Who doesn't love DVD box sets? A rainy Saturday afternoon is so much more tolerable when you have a season of "The Sopranos" or the (original) "Star Wars" trilogy to keep you company. Why am I rambling? Because during British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's recent visit to the United States, President Obama gave him the gift of a DVD boxed set of 25 classic American films. Not a bad gift, considering all Barack and Michelle got was some boring old pen holder. There was only one problem with the DVD's, however, they were Region 1 encoded and cannot play in British DVD players. Whoops.
Brown's March 6th visit to the States was not without controversy from the beginning. The White House's decision to not host a formal state dinner for Brown and his wife was met with derision by some in the British press. The Daily Mail for their part aren't particularly enthused by Obama's gift selection, calling it "about as exciting as a pair of socks."
Tim Walker of the Telegraph called Brown's gift of an ornamental pen holder made from the wood of the HMS Resolute (the same wood used to build the famous Oval Office desk), a copy of a Winston Churchill biography, and outfits from Topshop and books for Sasha and Malia "slightly more thoughtful" than Obama's Best Buy sale purchase.
So what was in the box anyway? It is hard to believe that these 25 films were just picked out of a hat; they must have some meaning right? Let's take a look at the top 10 (full list here):
Citizen Kane - Considering most American newspapers will no longer exist in about five years, Orson Welles' seminal work is now a portrait of a rapidly vanishing American industry. That and everyone loves sleds and snow globes.
The Godfather - Obama's favorite film and perhaps a way to communicate to Brown what to expect from the President as far as a diplomatic style. Michael Corleone wasn't one for détente; just ask Moe Green.
Casablanca - Everyone loves Bogie and Bergman and hates Nazis. If Brown doesn't like this one then Obama can safely assume they're in for a rocky relationship. If he does, well then it could be the beginning of a beautiful...well, you know.
Raging Bull - Think of it this way: Jake LaMotta is the bruised and battered American economy; Sugar Ray Robinson is everything from government intervention to corrupt CEOs trying their hardest to knock it out. LaMotta might have taken his hits, but he never goes down for the count.
Singin' In The Rain - We might be in the middle of one of the worst economic storms of the past century, but this is America. We have a way of dancing through the raindrops. At least until a lightning bolt named Bear Sterns shows up.
Gone With The Wind - Describes the future of the auto industry in four words or less.
Lawrence of Arabia - British class identity crises, the dark side of western involvement in the Middle East, a meditation on the human cost of war. Yeah, nothing to see here Gordon. Let's just move along.
Schindler's List - It's safe to assume Angela Merkel won't be receiving this as a gift anytime soon.
Vertigo - Apparently this is not a film about mortgage rates over the past 10 years.
The Wizard of OZ - Popular children's tale or populist parable? It's either that or Obama is just a really big Dark Side of the Moon fan.
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