lit stage; but rather, it unfolds deep in the shadows. Handshake deals, whispered agreements, and shaky alliances are forged over wants, needs, and hatred. Betrayal always lurks nearby and is guaranteed to make a surprise appearance. Careers are made and broken over indirect benefits all with a smile. You are only as good as your next deal or next election. This world is incredibly unsteady and if you allow it, the faceless bureaucracy will swallow you in a flash.
I have long maintained that that you don’t really need a civics book to understand politics and government in New Jersey—you just need access to a movie theater. Three of my favorite movies offer a front row seat into our politics: the Godfather, the Usual Suspects, and Miller’s Crossing. These three classics offer an entertaining lesson on the world in which few survive and even fewer master.
I have written about the Godfather before and maintain that the first and second installments are two of the best films ever made. If you know nothing about life and politics, these two films offer all you will ever need to survive in a truly brutal political work environment. The film teaches us that power is primarily built on loyalty, and loyalty is often fragile. One moment you are around the table making the deal and organizing the hits, and the next you are getting whacked at a social club because your former loyalist was actually conspiring with your enemy.
People in politics commonly refer to colleagues as family but we learn, as Michael Corleone did, that family is a blessing and a curse that can lead to great things or unimaginable betrayal. Longtime observers of politics will tell you family and friends will eventually grow jealous as envy creeps into the minds of those who are sidelined, but secretly looking for a starring role.
The Usual Suspects—one of most misunderstood, incredibly underrated, and politically educational movies of our lifetime. Who is Keyser Soze? Who is the mastermind behind the curtain, and do we actually know what is real and what is fabricated? In politics, the art of walking the line between fact and fiction is sometimes blurry and hard to separate. You need to differentiate between intentional deception and immature exaggeration. Often, real power is not obvious. In politics, lobbyists, donors, aides and consultants sometimes have an oversized hand in developing policy. The perception that the office holders hold all the cards and all the control is misleading. Often times we don’t figure out the real culprit until it is too late and the final montage of missteps, head fakes, and dekes has given way to a larger truth in our muddled and once pure atmosphere.
Miller’s Crossing – The Coen Brothers are nothing if not brilliant, excellent story tellers. I believe that this screenplay has some of the smoothest and most versatile language in a modern day script. The overarching theme in this movie is loyalty and the incalculable shock of betrayal. The undercard is that the winner will always be popular, and the election loser will soon find out just how many true friends are with them, if any. Today’s ally is tomorrow’s opponent, and your underling today can be your boss tomorrow. And sometimes, you might be asked to take a walk in the woods to end your career or your life as you know it.
If you fancy yourself as a student of politics or even human behavior, I suggest that you watch these three films a few times. The Godfather teaches us loyalty, the Usual Suspects teaches us deception, and Miller’s Crossing teaches us betrayal. All three lessons are crucial to exist in the state of play in Jersey politics.
