This Independence Day, Thank God For DICK
The MOVIE! Get your mind out of the gutter
It’s hard not to remember where you were in 1999.
Unless you’re Adnan Syed from that Serial podcast, in which case, you were probably—allegedly—in the parking lot of a Best Buy. As for me, I was sneaking into the movie theatre to watch Michelle Williams (the white one, not the black one from Destiny’s Child) and Kirsten Dunst in Dick.
If you’re not familiar with it, which—what’s wrong with you, because you definitely should be—but here’s the synopsis. After wandering off during a White House tour, two high school girls (Dunst and Williams) inadvertently become Richard Nixon's top secret advisers at the height of the Watergate scandal. Also there’s a sweet dog named Checkers. All the more reason for you to tune in.
I’m not really one for political movies, unless it’s Michael Clayton, The Manchurian Candidate, or Angelina Jolie’s tour du force performance in Salt. And I’d love to say I really don’t care for politics at all, especially discussing them, because people are insane, and sometimes (most times) there’s no changing their minds—but we don’t really have the ability to be apolitical at this point in time because *gestures wildly* this place is falling down around us so we gotta do SOMETHING, and still I persisted.
One thing I am into though, is Scandal. Dick was Scandal BEFORE Scandal was Scandal. A powerful woman manipulating the government and twisting it at her will because she knows what’s right for the country and has the president wrapped around her finger? I love it! (although in this movie Michelle and Kirsten were 15, so not a girl, but also not yet women—which didn’t stop those creepy ass staffers from spying on them and objectifying them, so not much has changed in this country!)
Also, I ranked the ships from The Bear for Vulture if you care, which you can read here
Everything about this movie is hilarious, the premise, the plausibility, Will Ferrell’s hair, and the absolute utter ridiculousness of it. But the most important thing is the betrayal that drives the film home. Richard Nixon being a big bad meme to Arlene (White Michelle Williams), and you know what they say about a woman scorned!
I have fancied some pretty… interesting looking men, but they look good one way or another whether they’re tall, or sexy, or funny—there’s a reason they caught my eye, I get why Olivia Pope was so down bad for Fitz, I mean have you SEEN that man? But Miss Arlene, fancying Richard Nixon? Oh sweetie no. I can’t say anything about that, it’s not my ministry. Not the Richard Nixon in the movie, nor Richard Nixon in real life.
Although, I did some digging and found a photo of him when he was young, and maybe she had a point! He was def a little High School Hottie™️
And now that I mention it—can we talk about Kirsten Dunst’s film run??? In 1994 she did Interview with the Vampire, Little women, and Jumanji back to back. Five years later (with a few good roles peppered in between) she did The Virgin suicides, Bring It On, and the film in question—Dick. And that’s all before she got to Marie Antoinette and the lil Spider-Man movie. Mama was BOOKED!
Anyway, I always like to rewatch this movie and think about how much we as citizens can actually change the political climate, even when we feel helpless. All we have to do is live in the building where a crime is taking place, sneak out and be nosy, haphazardly wander into a crime scene, take a tour of the white house, walk the President's dog, and concoct a plan to make him stop the war! Easy Peasy!
Anyway, it’s hot as hell, so please be safe this 4th of July and shield your pups from the inescapable noise of fireworks. Also, I realize not all my followers are from America, so enjoy not having to deal with all our bullshit! Love you, bye!
Thank you for subscribing to Now That I Mention It—and now that I mention it, thank you for being a friend!
Literally never even heard of this film before I read this! But I love both of those ladies so I’m off to check it out. Thank you.
I'm playing Kelis 4th July in your honour sir 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸