Compared to traditional detectives or action movies, political thrillers are shot much less frequently. Indeed, in contrast to the stories of the valiant detectives who reveal the most complicated crimes, or about the movie heroes a la Arnold Schwarzenegger, who do not care about anything, films of this kind, as a rule, destroy the faith in the political system as such. They show its unsightly side, which most of us try not to think about. Despite this, among the films shot in this genre, there are also very interesting projects. Let's find out about the most famous and interesting such paintings.
Thrillers about politics and their distinguishing features
Before you begin to consider the top best films of this kind, it is worth knowing their distinguishing features.
In this case, the name speaks for itself: such a picture is a thriller, events in which are associated with politicians and their games. It is worth remembering that if the project mentions the president, ministers or special services, this does not make him a political thriller. Since in addition to the story of a hero from the category of those in power, the project should reflect the specifics of the relationship of such people. And also to attend some kind of secret that keeps the viewer in suspense, otherwise what kind of thriller is it.
Often these paintings are called espionage, as their main characters are often secret service agents or double agents. However, not all tapes with such characters are political thrillers. After all, films about James Bond or Austin Powers are also about spies, and about very unusual ones. Here are just tapes about the first hero - these are spy fighters, and about the second - a parody of them.
Another distinguishing feature that is characteristic of such paintings is the ambiguity of the characters. As a rule, there are no good or bad ones, their images are very multifaceted and are thus close to real people. In addition, the finale of such tapes does not always win the good. And if justice still triumphs, then its victory is usually with a bitter aftertaste.
Theme of political thrillers
The list of questions that are raised in such tapes is long. However, we can distinguish among them the key ones:
- First of all, this is the exposure of spy organizations that seek to change the world order in a particular state. At the beginning of the emergence of this genre, most political thrillers considered attempts by the surviving Nazis to regain power. In later years, they were communists.
- Another popular topic raised in such projects is the Cold War. After its completion, the main enemies became terrorists from Islamic countries.
- In addition, detective games in political thrillers are very popular. Detectives of this kind, as a rule, are aimed at revealing the machinations of a politician. Usually this is done by journalists or special agents, accidentally caught in a mess. Scenarios can often be based on real events. Thanks to this, the rating of films increases.
- Political thrillers often show the evolution of politicians and their entourage, and also show how power affects people.
Having dealt with the main issues to which such tapes are devoted, it is worth considering the most famous of them.
"Notoriety" (1946)
This picture tells about the daughter of a German spy Alicia. Unlike her father, she has vivid anti-fascist views. Because of them, an undercover FBI agent makes friends with a girl and persuades him to help him uncover the plot of the former heads of the Third Reich hiding in Brazil. However, on the way to the goal, young people have to overcome many difficulties and risk their own lives more than once.
It is worth noting that this picture was assigned to thrillers only due to the unique, blood-cooling atmosphere created by Alfred Hitchcock. While the plot is more likely a spy detective.
Political thriller "The whole royal army" (1949 and 2006)
Soon after publication, Robert Penn Warren's novel became a real sensation. His story about the rise to power of Willy Stark is truly magnificent, and all the characters are complex and controversial, like politics itself as a whole.
This novel was filmed 5 times: 3 series and 2 movies. Although the story is the same in them, for half a century the differences between the full-length films made it possible to tell it differently and convey to the audience one important truth: times are changing, but human shortcomings remain the same.
As for the debate about which of the adaptations is better, then everyone decides for himself. It would be nice to watch both movies and choose yourself.
It is important to add that “The entire royal army” is just the most typical political thriller, and it was he who in many ways determined the features of this genre.
The Manchu Candidate (1962)
This picture in the Russian box office is better known as the "Candidate from Manchuria" (1962). Despite the age and somewhat outdated political realities of the picture, it is worth looking at least just for the sake of Frank Sinatra, who played the main character.
The plot is twisted around the American military Marco Bennett. During the Korean War, his unit falls into the trap, and Marco himself is injured and loses his memory of the last few days. Trying to remember what happened, he finds himself embroiled in an anti-American conspiracy, which he now has only to uncover if he survives, of course.
In 2004, a remake of the "Manchu Candidate" was filmed by Jonathan Demmy with more modernized realities. Despite the stellar composition of this picture (Denzel Washington, Leo Schreiber, John Voight and Meryl Streep), her rating was lower than that of the original.
"Three Days of Condor" (1981)
The next project, which should not be missed by those who want to see the best political thrillers, is "Three Days of Condor" with a blond smoothie from the 60s and 80s. - Robert Redford.
According to the plot, the main character is the only one who remains alive when attacking the office where he works. Although they collaborated with the CIA, they were only engaged in petty paper work, so it is not clear why anyone needed to kill so many innocent people. Trying to figure out the reasons for the death of colleagues, and at the same time save his own life, the main character is drawn into a web of intrigue.
Jack Ryan Movie Series
The same category includes pictures taken on the basis of books by Tom Clancy about CIA analyst Jack Ryan. In total about this character, who, by the will of fate, turned out to be more than once in the center of conspiracies and political intrigues of different countries, five films were shot. This is “The Hunt for Red October”, “Games of the Patriots”, “Direct and Clear Threat”, “All Fears of the World” and “Jack Ryan: Theory of Chaos”. The main character in them was played by such stars as Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck and Chris Pine.
Honestly, despite such stars who starred in these projects, not all of them were successful. However, having looked at them all, it’s easier to get the most accurate picture of most varieties of political thrillers. There are chases, conspiracies, and cunning intrigues. You can also have fun by looking at the Russian president, who speaks his native language with an eerie accent, and at Ben Affleck’s attempts to speak Ukrainian.
"Munich" (2005)
Another project of this kind that deserves attention is the 2005 film Munich.
He talks about the Israeli special group that avenges terrorists for the shooting of their compatriots during the Olympics in Munich. How far are they willing to go for their purpose and will they not become similar to their enemies at the same time?
It is worth noting that the film "Munich" (2005) was shot on the basis of real events. Indeed, in 1972 a group of Israeli athletes was killed by terrorists. By the way, at the end of the picture shows real excerpts from the documentary filming of this terrible event.
The Lives of Others (2006)
A special place among films of this kind is occupied by the German project “The Life of Others”.
The picture tells about the last years in anticipation of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany. In the center of the plot is the fate of the disgraced playwright from East Berlin, George Dryman. Because of his looks, surveillance begins. His apartment is entrusted to Captain Gerd Wisler. However, the man gradually begins to sympathize with his "ward."
“The Life of Others” is more a political drama than a classic thriller. Despite this, she is interesting in deep psychologism.
Body of Lies (2008)
The film "The Set of Lies" in 2008 - is a traditional thriller for the United States about the plot of Al-Qaeda. However, it is precisely his typicality that makes the project interesting. After all, just by looking at it, we can assume that he saw the majority of modern American political fighters. Moreover, the main role was played by the unsinkable Oscar winner Leo DiCaprio.
What is the "Set of lies" about? This is a story about the heroic CIA agent Roger Ferris, who is looking for terrorists and is at the same time drawn into intrigue. In order to somehow dilute the plot so primitive for a political thriller, a love story is added.
In addition to DiCaprio, Mark Strong and Russell Crowe shone in the project.
"Nothing But The Truth" (2008)
This picture is about the brave journalist Rachel Armstrong, who made public that the US government attacked the capital of Venezuela, guided by some own motives. While the public was told quite different. For such a daring act, Rachel was persecuted, demanding to reveal the source of information. However, the brave woman decided not to give up ...
Although the plot of this story is fiction, it was partially written on the basis of a real scandal with CIA agent Valerie Plame.
"Game without rules" (2010)
The true story of the aforementioned woman was shown in the film "Game without rules."
It talks about how Valerie’s husband, Joseph Wilson, revealed to the press the truth about the manipulation of intelligence about weapons of mass destruction carried out by the Bush administration in order to be able to start a war with another state. For this courage, Valerie and Jozsef began to poison with all available means, trying to discredit them in the eyes of the public.
Salt (2010)
Not only men are able to become the protagonists of political thrillers. X / f "Salt" is a vivid confirmation of this. This is the story of the Russian spy Evelyn Salt, which was introduced in the United States from childhood. The girl grew up, went to work at the FBI, and after the collapse of the USSR and a series of events in her personal life, she decided that she no longer wanted to spy. However, her past overtakes her.
In the main role in this picture, Angelina Jolie shone. By the way, initially the main role was to be played by Tom Cruise, but later it was decided to make the heroine of the project a woman, which turned Salt into a very successful project of its kind.
By the way, it is believed that the idea of the script is partially borrowed from another political thriller of the eighties - "There is no way out."
"Spy, get out!" (2011)
This British thriller will seem a little boring to fans of action films, but fans of political and espionage games will like it. The plot focuses on the search for the Soviet mole in the ranks of British intelligence.
It is worth noting that this picture needs to be seen at least for the actors who played in it: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Toby Jones, Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, as well as Konstantin Khabensky and Svetlana Khodchenkova.
The Fifth Power (2013)
The story told in the political thriller The Fifth Power, truly excites the imagination and scares. But it is based on real events. In the center of the plot is a story about the work of the WikiLeaks website, on which secret data of special services were laid out for free access.
Interestingly, this resource continues to exist to this day.
Snowden (2016)
Another political thriller about our contemporary is Snowden.
He is named after an American programmer who has declassified the NSA about secret surveillance of US citizens, which violates their rights. Because of this act, Edward Snowden was forced to flee and hide abroad, which he continues to do today.