A Very Special Movie Review: Independence Day

President Pullman, off to save the world

In honor of July 4th, a very special movie post.


There are many aspects of Independence Day (1996) to love: the alien invasion storyline, a deranged Randy Quaid, Will Smith's first foray into science fiction, and a surprisingly ripped Jeff Goldblum, to name a few. But the reason I watch Independence Day whenever it comes on TV is because I believe Bill Pullman is the best president we've ever had. 


My love for Bill Pullman is well documented at this point, but this goes beyond even that. When I see Bill Pullman as President  Thomas J. Whitmore pick up the intercomm and address a group of fighter pilots staging an attack on the alien mothership, I settle in and prepare to feel some patriotic fervor. He speaks eloquently and with conviction about the imminent destruction facing them, laying out the difficulty of their mission without getting too depressing. Then he rallies the troops with a final call to action that will mean independence not only for America, but for the rest of the world as well.


The speech pretty obviously plays into many Americans' love of being the saviors of the world, but it's still effective, mostly because Pullman plays it straight and adds an air of desperation to his performance. He knows it's a crazy plan, but it's the only plan they've got. 


President Pullman (which I will call him henceforth because President Whitmore just sounds wrong) doesn't just talk a good game, he puts his previous combat fighting to use and joins his men in the skies to take down the invading alien forces. He's the George Washington of the movie presidents, leading by example and being generally awesome.


Plus, he looks like Bill Pullman, which is a definite bonus.