MovieChat Forums > The Trial of Tony Blair (2007) Discussion > British liberals seems more mean-spirit...

British liberals seems more mean-spirited than U.S. ones.


We had "Death of a President" but that went largely unnoticed. Aside from a few looney statements and accusations, plus some minor sketch comedy bits, Bush bashing has never materialized something like "The Trial of Tony Blair". Maybe it's just a Brit thing.

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I think it's because the British media is more tabloid-driven than ours (for now). Granted, things like Paris Hilton going to jail get WAY too much air play here, but Britain seems downright obsessed with that sort of "journalism". Just look at how they obsess over every detail involving the royal family. Sure, this country does the same thing when it comes to certain celebrities, but my point is Britain is 10 times worse.

I do find it amusing how they still have a class-based society.

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I expected a lot more preaching about Iraq in this film, which is typical of the BBC, but was happy that they weren't as heavy-handed as usual. Sure, the whole plot revolves around Blair's supposed "war crimes," but the writer kept the focus on the characters rather than the world scene. I just thought the film was a clever skewering of the whole political system, taking on both parties and showing what a bunch of self-serving, oblivious idiots most politicians are (Blair in his huge empty office dictating his horrendous memoirs, Cherie being disgusted by her "ethnic" neighbors, Brown making sure that Blair gets screwed by the UN). I also liked the fact that Robert Lindsay didn't go over the top trying to "be" Tony Blair, but used just enough vocal and facial hints to suggest the character.

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It wasn't made by the BBC, it was actually made by Channel Four.

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"I do find it amusing how they still have a class-based society."

Hmm, I'm not sure whether your being blind to the class differences in America is "amusing" or not. No wonder it's so easy for the US's "haves" (or Bush's "base", obviously) to pull the wool over the eyes of the "have nots".

In answer to the main topic, generally everyone in Britain dislikes politicians and we have a healthy suspicion of politics (take it as read that all MPs are liars, stuff like that). In America it's all bi-partisan trust in whoever your side is, and opposition to the other.

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in general, the british seem to be a lot more hateful of the government and politicians. usually americans will go easy on their chosen side but british people seem to have a general dislike for everyone in the political process.

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Yeah...remember the old Bonzo Dog Band song: No Matter Who You Vote For, the Government Always Gets In!

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As an American, I find that many Americans are cynical about the political process and politicians in general, but still vote for the idiots and demons who inhabit their party of choice. And the same seems to be true of the British from what I can tell. Yes, they'll say that all politicians are lying bastards, but they still turn out to VOTE FOR those lying bastards. So I don't see much cultural difference, politically speaking. Myself, I also loathe all politicians (at least those who run for Federal office)...difference is, I won't vote for them. There is no "lesser evil"...just a variety of evil.

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